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analog

2943. Homemade mini sketchbooks

Konayachi

• 2 min read
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2943. Homemade mini sketchbooks

I just made even more homemade sketchbooks just like before!

This is a perfect balance of experimenting paper to find which ones work best with my drawing tools and habit. It's also a great, fun way of finding My Favourite Paper without committing to pricey sketchbooks which feels terrible to abandon if I don't like its paper.

Does this show how cheapskate I am? XD I'm not really into buying super pricey sketchbooks even when a lot of analog artists swear by them.

Both are sized A6. I think it's a nice size!

This time I used two different paper: Fabriano Accademia Watercolor 350GSM for one "mini sketchbook", and Canson Graduate Manga 200GSM for another. I bought those two paper in pad (for Canson) and loose (for Fabriano), both A3 sized. They're the most cost-effective choice for my need.

Canson Graduate Manga is an extremely smooth paper. Having used to Talens sketchbook with its texture, or even Canson Mixed Media's somewhat softer texture; it takes a while to adjust to Manga's slippery, soft touch. It made me wonder about how would it feel to draw on it, as I've been so adjusted to texture.

Fabriano Accademia Watercolor is so much more rough. It honestly intimidates me a bit, but at the same time, making it as small as A6 sized is great because now it looks less intimidating, and I'm able to experiment with it without worry. That was the main reason why I decide to make mini sketchbooks instead of buying fancy ones anyway. :D

I wrote the paper name on both sketchbooks just to remind me where they are from. I miswrote Accademia. D:

The first page of Canson Graduate Manga mini sketchbook:

Here I tested:

  1. Pencil sketch. It glides smoothly!
  2. Ink lineart (Kaweco Sport M nib + Platinum Carbon Black). Really smooth I really like it! Works as well, if not better, than Canson Mixed Media.
  3. More ink test: Platinum Pigment Brun Sepia, Platinum Pigment Blue + Rose Red. Seems like this paper is very very friendly with fountain pen inks overall!
  4. Light watercolour washes. It works, the paper is thick enough for it, but it doesn't have any texture to complement it. It also dries super fast, leaving no chance of colour-mixing.

I haven't tried the watercolor mini sketchbook yet (scared) but when I get to try painting on it, I'll definitely share it here!