Hello there
I hope you are doing well. Winter has gone and spring is here. In Belgium, where I live, we have a cloudy/rainy/sunny spring right now.
This month I thought a lot about the way I work in my sketchbook. By periods, I revisit things that can be work better for me and to remove others that doesn’t work anymore. One of them is the way I approach the sketchbook work. So I’ve been looking for a more on the go-taking notes type of work for my tiny sketchbook (A6 Royal Talens creation) So here are some thoughts:
Acrylic paint is my favorite medium to work with in my sketchbook but, sometimes, it takes a little bit of organization to start to paint on the go. Plus, acrylic paint dries so fast in hot weather.
So I discover that I enjoy so much to have a minimal and practical setup for taking painting notes and doing some sketches (for painting, anyways) And for that, there is this water soluble graphite that works very nice with a water reservoir brush. I have two of these tools: a graphite bar and Taylor shape graphite both from Viarco. They have also some colors available but never tried them out. The fact that I prefer these water soluble graphite, and not just a regular pencil, is because the way I observe things around me: they are mostly masses instead of lines. So I am going to choose a brush over another tool that covers less larger areas.
In this video you can see how I sketch with a pencil (with the amazing Palomino matte pencil) in a cafe in Brussels. Where my approach to the work on my sketchbook started being revisited by sketching wherever I wanted to on the go (I am not used to sketch or paint outside or when being with other people).
I also have a box of some Neocolor II that works really nice. They are also watersoluble but it is not the same thing. I don’t really enjoy to came after with my brush over the colored mass. So I plan to try again gouache in a tiny palette and with a water brush to see if that tiny setup can do the work on the go. So I am still trying out some things. Do you have any tips on minimal painting setup? I’ll be happy to read about your own experiences.
The main idea is the need to have a tool that works for me and not the other way around. It is very nice to have a very good looking sketchbook (what a pleasure) but I feel that it has to be (also) some room for doodles or just ideas, to free the hand and mind.
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I also work in a bigger sketchbook, the same brand bit A4 size. It has a beautiful red cover that I enjoy so much. This time I painted with acrylics, I did a drawing with water soluble graphite and another acrylic painting but using soft pastels for the main subjetc and for the first time. What a beautiful medium to work with.
If you want to see some process of this painting you can do it in my last Youtube video
WORKSHOPS
I host in person monthly workshops, there is still some places available if you live in Belgium and you are interested. Let me know by email elenaburcioa@gmail.com and I’ll send you the details. Last time, we did still life painting. This is the painting I did during the workshop.
PAINTING COMMISSION
I work on commissioned paintings. In my online shop there is a predeterminated range of sizes and prices that you can order, but if you are thinking about something else for your project, we can discuss it by email. I work with acrylic painting and with oil painting. This is an exemple of an acrylic painting scene commission I did. The price of this kind of commission is 90€ plus shipping costs size 12 x 16 cm.
That’s all for this month! I hope you enjoyed this painting letter, you can share it so more people can enjoy it :)
You can follow my work on Instagram, Tik Tok, Youtube @elenaburcioa
See you next time, bye.
Elena.