Travel Palette - Schmincke

This Schmincke Travel Palette was designed to take 12 half pans of paint. I managed to fit in 24! It was a struggle to even limit myself to this number, but I have learnt some valuable things about pigments and mixes during my tests for the final choice. I’ve read what every man and his dog has to say about choosing a palette, but in the end it comes down to two things: keep the pigments simple so you can mix just about everything you need; and put in a couple of colours that you love, just because they make you happy. I mainly looked for the purest pigments, good mixing ability, with a good range of warms & cool colours, plus some good earth tones. The yellow choices were easy; the blues caused me concern and much deliberation; the reds created the most difficulty with lots of mixing trials. My only indulgences are Naples Yellow Reddish because it’s great for skin and I can’t be bothered mixing it, and Ultramarine Violet – just because I like it. I left my favourite Rose Madder out, and hope that Carmine Red will help me out when I need a beautiful soft pink.

Choosing A Travel Palette

Woe is me ... how does anyone ever choose?

Leather Sketch Journals

I've just finished making these two journals to take travelling with me. They are made from beautifully soft upholstery leather, lined with stiffened fabric, page size 160mmW x210mmH. The paper is my fave for this type of book - Canson 'Montval' - its 185g Acid Free watercolour paper. It handles water very well with little or no buckling and doesn't bleed back. Great for sketching, watercolours, collage - everything you can throw at it. And it's very cost effective. The books were a challenge to make, but now that they're done, I am proud of them and am beginning to like working with leather after all.

Canson Montval 185g CP	Stretch Band Closures	Long Stitch Binding,linen thread
Folios of Book #1	Back Storage Pocket	Folios of Book #2
Book #2	Back Storage Pocket	Blanket Stitched edges

Making A Leather Notebook

I decided to make a leather covered travel notebook as a precursor to making a sketchbook travel journal.  I have never worked with leather as a book cover, so I wanted to try it out.  I also wanted to experiment with closures, pockets and binding methods.  On the spur of the moment, I decided to take photographs as I went – I used my little handbag Lumix camera, and didn’t think to check the settings first.  Unfortunately, some of the photos are blurred but I am merely sharing my record of the exercise.

A bit of planning	Measuring the spine	Which possum skin?	Testing a closure
Cutting layout	End cover fabric	Attaching the closure	Checking the fit
Flap stitched in place	Planning the stitching	Piercing the spine	Attaching the folios
Glueing loose ties	Flat out	From the side	Voila!

#4 Lammermoor Drive - experiment

10 Feb 10 – Hillary, Dale and I headed out for some neighbourhood sketching.  For me, this is a trial doing loose line & wash style quick sketches.  These were Staedtler Triplus liners and I’m liking the way they bleed when water is added.  Defo require more testing and experimentation.  Quite a different approach for me.  That ‘orrible orange blob is Ziller Ink spilled from an experiment on the previous page.