Anything lighter is best suited for light mixed media and sketching. The lightest watercolor paper you can generally find is 90 lb. This means it can take a lot of water without buckling or rippling, though in sketchbook format (and thus un-stretched paper) it will be unavoidable at times. Standard watercolor paper is generally 140 lb. If you will primarily be working in watercolors, including using wash techniques, you will probably want to opt for watercolor paper. If you are planning on using light wet media such as marker, ink, or some watercolor, look for a mixed media paper. What kind of media will you generally be using? If you plan to be using pencils and pens, then a sketching paper will probably be right for you. The paper is the real substance of your sketchbook, and can be broken down into further different categories. Think about how you position your hands and supplies, and what your compositions most often demand.ģ) Paper. Of course, you may prefer a square instead. Landscape sketchbooks are extra long and skinny when they are open - perfect for stretching horizons. A landscape orientation means the sketchbook is positioned horizontally when it is open, with the binding running the width of the sketchbook. A sketchbook with a portrait orientation means the sketchbook is positioned vertically when it is open, with the binding running the length of the sketchbook. The orientation of your sketchbook refers most specifically to the length of the binding. Where do you usually work? Do you like to carry your sketchbook with you? Think about what size of sketchbook will fit in your pocket, backpack, purse - or wherever you prefer to carry your sketchbook when you're on the move.Ģ) Orientation. Also, take into account the practicality of size. How big or small do you like to work? And don't think about what size you think you should be working with - instead, think about what size inspires you. Determine the characteristics in a sketchbook that are the most important to you: Characteristics of A Sketchbookġ) Size. The best place to start your search is with yourself. In this post, I'm going to share with you what I learned, how I determined which sketchbook was right for me, and ultimately which one I chose. I touched, felt, smelled, and generally sized up every sketchbook I could find. I poured over different offerings online, and visited art shops all over the country. I wanted to find the perfect match for my style and methods. Regularly working in a sketchbook is an integral part of the creative process, and one of the best ways to find your own authentic creative voice.īut which sketchbook to choose? With the thunderous abundance of choices on the market, it can seem like a difficult proposition to wade through to the one that's just right for you.Īt the beginning of this year, I went on a sketchbook odyssey of sorts. It's a safe place where you get to work through ideas, play with new techniques, experiment with new art supplies, and think about new subjects. Whatever your ability, it will inspire you to reach for a pencil and paper and start drawing.Think of your sketchbook as your second brain. Sketchbook for the Artist is for anyone who wants to draw, whether you are a complete beginner or would like to refresh your existing skills. The bestselling author of Anatomy for the Artist and Botany for the Artist, Sarah demonstrates how she works - from quick pencil sketches to pen and ink studies - with expertise and plenty of encouraging tips, and complements them with plentiful examples from her own drawing books.
SKETCH BOOK HOW TO
You will learn how to explore a wide variety of subjects, from still life, plants, and animals to portraits, the human body, landscapes, and buildings, all of which are introduced with outstanding drawings by famous artists.
SKETCH BOOK SERIES
She introduces all the key drawing materials, then shows you how to master the basic elements of drawing in a series of step-by-step drawing classes, covering topics ranging from simple mark-making to establishing form, creating tone, and conveying perspective. In Sketchbook for the Artist, acclaimed artist and teacher Sarah Simblet teaches you how to draw by combining practical lessons with examples of both her own work and some of the world's greatest drawings. Develop your drawing skills and rediscover the world around you with this innovative and beautifully illustrated book.