At the end of July I was lucky enough to go to San Francisco with my sister-in-law Karen. We stay with our long-time best mate Mel who lives in Mountain View. She has a lovely apartment where we crash and enjoy the pool, gym, sauna and local places to eat. We had an amazing time and like last year I also decided to take a sketchbook with me to record our adventures. I collect postcards, maps, leaflets, stickers and take a whole bunch of photos to add to the sketchbook. Some of the sketches of Mel and Karen were done from life whilst lounging around the pool!
Unlike last year when I came home with an almost finished sketchbook , this year it seems I was having too much fun to get much sketching and painting done. It must have been something to do with trips to Santa Cruz in a Mustang convertible, walking through Redwood forests in Big Basin or biking around Stevens Creek nature reserve!
When I completed last year's summer sketchbook I made two colour copies and gifted them to Karen and Mel at Christmas - they are kind of expecting the same again this year so at least I have until December 2017 to get it completed!
This is the equipment I take with me for holiday sketching and painting which all fits into my San Francisco pencil case (of course).
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| The concertina or zig-zag sketchbook I am using this year is one of Cass Art's own brand. Last year's was from Seawhite. Comparing the two I would have to say the Seawhite has the edge in terms of quality of paper and how it holds the watercolour washes and more intense paintings better. |
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| A few pencils, fine-liners and Daler Rowney Acrylic paint markers which have pretty great coverage and bold colour. |
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| The Derwent fillable paintbrushes are great if you can't get easy access to water for painting on the go. The Cretacolor watercolour pencils are also very useful for working outside - you can always add water later on in the day for washes. |
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| I have had this mini Windsor and Newton watercolour set for a while now and I love it. You can change the watercolour pans which I often swap with a larger watercolour set I have. Great to mix / match the palette you need for different places. |
Just catching up on all your blog posts. The girls have slept in for the first time the whole holidays! These are amazing memory keepers full of colour and vibrancy. Jo xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo. I need to complete it soon before the memories fade away!
DeleteOh I remember your sketchbook from last year - they're gorgeous!! It sounds, and looks, like you had an amazing holiday again! Thanks for all the information on your supplies - I'd love to start doing some drawing & painting again but it's been such a long time since I've done any.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathryn, the best advice I could give you would be just go out and do some sketching when you feel like it (and when you get the chance). It's definitely like riding a bike - you will soon be back into the swing of it!
DeleteI love that idea! That is so creative! And the sketches you have made so far look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kat. I have a lot more sketching to be done still but it's so much fun to do!
DeleteAnother beautiful sketch book and what a lovely gift to give your travel companions. Sounds like a great trip! X
ReplyDeleteA blissful holiday and fantastic gifts as memories of your time together
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely thing to do on a holiday. I just snap a few photos normally!
ReplyDeleteYou have created a bit of a monster in terms of having to create them as gifts each time! Wonderful gifts though. Looks like you had an amazing time.