The Love for Things Analogue: My Very First Traveler's Notebook

I began to form interest in traveler's notebooks when I came across the hashtag #loveforanalogue on Instagram. Sure, I've known the TN for years. But never before have I thought to purchase one because, well, as the term implies, it's probably designed for people who travel. I don't travel a lot, so I didn't see the point in keeping a travel journal.

But as the days and months ensued and I kept watch of the many posts about this TN thing, my curiosity finally got tickled. I've always been a journal keeper, and a lover of things analogue (from handwritten letters to saddle-stitched notebooks to old cell phones). I waited a while before I made the purchase because I wanted to make sure that I'll be ready for it and swelling with eagerness to use it.

Most TN covers are made of hard leather, some are made of faux leather, some out of fabric scraps, and some combine fabric and leather. I would've wanted the fabric cover at first but I couldn't find anything like it here in the Philippines. The best alternative that I found was this artdori from aireescreates.com. The cover is made of organically treated abaca. How can I resist something that's plant-based? :o) I placed my order at the start of 2017 and now I'm so into it. I love how strong the TN cover is and how good it smells. The 2 inserts that come with it are bulky and the paper can take collage, acrylic, inks, and watercolors. 

I've got my eyes on other brands of TN and I'll probably purchase one or two more within the year. In the meantime, I'm making the most out of this beautiful artdori by posting reading notes and other ephemera and mementos. Yes, you can say I've fallen into the rabbit hole. Joyfully.

Art Journal Page: Feeling Under The Weather

I caught a bug at the start of the week and haven't been feeling well since. My kindergartner had to miss two days of school and my husband had to take up extra household chores so I could get some rest. I'm getting better now, I believe, but not yet fully recovered. Thank God, it's almost the weekend. I am so looking forward to a day or two of prolonged rest in bed and not having to get up at around 4 in the morning. Yup. I just need that extra snooze before my official call time.

 

Anyway, here's a painting of a girl that I rendered on the first page of my Artist's Loft sketchbook. She's the reason why that sketchbook turned into an acrylic-based mixed-media art journal. She just led the way. 

Happy weekend, everyone!

Sketching in my A6 Monologue art journal

Since I resumed painting in acrylics and other media last November, my watercolor set has been quietly sleeping on the corner of my art desk. If you have followed my old blog and previous IG posts, you probably know that I was mostly into watercolor painting and sketching. When I relived my passion for art more than 2 years ago, the one medium that I chose to 'master' was the watercolor. For the simple reason that it's handy and easier to work with. (I'm a busy work-at-home mom, you see...) But late last year, I decided that perhaps I can already dabble into my dream of doing mixed-media artwork. My kids now know better not to play with Mama's acrylics and brushes, and they are now willing to give me 30 to 60 minutes of art time on a fine day. So I kept doing all these mixed-media paintings and art journal pages... Until I found myself at my art desk 4 days before Christmas, yearning to just sketch and wash. Yes, I've missed the good old stuff!

So I brought out my A6 Monologue sketchbook with gross-grained paper (a really good one for watercolor sketches), a pencil, and a drawing pen. I was stumped for a while and didn't know what to draw or paint. Then I saw my new tube of gesso and thought to use it as subject. It was midnight after all and there's just no way I could find a nice pot of flowers to sketch.  Might as well make do with whatever's there right in front of me. My husband bought the Reeves gesso for me earlier that day 'cause he knew I was badly running out of gesso. So sweet, right? 

 

To make this simple sketch, I just used the usual stuff in my watercolor kit: my Sakura Koi Pocket Field Sketchbox of 24 colors, an HB Faber-Castell Art GRIP pencil, a Zig Kuretake water brush with a large tip, and a black Faber-Castell Fine PITT Artist pen. I hope to make more watercolor sketches in the days and weeks to come. I find watercolor sketching very relaxing. It also helps me come up with quick studies for mixed-media paintings.

What have you been sketching lately?