Week Two, no time to think,
so busy, loving the simplicity of
pencil, pen, ink, waterbrush.
in memory of my baby brother on what would be his birthday…
Halfway through, fast sketching,
loosing inhibitions!
ABOUT SKETCHPACK PROJECT: The project began in 2011 to get folks to draw daily.
The sketchpack is a small zigzag journal with two usable sides, allowing one to sketch on both sides of 15 ‘pages’ to complete the month of August. There was much enthusiasm and the project is now repeated yearly in August, with a Facebook page for us to share as we go along.
(The page is closed for viewing but you can join to play along!)
There is an Exhibition held in October at the Artsauce Studio in Observatory,
Cape Town, South Africa of mostly local Sketchpacks!
Drawn on handmade Canson folding journal with Jinhao pen with blue Diamine ink,
Noodler’s pen with De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Lamy Al-Star with Diamine Ancient Copper, and Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink. + Waterbrush.
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
D.Katie Powell Art 
Truly amazing talent!
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Flattery will get you everywhere!
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Well, you’re all like “quick” “fast” “no time” and I’m sitting here thinking that would take me hours to copy 🙂
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Not if you practiced!!! Its about 5% talent and 95% practice!
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Ha – I’ll have to take your word for that. Maybe someday, I’ll try again (I took a drawing course a long time ago)
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If you ever decide to, I’ll steer you clear of discouraging crazy teachers!
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Ha! Thanks!
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I wrote down the supply list you gave me last week, Katie, and will be heading to the store this week. You are such an inspiration! I am so excited to pick up the old high school art class memories. This post is beautiful.
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On Facebook you’ll want to join these groups for sure:
Artists Journal Workshop (you can only post journal or sketchbook entries): https://www.facebook.com/groups/artists.journal.workshop/?ref=bookmarks
and
Fountain pen sketchers (you can crate on anything but FP must be involved….) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1728301880773358/?ref=bookmarks
You’ll see me there!
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Thanks, Katie!
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Also, look to goulet.com and/or jetpens.com to buy some supplies…. especially the pen supplies. Don’t buy those from stores.
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Ugh. I went to Michaels and they did not have any of the brands you use. But what did I expect…..Thanks for all your help and expertise with this. So much appreciated.
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Michaels is pretty bad unless it is for Strathmore sketchbooks. Blick’s online, or Merriartist ($90 ship free) are better. Also:
https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Carbon-Fountain-Super-DP-800S/ is a good price right now, get the cartridges to replace at Jetpens or Goulet.
http://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Carbon-Desk-Fountain-Pen-Super-Fine-1-Carbon-Ink-Cartridge/pd/3851
A good deal here too: https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Aquash-Water-Assorted-FRHBFMBP3/
Koh-I-Noor Watercolor Wheel Stack Pack are totally student grade, but can be fun for the price… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CO8TU0Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you want specifics ask me….
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you are the best! Thanks so much.
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🙂
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Question for you: the watercolors you use are not ‘watercolors’ per se, but tubes of watercolor paint? I did look online and, of course, so different than the watercolors Michael’s sells. Checking with you first…..Thanks, Katie.
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My favorite watercolors are Daniel Smith in tubes, which I put into pans and from there let them dry and use them like pan paints. Many people like pan paints, but I find them to be a bit flat compared to tubes, and think tubes are a better deal. Whatever you buy, you should buy it from one place so you get free shipping. I am sending you links. A small set can go a long way with watercolors, and one thing that might be nice about buying a pan set is then you can use the very nice pan and refill as you go. Watch out for sets of tube paints — they are very very small tubes; and not such a good deal unless they are pricey. I try to use one or two smaller stores online that also work with free shipping — Sorry, Blicks is okay but they just keep taking business from small stores and closing them — a bit like Walmart.
Do not buy QoR sets — the tins are awful and unstable.
Merriartist is my favorite, but they don’t have what I am recommending to you so going to Wet Paint first: http://www.wetpaintart.com/ free shipping at $99.00:
A good set: http://www.wetpaintart.com/paint/watercolor/watercolor-sets/custom-schmincke-horadam-limited-edition-half-pan-tin-w-12-split-primaries.html on sale for $64.
Not quite as good — but not quite student grade — and very affordable: http://www.wetpaintart.com/paint/watercolor/watercolor-sets/sakura-koi-pocket-watercolor-paint-set-of-24.html $36
Waterbrushes: http://www.wetpaintart.com/brushes/watercolor/water-brushes/pentel-aquash-waterbrush-set-of-4.html $25 for 4 good ones
Synthetic brushes: you want a flat and round to start. Picking a decent and not outrageous brand, or you can give a package at Micahels a try:
Flat $11 http://www.wetpaintart.com/brushes/watercolor/synthetic/princeton-short-handle-neptune-squirrel-aquarelle-1-2.html
10 round (you could go down to an 8 but don’t go teeny or you’ll regret it) $11 : http://www.wetpaintart.com/brushes/watercolor/synthetic/princeton-short-handle-neptune-squirrel-round-10.html
I’m sharing a number of journals I like, and steering you away from two I really do not like. In the states, not fond of Fabriano’s watercolor journals. Don’t bother with paper under 140lb — it will frustrate you. 140 will sometimes buckle but not roll. Heavier paper is pricey.
Not fond of the softcover Stillman and Birn watercolor or mixed media journals or the hardbound (uncomfortable.) The wirebound are great if you like wirebound — the paper is great in all of them.
My favorite is Moleskin A4 landscape but that is pricey and unless you are made of money might not be a good starter kit, so some recommendations (you chose sizes you are comfy with — i like landscape books, 5×8 and A4 which is 8×11 roughly:
Great bang for the buck $8 http://www.wetpaintart.com/paper-pads/journals/strathmore-visual-journal-watercolor-140-5-5×8.html
and $14 http://www.wetpaintart.com/paper-pads/watercolor/strathmore-visual-journal-watercolor-140-9×12.html
Never tried it but seen it and it looks good: $12: http://www.wetpaintart.com/paper-pads/journals/bee-paper-bee-creative-art-journal-5-5×8-quot-watercolor-paper.html
A lot of fun to travel with: $14: http://www.wetpaintart.com/sennelier-usk-urban-sketch-book-with-accordian-style-pages.html
Cheaper version, $10 http://www.wetpaintart.com/pentalic-4×6-quot-104-lb-dream-catcher-accordion-fold-sketchbook.html lighter weight paper)
Not a journal but nice watercolor pads in many sizes: http://www.wetpaintart.com/paper-pads/watercolor/fluid-watercolor-easy-block-6×6.html
I suggest the wirebound, in paperweight over 140lb: http://www.wetpaintart.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?brand=353&q=mixed+media+journal
my best
$29 http://www.wetpaintart.com/paper-pads/watercolor/moleskine-folio-watercolor-a4.html
That ought to give you a starting place.
OR, go to Blick ($90 free shipping) and buy:
EXCELLENT set with 6 extra colors, $60; http://www.dickblick.com/items/01755-0189/
http://www.dickblick.com/items/05445-1003/
http://www.dickblick.com/items/05816-1010/
http://www.dickblick.com/items/05815-1012/
http://www.dickblick.com/items/05813-1016/
http://www.dickblick.com/products/strathmore-visual-journals/
stick with wirebound (I would) and look http://www.dickblick.com/products/stillman-and-birn-archival-sketchbooks/
Beta Series — Available in a wirebound format, these sketchbooks contain 25 sheets (50 pages) of 180 lb (270 gsm), natural white paper with a rough surface. Ideal for multi-media renderings, the paper has a substantial tooth, as well as enhanced wet strength and tear strength.
Delta Series — Available in both hardbound and wirebound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of 180 lb (270 gsm) ivory paper with a rough surface. Ideal for multi-media renderings, the paper has a substantial tooth, as well as enhanced wet strength and tear strength.
Zeta Series — Available in both hardbound and wirebound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of heavyweight (180 lb, 270 gsm), natural white multimedia paper. Internal and surface sizing enhance the paper’s wet strength to accept multiple wet media washes, and its smooth surface assures exceptional line control for pen-and-ink and a full range of dry media. The hardbound sketchbooks contain 26 sheets (52 pages) of paper. The wirebound sketchbooks contain 25 sheets (50 pages) of paper.
People swear by these, not tried them: http://www.dickblick.com/products/hand-book-artist-journals/
Look at everything, fill up carts, then decide….
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Thank you so much. I keep writing down the pens and inks you use for your art work so have a huge running list! This is wonderful. Thanks for the clarification on the water colors. I don’t recall tubes back when I had art class so this clears up my confustion. Thanks so very much, Kate.
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🙂 You are welcome… I should just do a good post on what I love to use…..
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That would be wonderful. I am getting ready to place an order and I am so excited!
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Also check out these posts — BTW, in the end I love Pentalic Aqua Journal, just got a lemon.
https://dkatiepowellart.me/2016/04/08/tools-sennelier-watercolor-pan-kit-and-pentalic-aqua-journal/
https://dkatiepowellart.me/2014/11/14/travel-palette-finally/
https://dkatiepowellart.me/2016/03/21/tools-watercolors/
This should keep you very busy!
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Ha! Yes, this will!
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