New Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook for Studio Testing
I find it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to realize a painting (even then, sometimes they do not work). Testing ideas is one important part of what has to happen as I work through my personal, creative process. I hope you will find it interesting and helpful as I talk about the various aspects of my process and their evolution.
Many of you know I have been encouraged by Andrea to “make a mark every day” even when I can’t get into my studio. I have really been trying to keep up that practice and find it helps me more and more to think through my studio work. One of the things I have learned is I really enjoy making marks with more of me than my hands – I like to at least use my full arm when I make a mark! I also love my Moleskine sketchbooks and find they hold up the best, because I put my sketchbooks through their paces. I think Moleskine heard my plea, because they now have A3 and A4 size journals and sketchbooks. This larger collection from Moleskine is known as the Folio Collection and the products used to make the products in this collection are all of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified which appeals to my sense of environmental responsibility. I quickly purchased and A3 watercolor sketchbook, because I love the way the watercolor paper works with both acrylic ink and acrylic paint.
A3 Moleskine Sketchbook and 8.5 x 11 inch paper
For those of you not used to the standard A paper sizes, I have placed an 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper in this photo for reference. This larger, sturdy sketchbook is really helpful as I think through the work I am doing. For example, recently I have been working through several processes and one is about not using brushes as I work. I use other items to apply paint, but not brushes. I am also using both acrylic paint and acrylic ink in combination with each other or sometimes the ink alone.
acrylic ink used in sketchbook
This is one of the tests I have been working with in the sketchbook. Here you see a shape (just the one my hand typically wants to make) made with an eye dropper. I then placed plastic sheeting over the entire image. The sheeting helped me fill in the space I had created with a large border and add some color around it and yellow along side the orange. Just watching these colors merge is so meditative.
The dark bits along the upper part of the orange are bits of acrylic ink which had dried on plastic sheeting from another piece. They were applied when the ink was wet. The orange and yellow are regular acrylic inks while the blue and the green are pearlized acrylic inks.
This larger Moleskine format has made a huge difference in the way I am doing preliminary work for my larger canvases. If you like to work large or are wanting to work on composition, I highly recommend this wonderful sketchbook. It feels so good to carry around, see in your studio and to work with wherever you might be.
What have you found recently which has made a difference in your practice? I would love to hear from you. Also, please take a look at the pages I have posted here. I have ideas for a lot more, but you might like to read through what is there so far.
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There are 8 Comments to "New Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook for Studio Testing"
Hi Kim,
I like the idea of moleskins, but I prefer spiral bound books. I like to flip the pages over flat.
Painting without brushes… I can imagine the vast possibilities of unique paint application “tools”
Sorry, reading this white type on black is very eye straining.
Kim love the idea of using a sketchbook and trying to get work done .. I would love to see the painting that you wont use the brushes but how cool it will be looking forward to see your new creation.
Thank you Chewy and Sabi!
I have always loved painting without brushes and you are right, Chewy, the possibilities are endless. Sabi, you can see an example of painting without brushes on this post http://kimrodefferfunk.com/blog/2009/05/22/unfurling-two-bits-today/
I appreciate your comments very much.
love this painting. that leaf shape looks almost real. painting without brushes, a great challenge. i myself have been doing NOTHING creative. maybe i should try the mark a day. thanks kim.
ps i purchased a moleskin with graph paper for journaling with words and have been disappointed in that after only a few uses the binding is tearing. i had a moleskin previously with no problems though so maybe it is a fluke
Hello Suki,
Do try the mark a day trick. It has been good for me, anyway. I am just not a pleasant person when I can’t get to my creative activities at all.
Now, about this Moleskine…do contact the company because I think they would want to hear about it. I have a lot of these journals, which I have truly brutalized, and have never had an issue. It does sound like a fluke, but they need to be aware of the problem. A good company stands behind their product.
Thanks for stopping by to see me. You are a dear friend.
Thank you for this great recommendation, Kim.
And what you said about watching colors merge being very meditative–that really resonates with how I feel about a painting taking shape.
You are so welcome, San! Creating is amazing like that, isn’t it? Finding the meditative qualities means there is real soul to the work – at least I thin of it that way!
Thanks San!