On the same page
Posted: February 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized 11 CommentsI’m trying out a bigger Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook, and with it a new way of working. This 9″ x 12″ paper is larger than I usually work so instead of filling the page (which I didn’t have time to do today) I thought I’d try a series of vignettes, all on the same page. These can be used as little compositional studies for something that might be worked up into a bigger sketch or painting later on (like the green snow fence near the church) or simply be observations about the day (like the fire hydrant in the snow).
I have a Moleskine this size, so I’m going try that as well. Good idea!
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I love those big Moleskines but in Canada they are ridiculously expensive so I’ve never bought one.
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Shari,I just saw this size at Powell’s Books today. I didn’t buy it as it seemed a bit big and a little
intimidating. I may have to go back after seeing your lovely vignettes.
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I think you’ll like this size Linda. It’s nice to hold as well.
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I love these! I have always liked sketches which are quick and unfussy but which still create an impression of what is being drawn… these are successful on all counts. And then, having the three arranged casually on a single sheet adds to their success. I think you can be really happy with these without the need to work them into anything larger. Although, I am still trying to work out what the red R2D2 thing covered in snow is?
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Thanks Ross. Don’t you have R2D2s on the street in Australia?
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Let me guess… is R2D2 a fire hydrant? (I still have 19 questions remaining)
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Love these, Shari. Thumbnail sketches are always exciting. A large sketchbook is particularly useful when I am trying to do gestures of birds. I can cram a lot of birds on one page in the larger sketchbook.
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I don’t know how you manage to draw birds so well Lee. The ones I try to draw are always moving and flying off. I guess in Florida they hang around more.
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I love my big Stillman and Birn. I complain about the weight since I often draw standing, but it’s hard to go back to a smaller size. The vignettes are a good idea, often I have only a few minutes and filling a page that big seems impossible.
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I bet you would do great vignettes Suhita. I like the big book but I find filling the page takes a lot of time. These little sketches seem to work better for me.
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