Butterflies Page Sequence. The Art Of Patience.

Stillman and Birn Epsilon Series Hardbound Sketchbook.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils.

 

I'm really amazed of what I have done here, specially in terms of being patient.

I normally do fast sketches or a page which takes me lot less than one day to finish. This page has been done through almost a week ...not working continuously though. 

Each butterfly took me around three hours to complete.

Working with colored is very rewarding but takes time. You don't realize that while drawing because it is very relaxing, it is almost meditative. You can achieve great rich colors with lots of layers and like watercolors you can have a limited palette because you can mix the colored pencils as well.

I've been reading and doing some exercises from Botanical Drawing in Color by Wendy Hollender.  

I highly recommend her book if you want to try serious drawings with colored pencils, even if you don't want to draw flowers. She only uses 20 of the 120 colors available in the Polychromos range and does the most beautiful botanical illustrations. 

I'm very happy with my butterflies, I still look at them and can't believe I made them!!! 

Stillman and Birn Epsilon Series Hardbound Sketchbook First Impressions

I have a new sketchbook to try. It is a Stillman and Birn Epsilon Series Hardbound Sketchbook. 

I already have a Stillman and Birn Beta Series Hardbound Sketchbook which I briefly reviewed here and I love it, except for the fact that I'm not very fond of extra-heavy paper sketchbooks. I is great for painting, doesn't buckle but not for flicking through the pages... just a weird thing I have...

I got this new one because I wanted to try the smooth surface and I also wanted a less heavier paper.

First I customized the outside painting one of my mandalas in white acrylic. To protect it, when it was completely dry, I applied two coats of Matte Acrylic medium.

Then on the first page I painted a color wheel, using the watercolors I have on my Winsor and Newton Bijou box and labeling them with black ink and a dip pen.

I noticed the watercolors don't "run" or "spread" as freely as they do on watercolor paper and I can see the brush strokes but I don't mind, it is not design for watercolors anyway and I knew that before hand.

The ink takes a little longer to dry than in other papers, so I have to be careful if i don't want to get smudges. No feathering which is great.

Next step will be to try drawing with colored pencils and markers which these series are meant to.

For those out there who like me are afraid of the first page or a blank page, nothing as making mistakes on the first page of your journal! After the annoyment of messing the first page then you are free to carry on!!!

Evolution of Sketchbook Page

On Saturday I collected some little treasures on the beach, see previous post here. Yesterday I had a great quiet afternoon drawing some of them on my journal. 

Stillman and Birn Beta Series Hardbound Sketchbook.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils.

Stay tuned for more!