Accidental Vix

I was in a panic this morning when I realised I only have 7 pages left of my all time fave sketchbook, but luckily after some help from a friend locating another one from paperblanks which actually has unlined pages (the problem seemed to be that they were all lined) I am happy in the knowledge that it will hopefully arrive before I finish this one. I find it quite funny that my fave sketchbook is on the expensive side for me but I draw with a bog standard biro pen! Anyway, it got me thinking that I genuinely believe that it makes me sketch better and I have produced some of my favourite sketches in it, including the first ever animal drawing of Nelson the elephant which kick-started my craze for drawing animals, my first scenic sketch of Haworth, which again has turned into a new and popular range and my gocco prints have all started life as a sketch in this little book. My sketchbook is like my bible, I carry it everywhere with me, but this particular one has been keeping me company since July 2012 and taken a while to fill because I save it for my ‘important’ and meaningful sketches, no scribbles in this one. So why do I love it so much?

1. The hand stitched binding means that when I open a page it actually stays open and I don’t have to keep flicking the pages out of the way, a bit like when you get a hair in your face and it just keeps falling in the wrong place

2. The quality and colour of the paper is perfect and my pen just glides over it and the slight off white colour makes everything seem a bit less harsh, especially as I tend to draw in black pen

3. It’s the perfect size for me to sketch in as it’s not too small but I don’t have a big scary A4 bit of paper to fill with my detailed drawings, and is easy to use as a landscape or portrait book

4. The hardback cover means that it can travel in my bag and stand up for itself agains the other contents, and admittedly it’s looking a bit battered at the moment but the pages inside are in immaculate condition (apart from my sketches obviously)

5. I love the design on the front, and it’s great to be inspired before I even open the cover

On that note, I’m off to go and work on some new sketches. Would love to hear if you have a favourite sketchbook or item that makes you more creative.

Xx

I’m so glad it’s Saturday, but even happier that the sketchbook project deadline has been extended until Tues! This gives me the weekend to finish it, take photos and start scanning, as once I send it off on it’s travels I will not see it again unless I get to Brooklyn Art Library. If you can pop in to any of the sketchbook tour dates/venues or the Brooklyn Art Library once it has settled into it’s new home please do… not being from USA means that I won’t be able to visit it or get my friends to and I wouldn’t want it to get lonely or feel rejected.  Anyway, I still have lots to do to get my trusty sketchbook in the post on time but seeing everyone else’s amazing blogs made me think I’d give you a sneak peak (after a few moments to myself panicking about the high standard of work.)

I will be back to do a longer blog with a bit more information behind the reasoning/ideas in my sketchbook at a later date, but too much to sketch before then!

Have a great weekend.

xx