You can store what is effectively a large work of art in a very small compact space, and keep it well protected. Not at all! My sketchbooks are much more about mark making and exciting surfaces, with as little or as much drawing as you like. Some participants draw lots, some collage lots. I do provide some pdf photographs for you to work from for inspiration, if you need them. If you are like me, you may be one of those illustrators who collect brushes, paint, drawing implements of all kinds and sketchbooks! Another thing that gives me great satisfaction is book binding for art books. Don’t worry! This is easier than that, no special book binding instruments needed of any kind. But why should I go to so much trouble? Because concertina sketchbooks are wonderful. Let me count the ways.. 10 Reasons Why I Love Concertina Sketchbooks

Next I was interested in how the sketchbook would take colour and delicate tools such as pastels and buildable crayons. I tend to use charcoal pencils or crayons for this because they are familiar and comfortable. Using what I love means I feel less resistance. If I try something new, I try to be gentle with my expectations.There are seven online Creative Concertina Sketchbook shorter courses to choose from. All of these courses have lifetime access. The Buildings, Allotments and Abstracts courses each comprise six modules, with many mini lessons of short 5-10 minute videos. You can complete them in your own time, over a weekend or over many weeks, stopping and replaying as much as you need to. It would definitely not stand up to heavy watercolour or even gouache usage, but it’s a good fit if you’re only painting with light amounts of water or in small sections. Personally I believe the smoothness of the paper is of most benefit to anyone who prefers to use graphite or coloured crayons, as opposed to any paint based artist. There are so many different reasons to love a concertina sketchbook. Here are all the reasons I can think of, but if I have missed any, please let me know in the comments below: Don Colley’s blog, sharing fabulous brush-pen drawings of people and much else. He’s a big fan of Pitt Artist brush pens.

Something to collage the covers with that relates to sketchbook – tissue paper, fabric, maps, photographs, collected bits

Loved every moment. Karen is such a generous tutor – so informative and helpful. One very happy student – thank you. xx” Jude B I recommend that you start with Buildings or How Wild is my Garden so you can see the way I work. I continue to build on the techniques learnt in Allotments and Abstracts. Did I miss any reasons? – let me know in the comments below! What is the Best Paper Weight and Size for a Concertina Sketchbook