Sketchbook Test 1

Last few days I was busy reading an information-overloaded watercolor website by Bruce MacEvoy. Because I was reading about it instead of doing it, I got agitated and depressed as a result. It had nothing to do with Mr. MacEvoy's site; if anything, it answered a bunch of my questions and provided lots of invaluable advices. (I should've read his website before buying all the watercolor books.) Not creating anything unsettled me. It was as if my right brain was dying of starvation and sending out its S.O.S. signal to get my attention.

The serious art work from my books can be suffocating. I know that a good foundation is important and I should follow (or copy, rather) their examples step by step. This type of learning, however, is highly unsatisfying. Copying might be easier and give me the illusion that I'm able to create something great, but it's not how I see the world or interpret what everything means to me.

Creating my own pieces, on the other hand, gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I don't mean it technically, but mentally. (Don't worry; I know exactly where I stand.
:) And the freer the form is, the happier I am. In the past I noticed my joy with fast sketch and scribble styles, because they interpreted my feelings the best. I believe watercolor is in the same league, but it'll take a few more steps to get there.

Today I did four sketchbook watercolor (WC) tests:
1. on 90lb Canson Student Watercolor Paper
2. on Moleskine Sketchbook
3. on 65lb Canson Basic Sketchbook
4. on 140lb Canson Montval Waterolor Pad

The expensive Moleskine Sketchbook refused to take watercolor and was reluctant to take my technical pen. (Pretty useless for my usage.) The two types of WC papers behaved well and were friendly enough to my technical pen, although I could apply more WC techniques with the 140lb one. Canson sketchbook could take little WC and was very friendly with my technical pen as shown here.

Canson Montval WC paper seems to be softer and more smooth than Stratmore 400 Series WC paper, even though they both are 140lb cold-pressed. The later is hard to write on but feels better made for WC. As far as sketchbook goes, Canson Montval WC paper is more appropriate due to its friendliness with pens.

Media: technical pen, watercolor.