Sketchbook TIP 5
If you want to start adding watercolour to any line work you are doing in your sketchbook, then you will need one with a decent quality paper. I enjoy using the “little black book” now branded by moleskine favoured by artists like Henri Matisse.
You can get one with a stiff cartridge paper. The paper is slightly tinted and can take watercolour without buckling. Moleskine now do a sketchbook with watercolour paper in. The study above of Newcastle’s Town Moor in winter was painted on the spot whilst I was out sledging with my family. I took reference photos as well. It ended up as a larger watercolour which became a popular Christmas card.
Over the last 10 years I’ve been making my own sketchbooks. I buy handmade watercolour by Khadi and some decent leather skins. I cut the leather to size for the covers. Then I take them to a book binding club who show me how to bind the pages together. Once they’re bound, the pages are glued onto the inside leather cover.
I have to say that it’s very satisfying to paint in a Sketchbook that you have made yourself. Even some of my grandchildren enjoy my sketchbooks as they often contain scenes from family holidays.