I hear a LOT of good things about the Strathmore Mixed Media! Seems like another workhorse option, takes a lot of wet media? What a great idea to use newsprint for planning! Newsprint is amazing for feeling free and for not being precious - I must get some!
So, I learned this trick from Deb Stein, but I love to write and plan and concept on a big ass piece of newsprint - like the 24” one. I love the space to go nuts and draw a lot without turning a page. I post up on the floor with my cats. I have an 18” newsprint one for my desk. An 11”x8” or so with nicer paper for dry media and a 12” x 9” with mixed media paper. And wow, realizing I have a couple more squirreled away! 😂
I totally work in exactly the same way as you! I have managed to whittle the ones I am working in to 'only' 6! But I have to organise them otherwise I am so all over the place and I can't focus. One of my favourite ones currently is a 'black and white' sketchbook. Because I solely work in black, white and grey tones it means I can have fun and focus on textures, shape and line. Super fun! I mainly have Royal Talens sketchbooks of varying sizes, but I have heard great things about Pith sketchbooks! Can I add to the pile of sketchbooks I haven't yet opened...surely it's ok if it's to try something new?!
I also love to work really quickly and expressively, so working in multiple sketchbooks at the same time, really helps. If something is drying then I can crack on and draw something else.
I loved this, thank you so much for publishing it! I feel like I should also do a sketchbook 'confessions' post!
I also had a black and white only sketchbook at one point - it was so nice to have that focus! I think I could have done better with exploring textures with it though. Royal Talens is a crowd pleaser, but the Pith is great - the paper for the Oroblanco is much thicker than a RT, I'll be interested to know what you think of it!
This really hits home. I have too many sketchbooks, including some beautiful ones that I got as gifts and don’t have the nerve to start; a few half- or partway-filled ones which I’m trying to get back to and use up; a nature journal; a dry media toned paper sketchbook; a mixed media sketchbook… I have resolved not to buy any more new ones until I’m well into my backlog!
Welcome to the club! The gifted sketchbooks are always the WORST because I feel the most pressure with those!! I wonder if I should figure out a solution for this? Maybe we need to isolate all the beautiful unused sketchbooks and assign a purpose for each of them? Otherwise they'll be on those shelves after we're long gone! Mine will!! And no doubt, I will find more to buy 🤣
Ahh so interesting! I’ve been through so many different ones and they do serve their purposes, but for the past three years I’ve used Royal Talens much more consistently. I like their everyday-use feel, the low pressure because it’s not too fancy/expensive, the variations in dimensions - it’s my go to for observational stuff. I tend to buy something a bit ‘nicer’ for travel and finer work but sometimes I have wondered if (previously) it’s held me back from my own growth, because I might not be as bold or carefree in my approach. A few weeks ago I started a designated sketchbook for drawing in colouring pencils only - themed sketchbooks for me encourage limitations, so that I push myself beyond the ‘boring point’ and find something new and interesting about the medium through it all. Anyhow, from one sketchbook addict to another, may the sketchbook carry us further and deeper, than we carry it :)
I love the Royal Talens for the same reason - although I too feel frustrated by it sometimes too. In many ways, the RT is the ideal 'one stop shop' but anytime I have used wet materials I end up really annoyed! It is GREAT for colour pencil work, and brush pens and ink and the feeling of not being precious is so important for just relaxing into drawing. I get it! Finding a connection to the right one changes everything. I think I was influenced by you on IG a few years ago and bought a Fabriano one - the ones with a Dark Blue cover and two tones of paper in it. It was lovely but I still haven't finished it! I'm excited to see the mastery that will no doubt occur in your colour pencil work 😍😍😍. Thank you for sharing your experience with your sketchbooks!
You know, I never even considered having different sketchbooks for either separate themes or mediums. The separation is quite nice, and a themed sketchbook is pretty rad. Thank you for this. Also, 14 of them isn't so bad, as long as you are enjoying yourself and showing up that's really what counts. I love your sketches btw—so playful and vibrant.
Right now, I have a separate sketchbook for pencil drawings of abstract flowers—no color, only graphite/pencil. I made a video of it here: https://www.wherepianosroam.com/p/49-flowers
I have a separate notebook for mixed media in color (ink, pencil, and brush pens. I LOVE BRUSH PENS!) and any kind of drawing I want.
I am thinking of starting a third one for ink exclusively to draw pretty much anything.
I guess I like separating sketchbooks by the medium/material I use. The technique is different for each, and I get to practice them all in their own (paper) spaces.
By the way, I love the drawings of cats in sweaters. If you don't mind, I might try drawing something like that in my sketchbook.
Oh wow thanks for sharing that link - the Visual bouquet of flowers sketchbook is stunning! What an amazing example of a themed sketchbook. It’s a beautiful object. Is it the Handbook Journal Sketchbook brand? I love their paper for graphite pencil - it has such a beautiful toothy surface that holds graphite so well.
Sounds like you have quite a few sketchbooks on the go too! I love it! And yes of course to the cats in sweaters - feel free to run with it! I think i found a weird photo on a stock image site somewhere so i drew it. I look forward to seeing more of your sketchbooks!
Thanks for checking out the visual bouquet I made. It's a thought experiment that grew into an ongoing art project, and I am enjoying the results.
Yes, I used the Handbook Journal Sketchbook. It works very well for graphite pencil. That particular size (5X5) is super convenient to travel with, and there's something about the dimensions of a square that I like a lot.
I'm trying to get into the habit of drawing instead of scrolling through social media on my phone. So yes, more sketchbooks are in the works for me for sure.
I also need this support group, but I have no intention of quitting. If you want to indulge further, I can hotly recommend checking out Archer & Olive, and Paper Republic (the sketchbook refills)
Agree! i also have no intention of giving up!!!! Just get smarter and better at filling them. Oooh I have not come across these two brands - thanks for sharing!
I definitely have too many sketchbooks on going too, 7 or 8 can't really tell 🙈 some are themed, others are a complete chaos! I love a sketchbook dedicated to a specific suject, makes it special I think. But I am dedided to narrow down the number of sketchbooks i have for the simplicity of things. I still couldn't find my true type of sketchbook to work and probably that also I have so many sketchbooks at the moment 🙄p.s.- when you find that support group tell me 😅❤️
Hahaha maybe we need to MAKE our own support group! This is the problem - finding the balance of NEEDING the different spaces to work in but also not getting too complicated. I like the idea of more simplicity but clearly it does not come easily to me!
We are on similar missions! I also have about a dozen sketchbooks, all with various projects and commitments. I put it out in the universe to focus this year to completing more projects that I already started and not buy any more until I’ve used what I have. I’m like you. I don’t have favorites, I just work in what strikes my mood that day. Sometimes I do more collage and writing, while other days I do more loose sketching or color/composition play. I’m considering using the #the100dayproject challenge that starts in February to help me tackle some of this. I’m still working on those details though.
It's a nice idea to use the 100 day project as a way of completing projects and sketchbooks that are already started, rather than start a new project! That's a GREAT idea!
Loved this. Number 7 just made me laugh. I recently started working on sketchbooks by theme and it’s been really good in helping me actually go through them from beginning to end. I don’t have one separate for life drawing though 🤔 maybe that’s an excuse for a new one!
Yeah, themed books are really useful for seeing progress and the body of work holding together. That feeling of finishing one and flicking through at the end is SO GOOD!!! I'm still torn about whether or not I start Animals Sketch Book number 3!
Hahaha I need to join that support group ASAP! I have at least three sketchbooks that have <10 pages left but I keep starting new ones. Chasing different paper feelings, you know.. but that’s okay! As long as we can keep track and not overly fret about what needs to go where, or stop ourselves from making because we don’t have the “right” sketchbook on hand.
YES I think sometimes you just know instinctivly that you need the paper feel of a particular book for a particular drawing. Other times I ignore a book for a while then remind myself of how amazing it is and use it constantly. I'm not sure I will ever be the person to commit to one sketchbook brand for everything, although I wish I was! I would love that shelf to be all uniform and consistent, with the spines all labelled clearly like a beautiful library! But mine are all higgeldy piggedly!
I also have a ton of empty ones sitting on the shelf, but trying very hard not to crack them open till I complete the ones I’ve already started. Not an easy task.
It is SO hard! I sometimes leave a couple of pages blank toward the end of the sketchbook because I am so keen to start the new one. That is cheating...but we can create our own rules!
That’s very true about making our own rules and getting to decide when something is complete. I love the idea of filling all the pages but I also don’t want my sketchbooks to be a place of stress either. I’m also not too ashamed of cutting the last few empty pages out if it means that I can put closure to it. Lol.
“its just in my life as a reminder that I have no self control....” I love your honesty here and I have a ton of sketchbooks that qualify for this statement!
This is so interesting! I am in awe of your organisational skills. My sketchbooks have everything jumping about between the one book, making very little sense 🥲 in fact, most of the time I draw on loose leaf pages and stick em in to the sketchbooks - that’s the organising bit for me once all or most of the drawings are done. Thank you for sharing all the types of books you’ve tried out, I might branch out and give a new type a go! 📕
I work the same way, Orla! I start in the middle and bounce around the pages. So many accidental-upside-down drawings lately too. It's complete and utter chaos, but I'm learning to accept it! 🤣
I admire the freedom of moving between pages and books without any worries about how they fit together, I think thats wonderful! I am fascinated by how we all have our own approach, and I think it reflects the way our brains need to explore our creative work. I need the boundaries of a book to explore one theme or idea in - if I move between too many for one area of exploration I lose my thread. Your way makes sense in that you bring the ideas together by sticking them in - effectivly getting a similar result but if it works for your brain, thats great! I LOVE that freedom of movement, I can see how valuable that is. Also, as you work on location for so much of your work, I'm sure that drives a lot of your approach. Currently in my practice I am quite desk bound, so it helps for me to have more structure.
I LOVE seeing how you work in your videos! So helpful and inspiring, as someone who hopes to be able to be more of an 'outside artist' one day!
I agree, the way we all approach how we make art seems to reflect our personalities - it’s kinda like a self portrait of our minds. I’d love to watch a documentary on that if there was one out there 😄 thanks again for your generous post 💙
YES! I would fascinated to see that documentary too! It feels a bit like therapy - it reflects our need to place things in groups to help with better understanding, or to move between more chaotic spaces freely to help make new discoveries - they really are self portraits of our minds! It's funny how sometimes we become attached to an idea of the 'right' vs 'wrong' way of working with them, when it is all for US to define!
Thanks for this post. I am the same and it is really interesting to read what you use your different books for. I too have one for life drawings, colour experiments and favorite combinations, self portraits, drawings sessions and daily life, meet-ups etc. We need them 🤷🏻 And it’s so satisfying. But...I still have a lot of empty ones in the shelf and started last your to not buy any art supply before I (really) need it 💪🏼 (not that I have to starve with all the stock I build up the time before)
We work in a similar way! It IS nice to have different projects but it takes much longer to fill those books. I'm not supposed to buy any more books or materials but I am about to go to London at the end of February and I have a Cult Pens basket filling up...ready to deliver to my parents house!! OOOPS!
😂believe me or not...as I was abstinent such a long time I have nothing in mind atm. But maybe - with the knowledge of you being in the UK with all its art supplies you don’t get here easily - I would come back to you 🥰🙏
OMG, I'm not an artist and don't have sketchbooks but I DO have more journals than I can count so saaaaaaame! So relatable! haha
YUP! I didn't even include my journals in this...but there is a whole other stash of those!!!
This is why we all need libraries. BIG ones.
Feel this! I’m only in 4 but they’re all widely different sizes!
4 is a good number! Space to explore but not too overwhelming! Do you have a favourite or default size? And what’s your current favourite brand?
I didn’t even answer your question! I love the 24” newsprint and 12x8 Strathmore mixed media!
I hear a LOT of good things about the Strathmore Mixed Media! Seems like another workhorse option, takes a lot of wet media? What a great idea to use newsprint for planning! Newsprint is amazing for feeling free and for not being precious - I must get some!
<pulls up a chair>
So, I learned this trick from Deb Stein, but I love to write and plan and concept on a big ass piece of newsprint - like the 24” one. I love the space to go nuts and draw a lot without turning a page. I post up on the floor with my cats. I have an 18” newsprint one for my desk. An 11”x8” or so with nicer paper for dry media and a 12” x 9” with mixed media paper. And wow, realizing I have a couple more squirreled away! 😂
I totally work in exactly the same way as you! I have managed to whittle the ones I am working in to 'only' 6! But I have to organise them otherwise I am so all over the place and I can't focus. One of my favourite ones currently is a 'black and white' sketchbook. Because I solely work in black, white and grey tones it means I can have fun and focus on textures, shape and line. Super fun! I mainly have Royal Talens sketchbooks of varying sizes, but I have heard great things about Pith sketchbooks! Can I add to the pile of sketchbooks I haven't yet opened...surely it's ok if it's to try something new?!
I also love to work really quickly and expressively, so working in multiple sketchbooks at the same time, really helps. If something is drying then I can crack on and draw something else.
I loved this, thank you so much for publishing it! I feel like I should also do a sketchbook 'confessions' post!
I also had a black and white only sketchbook at one point - it was so nice to have that focus! I think I could have done better with exploring textures with it though. Royal Talens is a crowd pleaser, but the Pith is great - the paper for the Oroblanco is much thicker than a RT, I'll be interested to know what you think of it!
This really hits home. I have too many sketchbooks, including some beautiful ones that I got as gifts and don’t have the nerve to start; a few half- or partway-filled ones which I’m trying to get back to and use up; a nature journal; a dry media toned paper sketchbook; a mixed media sketchbook… I have resolved not to buy any more new ones until I’m well into my backlog!
Welcome to the club! The gifted sketchbooks are always the WORST because I feel the most pressure with those!! I wonder if I should figure out a solution for this? Maybe we need to isolate all the beautiful unused sketchbooks and assign a purpose for each of them? Otherwise they'll be on those shelves after we're long gone! Mine will!! And no doubt, I will find more to buy 🤣
Ahh so interesting! I’ve been through so many different ones and they do serve their purposes, but for the past three years I’ve used Royal Talens much more consistently. I like their everyday-use feel, the low pressure because it’s not too fancy/expensive, the variations in dimensions - it’s my go to for observational stuff. I tend to buy something a bit ‘nicer’ for travel and finer work but sometimes I have wondered if (previously) it’s held me back from my own growth, because I might not be as bold or carefree in my approach. A few weeks ago I started a designated sketchbook for drawing in colouring pencils only - themed sketchbooks for me encourage limitations, so that I push myself beyond the ‘boring point’ and find something new and interesting about the medium through it all. Anyhow, from one sketchbook addict to another, may the sketchbook carry us further and deeper, than we carry it :)
I love the Royal Talens for the same reason - although I too feel frustrated by it sometimes too. In many ways, the RT is the ideal 'one stop shop' but anytime I have used wet materials I end up really annoyed! It is GREAT for colour pencil work, and brush pens and ink and the feeling of not being precious is so important for just relaxing into drawing. I get it! Finding a connection to the right one changes everything. I think I was influenced by you on IG a few years ago and bought a Fabriano one - the ones with a Dark Blue cover and two tones of paper in it. It was lovely but I still haven't finished it! I'm excited to see the mastery that will no doubt occur in your colour pencil work 😍😍😍. Thank you for sharing your experience with your sketchbooks!
You know, I never even considered having different sketchbooks for either separate themes or mediums. The separation is quite nice, and a themed sketchbook is pretty rad. Thank you for this. Also, 14 of them isn't so bad, as long as you are enjoying yourself and showing up that's really what counts. I love your sketches btw—so playful and vibrant.
Thank you for reassuring me tha 14 isn't too much! Are there any themes that you would isolate in separate books? I'd love to know!
Right now, I have a separate sketchbook for pencil drawings of abstract flowers—no color, only graphite/pencil. I made a video of it here: https://www.wherepianosroam.com/p/49-flowers
I have a separate notebook for mixed media in color (ink, pencil, and brush pens. I LOVE BRUSH PENS!) and any kind of drawing I want.
I am thinking of starting a third one for ink exclusively to draw pretty much anything.
I guess I like separating sketchbooks by the medium/material I use. The technique is different for each, and I get to practice them all in their own (paper) spaces.
By the way, I love the drawings of cats in sweaters. If you don't mind, I might try drawing something like that in my sketchbook.
Also your piano keyboard ring is amazing 🤩
Thank you! I wanted to wear a cool pinky ring, and it was a great find on Etsy that was super affordable.
Oh wow thanks for sharing that link - the Visual bouquet of flowers sketchbook is stunning! What an amazing example of a themed sketchbook. It’s a beautiful object. Is it the Handbook Journal Sketchbook brand? I love their paper for graphite pencil - it has such a beautiful toothy surface that holds graphite so well.
Sounds like you have quite a few sketchbooks on the go too! I love it! And yes of course to the cats in sweaters - feel free to run with it! I think i found a weird photo on a stock image site somewhere so i drew it. I look forward to seeing more of your sketchbooks!
Thanks for checking out the visual bouquet I made. It's a thought experiment that grew into an ongoing art project, and I am enjoying the results.
Yes, I used the Handbook Journal Sketchbook. It works very well for graphite pencil. That particular size (5X5) is super convenient to travel with, and there's something about the dimensions of a square that I like a lot.
I'm trying to get into the habit of drawing instead of scrolling through social media on my phone. So yes, more sketchbooks are in the works for me for sure.
I also need this support group, but I have no intention of quitting. If you want to indulge further, I can hotly recommend checking out Archer & Olive, and Paper Republic (the sketchbook refills)
Agree! i also have no intention of giving up!!!! Just get smarter and better at filling them. Oooh I have not come across these two brands - thanks for sharing!
LOVE your geeky posts!
🤓🤓👩🏾🎨👩🏾🎨🤓🤓👩🏾🎨👩🏾🎨
I definitely have too many sketchbooks on going too, 7 or 8 can't really tell 🙈 some are themed, others are a complete chaos! I love a sketchbook dedicated to a specific suject, makes it special I think. But I am dedided to narrow down the number of sketchbooks i have for the simplicity of things. I still couldn't find my true type of sketchbook to work and probably that also I have so many sketchbooks at the moment 🙄p.s.- when you find that support group tell me 😅❤️
Hahaha maybe we need to MAKE our own support group! This is the problem - finding the balance of NEEDING the different spaces to work in but also not getting too complicated. I like the idea of more simplicity but clearly it does not come easily to me!
We are on similar missions! I also have about a dozen sketchbooks, all with various projects and commitments. I put it out in the universe to focus this year to completing more projects that I already started and not buy any more until I’ve used what I have. I’m like you. I don’t have favorites, I just work in what strikes my mood that day. Sometimes I do more collage and writing, while other days I do more loose sketching or color/composition play. I’m considering using the #the100dayproject challenge that starts in February to help me tackle some of this. I’m still working on those details though.
It's a nice idea to use the 100 day project as a way of completing projects and sketchbooks that are already started, rather than start a new project! That's a GREAT idea!
Loved this. Number 7 just made me laugh. I recently started working on sketchbooks by theme and it’s been really good in helping me actually go through them from beginning to end. I don’t have one separate for life drawing though 🤔 maybe that’s an excuse for a new one!
Yeah, themed books are really useful for seeing progress and the body of work holding together. That feeling of finishing one and flicking through at the end is SO GOOD!!! I'm still torn about whether or not I start Animals Sketch Book number 3!
Hahaha I need to join that support group ASAP! I have at least three sketchbooks that have <10 pages left but I keep starting new ones. Chasing different paper feelings, you know.. but that’s okay! As long as we can keep track and not overly fret about what needs to go where, or stop ourselves from making because we don’t have the “right” sketchbook on hand.
YES I think sometimes you just know instinctivly that you need the paper feel of a particular book for a particular drawing. Other times I ignore a book for a while then remind myself of how amazing it is and use it constantly. I'm not sure I will ever be the person to commit to one sketchbook brand for everything, although I wish I was! I would love that shelf to be all uniform and consistent, with the spines all labelled clearly like a beautiful library! But mine are all higgeldy piggedly!
There is no such thing as too many! Although I probably have too many empty ones! But that is something I am working on 😂
I also have a ton of empty ones sitting on the shelf, but trying very hard not to crack them open till I complete the ones I’ve already started. Not an easy task.
It is SO hard! I sometimes leave a couple of pages blank toward the end of the sketchbook because I am so keen to start the new one. That is cheating...but we can create our own rules!
That’s very true about making our own rules and getting to decide when something is complete. I love the idea of filling all the pages but I also don’t want my sketchbooks to be a place of stress either. I’m also not too ashamed of cutting the last few empty pages out if it means that I can put closure to it. Lol.
Too many empty ones is part and parcel of buying too many pretty ones!! SO MANY TO FILL!
Yes and so little time! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
“its just in my life as a reminder that I have no self control....” I love your honesty here and I have a ton of sketchbooks that qualify for this statement!
I am not alone! Notebooks and Sketchbooks are irresistable!!
This is so interesting! I am in awe of your organisational skills. My sketchbooks have everything jumping about between the one book, making very little sense 🥲 in fact, most of the time I draw on loose leaf pages and stick em in to the sketchbooks - that’s the organising bit for me once all or most of the drawings are done. Thank you for sharing all the types of books you’ve tried out, I might branch out and give a new type a go! 📕
I work the same way, Orla! I start in the middle and bounce around the pages. So many accidental-upside-down drawings lately too. It's complete and utter chaos, but I'm learning to accept it! 🤣
Haha it’s like a game of ping pong eh! That’s where I’m at too ☀️
I admire the freedom of moving between pages and books without any worries about how they fit together, I think thats wonderful! I am fascinated by how we all have our own approach, and I think it reflects the way our brains need to explore our creative work. I need the boundaries of a book to explore one theme or idea in - if I move between too many for one area of exploration I lose my thread. Your way makes sense in that you bring the ideas together by sticking them in - effectivly getting a similar result but if it works for your brain, thats great! I LOVE that freedom of movement, I can see how valuable that is. Also, as you work on location for so much of your work, I'm sure that drives a lot of your approach. Currently in my practice I am quite desk bound, so it helps for me to have more structure.
I LOVE seeing how you work in your videos! So helpful and inspiring, as someone who hopes to be able to be more of an 'outside artist' one day!
I agree, the way we all approach how we make art seems to reflect our personalities - it’s kinda like a self portrait of our minds. I’d love to watch a documentary on that if there was one out there 😄 thanks again for your generous post 💙
YES! I would fascinated to see that documentary too! It feels a bit like therapy - it reflects our need to place things in groups to help with better understanding, or to move between more chaotic spaces freely to help make new discoveries - they really are self portraits of our minds! It's funny how sometimes we become attached to an idea of the 'right' vs 'wrong' way of working with them, when it is all for US to define!
My name is Carmen and I am an sketchbook addict!
Thanks for this post. I am the same and it is really interesting to read what you use your different books for. I too have one for life drawings, colour experiments and favorite combinations, self portraits, drawings sessions and daily life, meet-ups etc. We need them 🤷🏻 And it’s so satisfying. But...I still have a lot of empty ones in the shelf and started last your to not buy any art supply before I (really) need it 💪🏼 (not that I have to starve with all the stock I build up the time before)
We work in a similar way! It IS nice to have different projects but it takes much longer to fill those books. I'm not supposed to buy any more books or materials but I am about to go to London at the end of February and I have a Cult Pens basket filling up...ready to deliver to my parents house!! OOOPS!
This being said, my dear Raj, I might ask you in 4 weeks if there’s some space left in your luggage 😂 (asking for a friend, of course)
🤣🤣🤣🤣 what wonders can i bring you?
😂believe me or not...as I was abstinent such a long time I have nothing in mind atm. But maybe - with the knowledge of you being in the UK with all its art supplies you don’t get here easily - I would come back to you 🥰🙏