You NEED a Pocket Sketchbook for Urban Sketching!

-


 Pros of Using a Pocket Sketchbook!

1. Price vs Quality

    If you are a sketcher that is budget conscious, you are probably looking for ways to keep costs low and quality high. The First reason to switch to a smaller sketchbook, does just that. By switching to a smaller sketchbook, you can either pay the same price and get better paper quality, or pay less and get the same paper quality. In the past I have certainly been a "frugal sketcher" just looking for the cheapest product, whether that be: paint, sketchbooks, pens, ink, you name it. By downsizing your sketchbook, you are often paying less and getting more (quality wise)



Photo by Craig Adderly
2. Speed/ Sketch Efficiency

    The summer of 2022 has been a hot one, with multiple weeks consistently touching 100°F. So for those of us that paint "en plein air" it can be incredibly difficult to get outside, let alone stay outside long enough to get a sketch that you are happy with. By downsizing, you almost instantly decrease the amount of time it takes to complete a sketch. So, rather than spending three hours, you can get it done in one.

3. Low Pressure

Photo by Melany Rizo

    When Urban sketching, in order to keep the sketching experience fun, it is important to keep things simple. Using a small sketchbook can be a reminder to keep your sketch simple. Because of how our minds work, a smaller painting is often a less important painting. Using a small sketchbook, you are subconsciously telling yourself that there's no pressure. 


4. Portability

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
    If you struggle with not getting out to paint as often as you want, the issue may be that you just don't have your supplies on you at all times. The easiest way to fix this is to start carrying your supplies more often, and it's easier to do that if your supplies are portable. Carrying your sketchbook will instantly make you far more likely to start and go through with paintings more often. This principle not only applies to sketchbooks, but to all art supplies. And as Stephen King said," It's best to have your tools with you. If you don't, you're apt to find something you didn't expect and get discouraged.” The most effective tool is the one that you have on you. 

5. Focus on What's Important

Photo by Tiana
    Last but not least, downsizing your sketchbook size forces you to focus on what is truly important. Because there is not space for elaborate detail or for wildly encompassing compositions, you can only focus on the basics. The basics (meaning: composition, color, values, etc.) are what build great paintings. So by sketching smaller, you don't get lured into the details, but rather you focus on fundamentals in order to become a better artists.




The Sketchbook I'm currently using (Amazon Affiliate Link): I receive a commission on purchases via this link.
https://amzn.to/3qt4MJ6

Melany Rizo on Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-walking-on-orange-flower-field-2104759/

Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-artist-with-new-sketchpad-in-park-4560186/

Tiana on Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-white-shirt-and-blue-denim-shorts-sitting-on-brown-wooden-table-13551936/

Craig Adderley from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/female-sketching-on-white-spiral-sketchbook-1767015/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Tips to Stay Safe while Painting Outside

-
Image
Photo by Chase Baker on Unsplash  Since 2020, Plein air painting and Urban Sketching seem to have had a boom in popularity. The popularity of Plein air and urban sketching videos on YouTube have caused many people to try it for themselves. And while this is great for the art community and individuals alike, I feel like a lot of us fail to recognize the etiquette and safety concerns that need to be addressed. In this Article I am going to cover some Plein air and Urban sketching etiquette that should be maintained, as well as tips that will keep you safe while making art outside. 1. Mind People's Privacy I know we have all see videos on YouTube of sketching people from life or sketching someone's house from life, but, many people aren't going to like that if they catch on to what you are doing. While you may have wholesome intentions of improving your art skill, not everyone knows that. And in a world where many people are isolated from their neighbors and hold their privac...
Read more

Artist Review: Duke 209 Fude Nib Pen

-
Image
  Duke 209 Fude Nib Pen When looking for affordable beginner fountain pens, it can be hard to find good-quality a pen not made out of plastic. One of the more attractive pens in this niche is the Duke 209 Fountain pen. This text review will give a general overview and give my genuine opinion of whether this pen is worth the price. Nib      The Duke 209 comes with a "Fude NIb" meaning that the end of the nib is bent upwards. The nib is bent to an angle of approximately 45 degrees, allowing for both broad and fine lines. It writes rather smoothly and does allow for upside-down writing to make even finer lines. Build      While the Nib itself is said to be made out of stainless steel, the rest of the body is aluminum. This makes the pen quite light, weighing only 23 grams. A notable feature of the build is that the threads of both the male and female sections of the pen are made out of metal. On cheaper pens, this midsection of the pen (when made out of p...
Read more

What's up with Limited Color Palettes?

-
Image
In the internet art sphere, limited palettes have been pretty popular for quite a while. Limited color palettes are exactly what they sound like. When painting or drawing, instead of using a large amount  of colors (12-24), a limited palette only relies on a small amount of colors (2-5). Because limited color palettes are so 'limited' (obviously) they rely heavily on improvisation and color mixing. Both limited and non-limited color palettes have their pros and cons, this article aims to explain some of them. If you've never used a limited color palette, you may be wondering to yourself, why would someone want to use less colors when they could use more colors. While painting with less colors may seem like and unnecessary handicap, I promise it does have its benefits.  For one, when you use less colors, you begin to get very comfortable with how those specific colors interact. And, if you chose a yellow, red and a blue, you will learn everything you need to know about how t...
Read more