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Michela Griffith's avatar

Last night when I read this nothing jumped to mind. This morning I took my (Seawhite) sketchbook out, Derwent spritzer and three new water soluble graphite sticks (Derwent Graphitone, Lyra) which I have instantly fallen in love with.

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Wonderful!! I do love a Seawhite sketchbook, and the variety of tone and marks you can make with the graphite sticks is fabulous!!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

On another cold grey day, they were a tonic! Despite also being grey 😂

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Ha, yes, getting a bit fed up with all this grey and damp - let's have some blue skies, even if it is still cold!!

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Catherine Koeckx's avatar

Thanks Carolyn for sharing favourite materials! You never use cold pressed paper? There is the « grain fin/gran fino »

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

I prefer the smooth paper so I can swish and scrape the paint around, although you can get interesting results on the cold pressed or rough surfaces. Will check out the gran/fini! Enjoy your weekend xx

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Catherine Koeckx's avatar

You too!

Arches for instance has CP rough (this is very rough indeed) and the « grain fin » which is smoother (but no as smooth as HP). I think they also have a CP « satin-finish » but not sure

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Thx - will check it out xx

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Catherine Koeckx's avatar

However for the moment I’m using this one (Canson) since Arches is rather expensive

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Yup Arches is expensive isn’t it! Not sure about adding photos here in replies 🤔

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Catherine Koeckx's avatar

Yes maybe it’s when we start a thread… 🤔

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Catherine Koeckx's avatar

Thought I could add a picture…

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Deborah Vass's avatar

Seawhite are by far the best sketchbooks and I love their plain black covers. I have been sorely tempted by the Michael Harding, and have now been given a nudge to have another look...it really is worthwhile buying the better brands, as I have always been disappointed when trying some of the cheaper ones, so it really is better value in the end.

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

Yes, I only have a couple of Michael Harding watercolours but so far so good… and Seawhite are the best. You definitely get what you pay for. Enjoy your weekend

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Deborah Vass's avatar

And you too!

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E Daggar Art's avatar

I've recently started collecting bits n bobs for collage (didn't use much collage, if any, for years until I took Karen Stamper's class!) — and I'm sort of flummoxed as to how to store it in a sensible way! By color? Texture? Weight? Pattern v solid? I think it will be a matter or trial and error haha

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Carolyn J Roberts's avatar

I have a very 'loose' filing system!! I usually keep similar colours together. I then have a folder for old sheet music paper, one for tissue... It's about as organised as my addled brain!!

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E Daggar Art's avatar

Haha! Yeah I have a box and a few folders so far. And it’s only organized loosely *in* my addled brain! 😄

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