Thursday, August 28, 2008

New sketchbooks


I'm making some new watercolor sketchbooks from older fiction books, which kills me to cut up, but I do it for "art". I'm trying to get the perfect sketchbook ready for an upcoming trip to Italy, where I am going in October to harvest olives. These are filled with 90lb. arches and strathmore watercolor paper. An assortment of both hot and cold press. I used a nice glassine packet from Philippe's as an end page, to protect the watercolor paper, and state where the book was made (Los Angeles).
I really can't decide whether to bring a larger sketchbook, or very small. Sometimes, I would rather not paint at all, then use dried up pan colors, and small brushes, but I am going to pack very lightly, as I have to bring work gloves, etc., my mandolin.......

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:20 AM

    Wow, Dee, sounds like a wonderful trip...and excellent priorities, sketchbooks and mandolin, what else would you need?! ;-)

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  2. Anonymous10:57 PM

    These look like very soul satisfying sketchbooks indeed. How exciting to visit Italy. Not sure about the harvesting olive part though. It sounds like hard work?

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  3. What a great trip! And those olive trees will have lots of character.
    As for sketchbook size, a light weight alternative is to bring a piece of foam core and loose sheets. They can be torn down to tiny pocket size or left at what ever size you like to sketch. Have fun.

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  4. Great watercolor sketchbooks! I hope you come back with them all filled with some wonderful gems. Also, you'll need to fill us in on the olive harvesting.

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  5. Have fun in Italy. I finally made it there two years ago, and now I "get it" about art and Italy!

    Have you seen my Italian olive tree drawings? Italian Olive Grove

    Olive trees and Paint

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