Sketchbookery Class

As I mentioned last post, I signed up for Mary Ann Moss's Sketchbookery class and am really enjoying it. For the first time ever, I'm sketching and painting with acceptable results. The most useful part of the class (for me) are the videos where she shows an object and then films herself sketching it. Just watching someone draw something has been more helpful than anything.

I made a sketchbook for class, using the cover from a hardback book, reinforcing the spine with duct tape. For the first time I used hot press watercolor paper - which I had to order online, nobody around here had it - for the signatures. Started with 9x12 paper simply folded in half so my book is about 6x9, a good size. A Goldilocks size, not too big, not too small.

Quite like the smoothness of the hot press paper. First time I used it was for my hydrangea drawing. That was before I made the book, so I just bound it in as the first page.

I didn't use the binding stitch she shows for the class cause I wanted to try long stitch. I perused a bunch of pics on Google images and then played with dots and lines on a piece of scrap paper before binding my book. I wasn't terribly on center when I punched the holes but I like the basic idea.

I may rebind it paying more attn to the top and bottom rows of stitches. I wanted a thicker looking line there and meant to make loops instead of stitches, but forgot.

Inside front cover.
Not finished doodling, I don't think.
Love that turq and orange together.

Wanted to do some lettering but wasn't into finding a quote
so I just did the book I'm reading.
Then added a leaf from my coral bells out front.  

Testing the colors of the little box of pearlescent paints
I bought at Nasco when Julie was here.
So lucky to have that place nearby.
They have only 3 retail stores nationwide
and one of them is 30-40 minutes from me.
Will draw some more bugs, then paint them.