new sketchbook, cleaned-up palettes

 

As usual, I started my newest art journal with a sketch of my current palette, which was just cleaned and color selection tweaked. Beginning each book this way gets me past the "I don't know what to draw / I don't want to mess this book up" attitudes. And it keeps an on-going record of paints I'm using.

I'm going to try to do more "on the spot" sketching in this book. Sensitivity to bright sunlight and sticky-hot humidity have kept me from doing so over the summer, but I need to get back to it and stop relying so much on taking photos. This re-purposed vintage Prang box is a favorite for taking along, with a couple of travel brushes already in it. Click on the photo for a larger view; colors are listed on the page.

I keep my travel supplies very minimalist but change what palette I'm using according to the season, the subjects I expect to sketch, how much room I have in my current bag, or simply by what mood I'm in. I don't keep a special bag to carry supplies, preferring to just toss some tools in whatever bag I'm currently using. Just add some paper towels and a folding stool and I'm ready to go. Colors and brands of paint are listed below, from lower rows to upper row in each box:

The larger box on the left page is full of granulating paints:
raw umber violet, DS
potter's pink, W&N
quin. burnt scarlet, DS
monte amiata natural sienna, DS
serpentine genuine, DS
undersea green, DS . . . will replace with sap green when this is gone
cerulean blue chromium, DS
blue apatite genuine, DS
buff titanium, DS
goethite - brown ochre, DS
quin. burnt orange, DS
burnt umber, AJ

smallest box, upper right, is a mint tin:
perylene maroon, DS
quin. gold, DS
sap green, DS
indanthrone blue (dark blue indigo), Sch
quin. burnt orange, DS
burnt umber, AJ

lower right Bijou box:
permanent rose, W&N
pyrrol scarlet, DS
quin. gold, DS
hansa yellow medium, DS
phthalo green, AJ
cerulean blue chromium, DS
phthalo blue, AJ
ultramarine blue, AJ
buff titanium, DS
goethite - brown ochre, DS
quin. burnt orange, DS
raw umber, DS


AJ = American Journey (Cheap Joe's)
DS = Daniel Smith
Sch = Schminke
W&N = Winsor & Newton 

BTW, each inside cover starts out with lots of blank space. By the time I finish a sketchbook journal, the front and back insides are usually covered with verses, encouraging quotes, random information & contact info, or comments.