strathmore visual journal... my new companion

Hello frnds,

today I am going to write about my new outdoor companion.

since last year I get a little time to spend with myself as my daughter started going to the playschool for 2 hrs.

I wanted to paint so badly that I thought I should utilize those spare time doing some sketch works on daily basis.

I tried to work with acrylic painting but it didn't worked out properly because I was always getting distracted by some or the other reasons.

I was desperate as its absolutely frustrating for me of not able to do painting the way I want to.

I was nearly broken when the idea of quick sketches strike me.

Visual journaling and sketching outdoor.

. I always liked the idea, as you can see in my previous blogs. I thought it would be great if I start with this concept once again as I have a little time for myself.

I started keeping a sketchbook handy with me with some pigma micron pens. I carried them always whenever I am outdoor.. anywhere and everywhere from children  playground to shopping malls ..

I must say I enjoying draeing people and places.

my sketchbooks varied from the local brand Brustro to Strathmore visual journals.

today I would like to review about my experiences with Strathmore visual journal and cotman portable travel set.

as you can see .. this journal is definitely well travelled .. hence it looks rustic and torn

here I must mention the details.

Visual journal- Starthmore
140 lb ( 300 gsm) watercolor paper
cold pressed
22 sheets - 44 pages
size: 5.5 in X 8 In (14 cm X 20.3 Cm)
Acid free wire bound
lie flat and open 360 degrees
page color- white

 It is compatible with

• graphic pencils
• Pen and Ink
• color pencils
• charcoal
• markers
• soft pastels
• oil pastels
• watercolor pencils
• watercolor
• acrylic
• collage
• gouache

now here is my own experience

just loved this sketchbook. as it is very compact and can be fit into a snall sling bag along with compact watercolor set and pens

love the texture of the paper.

I mostly used my cotman travel set and pigma micron pens

here are my sketches as a specimen of my visual review of this excellent sketchbook

these are some of my sketches with cotman watercolor set...

I am in love with watercolor sketches...

Hello..

Its been an wonderful journey of a new mom that I experienced in last 3 year. my daughter delighted us with lots of sleepless nights and lovely sweet emotional meltdowns.

she is 3 now.. and I hope I can resume to my weekly blogging exercises now..

now let me tell you.. what did I do apart form playing new mom or changing diapers and feeding her to be précised.


well... I bought lots and lots of art supplies and books... and of course some silver jewelries...



Meanwhile my mystic canvas page has crossed the first 1000 likes .. oh yeah.. and I don't know how.. because I seldom posted my artworks there.. still so many are just rotting on my desks and crawers..

no big paintings... no serious works..

I just kept sketching and journaling and buying supplies... those were my motivations.. seriously..

let me share some of my sketching works with you..

I will review about the supplies later..

Playground sketches

stormy night from 11th floor balcony

fallen

Checkpost

security check post

bedside workplace

as you can see.. I am obsessed with my art supplies and I  have no time to spend in my art corner.. so this is my regular easily convertible work place.

that's all for today folks... going to slice veggies for lunch...

see you.....

its fun to sketch people secretly...

Hello

last week, we had a trip to local diagnostic centre for a routine check up.. 

before I hooked up with this journaling idea.. we used to visit such  places without much happy mood actually.. a trip to doctor's place is never a fun.. you should agree with me...reading old magazines.. staring at TV, cautiously observing at other people and their activities.. scent of medicines and sickness... all those things made the trip most unwelcome one...

but now I carry my small notebook with water brush pen and water soluble crayons and believe me friends .... I feel more relaxed.. even if I have to spend more than hours waiting for my turn to meet the doctor..

My new found interest make me more content..as I find it thrilling to sketch unknown people in public places.. without letting them know that they are being captured in my notebook forever... heeehheeeee...

 

I saw this aged gentleman in traditional Indian cloth (Dhoti and Kurta) was waiting outside the ultrasound department.. he was dozing off on a nearby chair...while I was sketching him.. as soon as I finished the sketching.. he left to meet his doctor.. I was lucky indeed to finish the  sketch just on time..

in another section of the same centre... It was world cup time ..... so that's how people spend their waiting time in diagnostic centres... I am no big football fan.. but sketching people watching football.. and that too while waiting for doctor's appointment was real fun to capture... couldn't resist....

 

Working with watercolor crayons on A5 160 gsm Sketchpad = happy feelings

Hi friends,

well... what could be the best way to simplify a long blog into an one-liner....

Life is about using the whole box of crayons. ~RuPaul
 

that what I was doing for couple of days.. and its really addictive.. lots of colors... I am soo obsessed..

Last week I bought, a A5 sketchpad with 160 gsm paper weight.. as you can see, it looks quite hardy and sophisticated.


A5 Sketch pad- 160 gsm- good for watercolour crayons and light wash.

I am little shy to display my whole watercolour box set in public. I got wary, under curious unfamiliar eyes, so I decided, will be carrying watercolour crayons instead.

It is more peaceful to work without much public curious attentions. crayons are very easy to carry secretly in a pouch.. I also carry  koi water brush pen for light wash and 0.2 waterproof fine liner.


Mungyo watercolour crayons

 


36 crayon box







can you see all happy colours, and believe me they are really vibrant. its a Korean brand. I ordered it through snapdeals.com..

I was little apprehensive about, how the A5 160 gsm sketchbook pages will respond to these highly pigmented crayons.. but it turned out to be quite satisfactory..

I started decorating my sketchpad with some happy drawings...



address page

 yes.. that's how my cover page is looking like...



paper strength testing-- for watercolour crayons

next two pages, were for colors and paper strength testing... which was good.. light crayon swatches.. that's all you need.. otherwise you may get little pigmented stains at the back of your pages....

 

i keep my crayons in this small box...

 

This is a recycled souvenir-box-turned-into-essential-travel-art-case, now it contains 2 ml water brush pens, 1 fine liner, small water container and crayons..

it s a magic box actually, that helps me to be invisible in public...

 

I am loving this new meduim.. even planning to buy some Crayola crayons... 64 colors.... <3.. don't know if there is any cure for such color hunger... heehehee

 

Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. ~Claude Monet

till i come back... have a colourful day... <3