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Message
Posted
I'm a bit conservative in my choice of drawing and sketching paper, but am looking for a good drawing paper, tinted or otherwise, that can take a light watercolour wash - or even heavier mixed-media work.
Any recommendations, if you can tear yourselves away from Christmas lunch? I need to order more sketchbooks for the New Year, and have got a bit confused surveying the many papers on offer.
Posted
Are you talking sheets or sketchbook Robert?
Obviously I’m going to recommend the Stillman & Birn brand, because that’s what I’ve been using, hopefully with a modicum of success, for the past three years if not longer.
They do a great range which includes some tinted paper (grey). The two sketchbooks that I have are the Beta and Delta, but there’s a big choice.
Both of these have decent weight paper and are beautifully stitched which I much prefer… I’m not so keen on the spiral bound ones. The covers are on the soft side rather than rigid, but frankly, more than adequate!
I often draw across the gutter to make a panoramic landscape, perfect for that!
Both take a wash without any issues, any light cockling does tend to flatten out once the sketchbook is closed… for my work, I only really use small areas of wash, and not vast expanses of sky for example.
My preferred size is the 5x8in (that’s appropriate they could be a tad larger). I believe that it was Fiona who told me that they also sell their paper in sheets, but I’ve not tried them as yet.
It was the rather good sketcher Adebanji Alade that recommended them to me - I’ve never looked back and can’t see me ever changing!
Jackson’s Art or I’ve been able to buy mine from Amazon…they aren’t particularly cheap, but what price quality?
I’ve got many dozens of examples on my gallery, here’s a couple done on Beta to give you an idea of how the paint and ink react to the surface. It’s a matte surface which is relatively absorbent, suitable for any medium I’d say. Bleed proof so you can utilise both sides if you want… I’ve used marker pens also with no issues!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
I had two new sketch pads bought for me as a Christmas present, the larger one is a beautiful looking book that’s leather bound with very thick paper. I will use that for pen and wash I think , probably feel intimidated as it’s such a superb looking pad . The smaller one has a rough textured paper , again it should give the thickness take a wash quite easily, I Will be trying the out in the New Year and can then feedback on the quality of the paper etc .
Edited
by Paul (Dixie) Dean
Posted
The leather bound book is unusual for a sketchbook… I can imagine me being rather selective, even cautious perhaps about what I put in it - which could defeat the object of using a sketchbook.
Which for me, and probably most of us, it’s about recording (usually multiple-line scribbling) anything and everything that catches my attention/interest… from an old broken farmyard gate, to recording a landscape.
That second one looks more to my liking Paul, small and landscape, and stitched so it will open up reasonably flat for working across the gutter. I’m not familiar with this manufacturer.
I suppose that it’s more about the paper quality than anything else, but sketchbooks shouldn’t be precious things to lock away, keep them handy at all times and use daily!
I always keep one handy in the car, along with a couple of pens, fascinating to look back on actually, most of it looks like scribbled nonsense to most, which is why I tend to keep them away from prying eyes!
I’m assuming that Robert will join in the conversation at some point - perhaps he’s waiting for more replies.
I’m not sure how many of us do actually use sketchbooks, my guess would be not enough of us… I could be wrong of course!
Posted
My first thought with the leather bound one was ouch need to be careful with what I do , but then decided it’s a sketch book thst I will use for pen and wash , and I tend to do complete works so not a problem. It’s definitely the quality of the paper as you say Alan just looking and feeling it suggests high quality of course it’s what it can take that will determine whether it’s a quality paper or not . To be honest I personally wouldn’t have bought a leather bound pad but it’s a great gift , my son in law is a partner in a stationary company and he sourced it , to him it’s just a sketch pad.
The landscape one , both from my daughter and him , is more my kind of sketchbook, I have lost count of the number I have filled and stored away but at present I have around six on the go , a couple are for specific purposes, one ultimately for my youngest granddaughter that of horses , and of course one for tees and another for boats .
I have several that are for complete drawing , one for painting ideas and a scribble/ doodle one , in addition to the don’t know how many A4 sheets of typing paper sketches I have in couple of folders.
Unfortunately sketching seems to be a thing that a lot of people don’t bother with and proceed straight into painting without developing drawing skills, to me sketching is a fundamental part of my art and a very good way to relax plus benefiting my skills in painting.
Posted
Lovely gift Paul, I’ve never been that fortunate…
Yes indeed, I would have used it for more finished sketches and paintings as you are indeed doing!
I’ve got a ridiculously expensive sketchbook that I bought for myself from Two Rivers Paper Mill down in Somerset. I think is was £60 and Filled with handmade Turner Blue watercolour paper. Made to a similar spec as that which Turner used.
I’m half way through it, and using it for watercolours only, many in the style of Turner, well, as best as I can do obviously, nobody can get anywhere near his work… but we can all dream… and there’s no harm in trying!
I’m using some of his sketchbook paintings as a reference, an interesting project which has helped me to understand a bit more about the great masters technique. I did in fact write a feature in TA a while back, using some of my illustrations as reference.
It would be nice to see a few more add to this thread, I find it interesting because I’m addicting to sketching and sketchbooks in general.
Here’s an example of one of the watercolours in my Two Rivers sketchbook. I’m not trying to copy, that’s pointless as well as nigh-on impossible… I’m using his work as a reference and doing my own thing!
This is still the first page.
Maybe one day!
Posted
Ah Jenny, I know that feeling. I often think ‘should start/restart sketching again’ and then find something else to do!
That’s one reason I found the sketch a day threads here useful especially a few years ago during lockdowns. I have in the past used a few diddy sketch books -approx 4x2”- which can be carried in my pocket/bag during walks. Much of it is habit isn’t it?
I have rarely sketched with a view to a painting, rather than as a thing of its own.
There is always the great New Years Resolution!
Posted
If it suits you to sketch prior to a painting then ok. If not, then ok too. I rarely sketch, I prefer to get straight to painting but I certainly think a lot and plan. I also very loosely sketch out shapes in paint and then off I go. Like you Tessa, I enjoyed the sketch a day a year or so ago. It was a discipline and the more I did the easier it got. I like drawing rather than “sketching”, in pencil or charcoal but on the whole, it’s straight to painting for me.
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