Volume 19

I’ve finished my 19th sketchbook. I have done a lot of color charts in this one, as well as Foundations coursework. I have sketches done from my Stonecreek walks. I have been rather experimental in doing more design with color charts, evolving into a new exploration of abstracts. I did 100 People in One Week in this sketchbook, too.

I begin the book with the Liz Steel Patreon community challenge to focus on negative spaces and painting. For the March challenge, I worked to the edge. April is foreshortening, and I end the sketchbook with a foreshortened view of Tuzigoot, which is also a nice finish to Foundations.

This book the Stillman and Birn Gamma softcover, 8.5 x 5.5 inches. 150 gsm, Ivory, Medium grain, with 46 sheets.. Same paper as the Alpha, but Ivory colored. I find I rather like the soothing ivory color. I did not particularly notice the color affecting my paint mixes for anything other than skin tones. Most of my sketchbooks have been Stillman and Birn Alpha, so this has been quite comfortable.

I continue my personal challenge to work through all of Stillman and Birn paper types, using this softcover 8.5 x 5.5 landscape size. Volume 20 will be the Delta series, with heavier weight paper, as I begin the Travel Sketching class. I’m not ready to let go of the Ivory paper, just yet. I’m also looking forward to experimenting with heavier water flow exercises like in the Painting Yourself Calm book by Jean Haines. With fewer pages, 26 sheets, I’ll move through it faster, which hopefully will be good timing for a new sketchbook to coincide with a family vacation I’ll be taking in mid-April.