My favorite way to eliminate the often paralyzing fear of "ruining" "good" paper is to just paint on any and all junk mail that comes into my house. Higher end catalogs are great for this, they don't use slick, thin paper (and even that gets used in collage or as a desk cover for other projects) and they're already bound for you. Just add marks! Carry it with you. Scan the pages you like. Cut it up later for making other art. It's "just" junk mail, so there is literally no pressure. I have HUNDREDS of these type of things and I run across them all the time, forgotten, in some old backpack or purse or drawer and it's a treasure to look through them again, and add new marks, paints and words.
A3 format, acrylic, mixed technique
We sat around the campfire, talked about everything a bit when someone asked:
- Can you tell us your thoughts about death?
Old Bone is pulled pipe from the backpack, filled it with tobacco and lit. We have been waiting patiently for the response of this unusual being, deep age, and great living experience.
- Everyone would like to know the truth about death, whether it is the full end of life or a new beginning, " said Old Bone - It is wiser to ask questions about life, the purpose of life, and keeping the spark. Truly, few are looking for the truth about life. I believe that with only the complete knowledge of life, one can perceive what is happening after death.-
- How to explain the messages of the dead through the media, learning religions about reincarnation, heaven, and hell, eternal life, testimonies of survivors of clinical death?
- Fraud and delusions, speculation - calmly replied Old Bone - You must know one thing: there are doors between life and death, The Door Keeper will never let the living know what happens after death. The secret of death only he knows - and that's enough. I think life can only survive this way.
Rad experience joining a local drawing group for the first time yesterday although I didn't realise how inconvenient my backpack was going to be, it made me slow to set up / pack up and a few of us had to organise a locker at the gallery as we didn't know backpacks weren't allowed so I spent most of today sewing a bag/sketchbook cover which fits an A4 sketchbook, pencils, id and phone and also has some backing in it so I can easily sketch on my lap without dropping my stuff all over the place. I'm going to do a bit more work on my weird comic book page tonight but in the mean time this is my sea serpent digitally coloured, he lives at Apollo Bay and likes to sleep camouflaged amongst the lifesaver rings.
Colorful Goldfish - Another watercolor sketch from my newest sketchbook. I'm using Strathmore Mixed Media 300 Series (5.5 in x 8.5 in). It has 40 sheets of 90 lb. vellum surface paper. They cost under $10 and can be used for most anything including wet media (light washes) without the paper falling apart or warping badly. One of the best all purpose sketchbooks I've found and the size makes it easy to toss in a backpack and carry daily. Anyway, just wanted to share my good experience with the group. What's your favorite sketchbook brand/format?
