Welcome to July 2024’s Sketchbook Confessional!
The Sketchbook Confessional is a blog where I recap my work that I’ve done within a month’s time. It is my ‘done’ list rather than a ‘to-do’ list - a way for me to objectively review my completed work.
July went by in a flash, it seems. I was able to take a few days to fill up pages in my Traveler’s Notebook Watercolor refills with watercolors using the Sakura Koi CAC set, a group of twelve brilliant neon and flourescent colors. I drew things like Balogar from Octopath Traveler and scenes from Gene Wolfe’s Book of the Long Sun, or at least the way I see some of the scenes from the book.
In July it was so hot outside that I was able to make a lot of handmade paper and set it outside to dry. It seemed like on some days, the paper would dry in record amounts of time. Something about it felt like putting a towel out to dry and it already being dry by the time it was hung up.
Above is a good image of the Sakura Koi CAC set and how it layers. I’m working through the Watercolor Workbook by Budd Biggs and Lois Marshall (shown above) and mostly getting completely schooled, owned, or otherwise surprised, and am finding that learning to watercolor well is going to take probably my whole life, and it will be worth it. I like what I make right now, and at the same time, I am also sure I can make more and better watercolors.
After making lots of handmade paper, I usually paint the paper and then cut it into paper animal shapes. Here is a nighttime frisbee dog which was really fun to make.
I was able to get up to the high country at the end of July and get a few wildflower photos as well. This was fun, and it seems like there are many wildflowers out, this season.
All in all I got a lot done in July! It really did fly by though. Summer is so exciting. Catch you next time!