Artist: Andrew Banks, United States Artist Statement: My sketchbook is a record of my artistic process; a place for me to investigate and develop techniques and to record what inspires me. This Prairie Style planter is just one of many sketches in an ongoing series dedicated to the architecture of the Lincoln Park neighborhood of […]
December 1st, 2015
Artist: France Belleville-Van Stone Artist Statement: Because I rarely do a “pre-sketch” in pencil, I often end up with second or third attempts on one page. There is something healthy about keeping the failed drawings close at hand, to be reminded of where they went wrong. The construction lines cannot be erased as they were […]
November 11th, 2015
Aritst: Russell Stutler, Japan Aritst Statement: This year I started drawing with a dip pen and bottle of ink which I loved during my high school days in the 1970s. I used a Zebra Maru (mapping pen) [comic pen nib] which is practically a crowquill nib and Pilot drafting ink for this drawing. Lately I’ve […]
October 16th, 2015
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN Artist: Jorge Santiago, Jr., United States Artist Statement: I enjoy drawing people more than anything, and when I saw this woman at the store I wished I had my sketchbook on me. I drew this after coming home, the image still strong in my mind. I remembered the woman’s outfit, the hair, the […]
September 9th, 2015
Artist: Jessica Canales, United States Artist Statement: Head badges are hood ornaments and logos for bikes, attached to the bike’s “head tube”. This collection of vintage head badges was displayed at a new bike shop in Portland, Oregon, called Rivelo. They caught my eye, being old and detailed, and I love drawing up collections of […]
August 29th, 2015
Artist: Molly Dixon, United States Artist Statement: I love drawing and have been drawing since I can remember. Growing up, I adored Disney and drew Disney characters all of the time. In fact, most of my sketchbooks from when I was a kid consist of Disney drawings. But when I went off to college and […]
August 23rd, 2015
Artist: Brenda Swenson, United States Artist Statement: It’s been a busy summer with a family reunion at the Lake of the Ozarks, road trip to Northern California, taught three workshops, day trip to San Diego… Throughout the weeks and months my Stillman & Birn sketchbook was by my side. I have many books filled with […]
August 12th, 2015
Artist: ‘BurgerSketch’, Australia Artist Statement: For one spread, I usually start with one corner and finished the rest of the page. I normally use ink, watercolour and markers. I started sketching in April 2014.
Since I was a newbie, I tried to practice everyday and that’s how my sketch journal began. My favourite sketchbooks are […]
July 7th, 2015
Paul Heaston is not only a great artist but a great bookbinder too! Paul made this sketchbook from sheets of Alpha Series paper that we now offer in 22″ x 30″.
The Allard was a limited edition 1950’s British sports car, shipped to the U.S. engine-less and fitted with Lincoln and Cadillac engines. Paul drew […]
June 8th, 2015
Artist: Laura Sfiat, United States Artist Statement: I recently gave a workshop at the local Urban Sketchers chapter in Boston. I had prepared some handouts on my 20-minute technique for urban renderings. Here below, is the process from beginning to end including the color wash.
The event was very well attended and I was quite […]
April 25th, 2015
Artist: Suzie Mattos Irby, United States Artist Statement: The first thing I drew in life was a little bouquet of flowers when I was about 3 years old for my grandmother to take to my grandfather in the hospital. She saved that for many years. The latest painting was from a photo taken by Irini […]
April 6th, 2015
Artist: Patrick Ng, Singapore Artist Statement: I sketched this drawing on location on the corner of Swanston & Flinders St. in the gorgeous city of Melbourne when we visited in December. I usually sketch direct with my Hero fountain pen (with fude nib), loaded with Noodler’s Bulletproof Black ink. So I stood there under the […]
March 22nd, 2015
Artist: Leigh Reyes, Philippines Artist Statement: My drawings have words and my words have drawings. I “callidoodle” – many of my drawings, incorporate calligraphic strokes, for directional texture. My preferred pens are fountain pens with flexible nibs.
For this drawing, I appropriated this pose from a picture of me many years back, but it’s really […]
March 12th, 2015
Artist: Anya Toomre Artist Statement: I am enrolled in the online Sketchbook Skool and was presented with the creative challenge of stealing an admired artist’s work. I chose Albrecht Dürer because the animals he has drawn have always fascinated me. I knew about his Hare and Walrus, but only recently came across his Rhinoceros. Given […]
February 12th, 2015
Artist: Russell Stutler, Japan Artist Statement: For the new year I decided to focus on ink drawings, so I bought a new Epsilon Series wirebound sketchbook. This drawing was done entirely in brush and ink, and the models were fellow train commuters. These four people were not together when I saw them, but it made […]
January 19th, 2015
CARSON COTTAGE Architectural illustrator Andrew Banks created this pen and ink study of a small, historic building situated in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. “This is a building I have had my eye on for quite a while but only until recently got around to sketching. Carson Cottage, a Victorian era building, built in 1888 sits in […]
December 28th, 2014
Illustrator Jeff Nelson explains in this post that he likes to do calligraphy drawings to accompany the books he’s reading. This one is a tribute to Patrick Leigh Fermor (1915 – 2011), who was regarded as England’s greatest travel writer and “a cross between Indiana Jones, James Bond and Graham Greene.”
“My name is Jeff […]
December 22nd, 2014
AUSTERE AND ELEGANT Thank you naturalist Jean Mackay for posting this unique art journal spread. It combines a botanical study of desiccated pods (they’re Baptisia australis; common name is False Blue Indigo) and a line from a Winter poem from the Victorian era. Jean says the Zeta Series paper was “a perfect match for both […]
December 16th, 2014
When we get inquiries about which of our papers are suitable for pen and ink, we reply “all of them”. “But even the cold press surfaces, like Beta and Delta?” Yes, they are all mixed media papers and support inking techniques (plus of course varying amounts of wet media). Alaskan artist Michelle Hotchkiss illustrates the […]
November 19th, 2014
Erik Davis had sent us this drawing of an eerie house in his neighborhood that we were to have posted before Halloween. We apologize to Erik for being late!
“This is called Haunted McPherson, it measures roughly 10 x 7 inches. The painting is loosely based on a house in our neighborhood, on McPherson Street. […]