A Summer Visual Diary (Sketchbook Tour)
Another sketchbook filled, another paper experiment done.
This time it was the 100% cotton watercolor book from Hahnemühle. To be honest, I'm still not sure it was worth the price difference.
Texture and drying time gave me a bit of trouble, and it might be me, but I couldn't really tell much difference from the "normal" Hahnemühle watercolor books.
But whatever. I'm happy I filled all its pages. I liked the square format. And now that I filled this one, I am ready to go bigger again.
This one started in Amsterdam, where my brother was inaugurated as a full professor. In my sketchbook, I did study sketches of him during his inaugural speech, then made a drawing of him during the speech. I knew on beforehand the speech would be 45 minutes, that was good to know my time limitation. I had brought a frame so I could give it to him, framed and wrapped, at the party.
Then I sketched at a flea market I happened to pass by, captured quiet days at home, and there was a lot of sketching out with friends over the summer. I used many tools in this book: ink, watersoluble crayon, watercolor, colored pencil, you name it.
I also talk about something I still find tricky: adding text to my drawings.
I'm not scared of ruining a page with writing, it's more that I often don't know what to write. I try not to repeat what the drawing already shows, so I usually stick to a location or a date. Or, and this is my favorite kind of text to add: bits of conversation. These can be things I'm part of or just overhear.
Remember that not every page needs to be exciting to be worth keeping. Some days call for a sketch of my hand, my mug, or a tired selfie, and those pages matter just as much as the lively street scenes. It's all part of the same visual journal. Part of life.
There’s also an assignment in this video, for you to try in your own sketchbook. You’ll prove to yourself that everything becomes interesting as soon as you start drawing it.
Click the image to watch the video
Sketchbook shown: Hahnemühle 100% cotton watercolor book
Links to videos mentioned:
