I have just started my 100th Moleskine watercolour sketchbook, since December 2008. I know this because I write in the number in the front page of each one. I use Moleskine watercolor sketchbook 13 x 19 cm (known as Large). I have used these since I first decided to sketch consistently in a sketchbook, rather than on lots of loose pages ad Visual Art diaries that I had. I am sure the Moleskine was a recommendation of Liz Steel, as I was sketching so much with her in Sydney at the time. I was also using watercolour pencils then and ink pens, (but not my current lovely Lamy Safari Joy Ink pen)

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I sketch almost every day and so I stock up and buy a few at a time. My usual stockist is Book Depository in the UK as they are a third less price than anywhere else and have free delivery. They were out of stock for a long time so I ordered from anywhere I could find. Just yesterday I checked and they are back in stock, so I ordered ten. That will do me for a while!

I label them . I am a librarian.

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Of course, there are sometimes that I use a large sketchbook or whatever paper is at hand. or previously I have sketched in other brands’ sketchbooks. A5 Visual Diary. I had been sketching on and off for many years, Once I started using Moleskine journals I felt a real commitment and joy in sketching every day. If it is not in my sketchbook, it will be on another drawing project. There is so much fulfilment in drawing, see my post (which gets a lot of reads) Why drawing makes me happy . I feel as though I am still continually learning about my watercolour pencils. and I like to have the same paper each time so that I know what to expect. I feel no need to experiment and try other brands. And now I need to sketch every day.

This is the first two pages from December 2008.

and the first two pages in my current sketchbook

Do I ever look at the sketchbooks? yes!

Although I have all the pages scanned and on my hard drive (sorted by date) They are also on Flickr website where. they are by date but also searchable by tags and keywords. They are also sorted into themed albums, by topic or event. Explore and enjoy !

I take sketchbooks off my shelves for exhibitions or to show classes specific pages that are relevant to the class ie travel sketching nature sketching, sketching food. Students also get a lot out of looking through the whole sketchbook and seeing how I put words and sketches on the page, what I sketch and how I use watercolour pencil. There is nothing like turning pages of the real thing! I like to think they provide real inspiration for people. I love to look through other people’s sketchbooks. And sometimes I look at my sketchbook for pure nostalgia, remembering a place and a time as I sketched it.

What’s changed?

• My ink skills have improved so much. They were so scratchy and now I have a lot more confidence in sketching in ink, and combining it with colour.
• A few years ago I suddenly ‘got’ sketching crowds quickly.
• The subject matter is still the same – food, travel, objects, nature, books.
• I’ve improved my techniques with watercolour pencil – texture, and detail
• I am comfortable with my style. I realise it is the “unfinished look” and “impression of detail”. Once I had that in my head I have been happy with anything I sketch.
• I still struggle with, but am no longer anxious, about the formatting of the page. The sketch always comes before the words. I probably should plan more before starting a page.

I hope this has been useful and interesting.