3 Quick Ways to Start a Sketchbook - Part Two
Hi there. How are you?
I’m excited to share the second half of my video series, “ 3 Quick Ways to Start a New Sketchbook.” You can catch the first installment HERE.
In this post and accompanying video, I’ll show you how I used the sketchbook pages that I started in the last post. I used ballpoint pen in all of these, but you could use any material of your choosing. I’m thinking marker, tech pen, or even colored pencil would work on these pages.
So lets’s get into it!
Watch the video tutorial!
1) Start with a Scribble
Using the initial green scribble as a jumping off point, choose a contrasting color and start shading around shapes you find interesting. Start connecting them together, continuing to shade with the blue until most of the page is covered. Lastly, you may want to enhance the green. I added green stripes and thickened up some of the green lines to create a little contrast from the blue.
If you’d like to learn more about my ballpoint shading technique, check out the Jen + Ink online courses!
2) Mindful Marker Tracing
If you’re looking for a relaxing, almost mindless sketchbook technique, try this one! After scribbling on the page with thick markers, use a contrasting pen or marker to trace around the edges of the marker strokes. If you feel like filling the page, you could fill in the background with stripes or another pattern. So fun, so relaxing!
3) Washable Marker Watercolor Backdrop
Once the page is fully dry, pick up a drawing implement of your choice and start responding to the shapes and marks of the marker/watercolor wash. Perhaps you trace around the shapes like in the previous drawing? Perhaps you mimic the shapes you see or make something completely different? Whatever you do, be sure to let some of the watercolor show through.
I did this watercolor wash on a textured paper, and as I find it easiest to draw with ballpoints on smooth paper, I was a bit concerned with this one. So glad I challenged myself because I love the way it turned out and I really enjoyed drawing on the textured paper. There was something really pleasant about the brush of the pen across the paper. There might just be more ballpoint drawing on textured paper in the future!
That’s all for now.
I leave you with a sweet snap of Cleo that was taken during a recent branding photo shoot I had at the house. Shout out to Angelina of Ember and Birch who made me and Cleo look our best on camera!
