Sketchbooks Then and Now (Part 3) AND a BLICK Giveaway!
Editor’s note: The following post is part 3 of a series from Drawing magazine’s Material World column (Summer 2016) and features an article by Sherry Camhy on a timeless friend of the artist: the sketchbook.
Today you’ll learn how to make your own sketchbook and have a chance to win a gorgeous set of colored pencils from Blick Art Materials. Simply comment on this post below and tell us your favorite color! You’ll automatically be entered – it’s that simple.
Happy drawing and good luck,
Cherie
Material World: Getting the Most out of Drawing Media (Part 3)
by Sherry Camhy, abridged from an earlier article
Demonstration: Miniature Sketchbooks from Scratch
- Fold an 81⁄2″ x 11″ sheet of paper in half three times so that it is divided into eight sections of equal size. Crease firmly.
2. Unfold the sheet to half-size. Make a cut from the folded side to the center crease.
3. Gently pull the newly cut segment apart and stand the paper up on the cut ends. Push the folds together to make a star shape.
4. Press the folds together, resulting in a six-page “book” with a front and back cover.
5. To make a 12-page book, cut to separate the folded edges of each page. Fix the “binding” with staples or by making holes along the folded edge and sewing pages together.
6. You now have a miniature 12-page book ready for sketching. You can create larger books using this process by beginning with a larger sheet of similar proportions.
NOTE: Come back to ArtistsNetwork soon for another chance to win new drawing supplies! And, remember to comment below with your favorite pencils/pens for your chance to win this set of colored pencils from Blick Art Materials! Winner will be chosen March 17, 2017 (must be a US resident).
I like to do this with the watercolor paper I actually use for larger finished pieces. A perfect place for trying out colors and techniques that I know will function exactly the same on the finished piece. Absolutely, yellow is my favorite!
Awesome creative idea! I love purple!
I love orange and I love colored pencils!
Would love to win I would love a set of prisma color pencils been using a friends pencils
Indeed!
Thank you so very much! I feel like the Universe is smiling at me today. These will be perfect for summer sketching on the lake here in Chicago.
Thanks to all who entered! The contest is now closed but no fretting–we have a new giveaway sponsored by Caran d’Ache that starts tomorrow! Check back or see it on our FB page! Good luck!
Congrats to lisariley33 who has won this Blick giveaway!
Lisariley33–Congrats! You have won the free giveaway! I will email you all the details right now! Congrats–we hope you make some fabulous art with your new swag! Hehe!
I love blue
It is the crisp in the sky,
The deep of the ocean.
It is calm, steady, pure and true.
I love blue
When they are dropped, the wax they are made with shatters, so you sharpen just to have tip fall out. You could try placing one in the microwave for 2-5seconds, just enough to warm it, then let it cool before sharpening.
So far the only artist grade pencils I have used are Prismacolor, but I want to try Blicks pencils, and all the different brands. It is hard to choose one favorite color, when they are all so beautiful, but magenta pinks, and indigos are probably in my top 5.
My favorite Color is purple, and I use prismacolors which I like because there cheaper than Faber Castlle.
Awesome idea! Green has always been my favorite color since I was a little girl!! I have been using the prismacolor pencils, I think the must have gottenough banged up in the mail though because they break easily… kind of frustrating!
My favorite color is not a color. It is white.
I love white.
Red today, it varies….
No faves, look forward to this Blick set though!
Prismacolors! 🙂
This sketch book is priceless! Both literally and figuratively. I can’t wait to make one for each of my Grand daughters! I believe I will use ballet pink satin ribbons for their binding. As to pink being my favorite color? I’ll have to give that one a thumbs down because that quirky affinity goes to a close first cousin in the girly world PURPLE! I must go get started on those sketch books now so they will be ready for a certain birthday party this Saturday. Hmmmm birthday party? Great idea for give aways, perhaps with a small box of primary colored crayons.
I love watercolor pencils (Derwent Intense are especially nice), and a good 2B or 3B drawing pencil, and my favorite colors are shades of blue-violet, chartreuse, and coral reds.
Love my Prismacolor Pencils, Would love to have Blick Art Set to Work on the Sketchbook that I am making to use all my Pencils.
Love Prismacolor Pencils, Just would be Thrilled to Have the Dick Blick Art Set along with my Prismacolors. Making a wonderful multi paper Sketchbook for all My Pencils.
I love Fabre Castell pencils
I am just starting. I have all the stuff; paper, oil pastels, water colors, pens, color pencils, watercolor pencils, chalk, inks, brushes, and all kinds of books and videos. I just have an overwhelming fear of failure. The odd thing is if I make a mistake I’m the only one who knows. I just don’t want to “break” anything.
Rapidograph pens with Dr PH Martins inks!
Such a fun dyi! I am currently loving pink because we have our first grandchild – a granddaughter – arriving any time! I am hoping to get to Phoenix before she makes her appearance!
Marvelous idea where have you been years
ago before wasting much money ahah
My favourite colours has been always from the top turquoise , white , red and gray .
My favorite color has always been red. But, I couldn’t imagine not having all the colors of the rainbow in our world. Beautiful!
My current colored pencils are Crayola…. STOP LAUGHING…. aaaaand, I have to share them with my granddaughter – not quite 5 years old, and terrible about sharing….. and I put’em back when I’m done with’em *she never does*…..
My favorite colors are magenta and turquoise blue. I have gravitated toward those colors since I was a child, though now I have added others to my favorites list as well.
I like to draw with an assortment of materials. I mostly have crayola and roseart colored pencils. I also use regular HB pencils, pens, and watercolor pencils. I love all colors but I think my favorite is yellow.
My favorite color is ….so hard. I love them all but turquoise is something that makes me superhappy.
I love making my own journals since I can use my favorite papers. Prismacolors and Derwents are my favorite but I like to try everything possible. 🙂
My favorite are Faber Castell’s, and I really love dark reds/maroons/magentas.
Prismacolor pencils are my favorite!
My favorite color changes depending on whether its a bloom in the garden (vibrant red), or its the color of a bathroom (pale blue-green), or the color of the car I’d chose to drive (neither vibrant red not pale blue-green).
my favorite pencils are Prismacolors
I am drawn to greens and green-blues. Oops, sorry for the pun!
Prismacolor are of the highest quality. Extensive range of colors enabling the artist to draw the human body, animals, plants and abstract art. The creamy texture of the pencil allows one to blend with exquisite texture. I wish I had a set.
My favorite color is a hard one, but earth color are very nice when mixed together.
One color that stands out for me is sky blue
Prismacolor or derwalt are my favs!
I LOVE my Prismacolors, they have such rich, pigmented colors and a smoothness that is wonderful to work with.
bright teal is my favorite color!
Violet!
My favorite color changes with the mood of my artistic expression.
I enjoy a clipboard, cardstock white bristol paper, and a zip lock bag with pilot G-Tec C (.25, .3, .4), Pilot G-2 ( .38, .5, and .7) a kneaded eraser with pencil! Handy to carry in my backpack-and then I can color when I get home- you can never have enough colored pencils!!
cerulean blue
My favorite color is turguoise because it is the color of the Gulf of Mexico’s water.
Nice journal idea, too bad I just bought a small one! My favorite pencils or Prismacolor, because they have the right amount of wax and pigment!
As of lately, my favorite color is “Phthalo Turquoise”
I love this idea of making small journals! Thank you
Not bad for a quick sketchbook, but I would recommend a few staples and cutting the rest of the pages free. That way you cannot be bothered by folded pages blocking a full length pencil.
As for a favorite color… I have many colors a hues I really like. I would have said black and white as I have done a lot of Graphite and Pen and Ink work in the past. Honestly though, now I am excited to be adding in color with the Pen and Ink and
though I have used prisma and derwent in the past I have wondered how blick pencils stack up. I have some artist friends who wonder that as well as they are cheaper and we are all nearly starving artists.
My favorite color is blue for sea and sky! Look forward to a chance to try your pencils!
I like using blues and purples in pastels.
Nice, quick way to make a journal, thanks!
Cool colors like Blue’s and green’s are my favorite with nature being the favorite subject!
Love this DYI…i am always looking for inexpensive ways to create 🙂
And to answer your question…
My favorite color is PURPLE.
I have always loved it though I am not sure why 😀
Great idea. I had used the little book before with my students, but not as a sketchbook. I love colors in general but I favor pink, red and blue.
I find myself picking up whatever paper is at hand to sketch on. I doodle a lot and am fascinated with creating connecting random designs. I doodle pretty much all the time, especially when talking on the phone. My hand has to stay occupied with a pencil or pen
My favorites are prismacolor.
I’ve always used Prisma color. Interested in trying polychrome colored pencils
I love cerulean blue. Looking forward for a chance to win
I taught simple ok making to my middle school students and we did creative warm up exercises in them each day at the beginning of our art class. It helped them get their creative thoughts going.
My favorite color is ultramarine blue. Love to, use pencils, pens, fingers, brushes, whatever to draw and sketch, have done so since I was a little girl.
Thank you for the tutorial! Love DIY stuff like this 🙂
My favourite colour is aquarmarine (especially in Prismacolor). 😀
I hope your sketchbook series, particularly the last one, inspires your readers to try more bookmaking–so many possibilities!
Dark Blue Aqua
I love Blicks products. Favorite watercolor color is
Prussian Blue. Thanks
Great tutorial! My favorite color (even in Crayola) is carmine red.
I really do not have a favorite color, I know I am weird. If I had to say, I lean towards the blues and greens, but truly don’t have a favorite, they are all beautiful.
I love Prismacolor Premiere pencils for thir creamy laydown and broad range of colors.
One of my favorite colors is Light Aqua, #992. Is there anything as delightful as color?
Very interesting tutorial, very useful for projects.
Favorite Color “Carmine”
Thank You
Thank you for the tutorial. I have done soap-painting workshops and this will be a great addition for creating color combos. My favorite color is yellow-orange – in all shades and tints and especially when paired with blue-greens.
I’ve only ever used Crayola colored pencils. My favorite color is pink.
I subscribe to drawing and really like this tutorial on making my own sketchbook, thanks again for showing it. Prismacolor pencils have been my favorite since I first started using color pencil in my art. They are very versatile and have a vibrant color which brings out the best in my drawings. Really like the many choices available.
The technique for making a sketchbook is a great way to customize the size and paper type. Thanks for showing a fun approach.
My favorite color is green.
Such a nice idea for a personalized little sketch book. My favorite pencils are Royal Langnickel Mettalics. Nice and buttery. Make interesting pops of color and nice for drawing metal objects and have the actual metal colors. Cra-z-Art are my usual go to for other colors. I love any Pink from petal to fushia. And ocean wave blue. This would be a great pencil kit to win.
I have a passion for green and Prismacolor has some awesome greens!!! I’ve used them for years now and my students loved them too!!! Wish I would have thought of this project for my students when I was teaching….great idea!!
I just ordered a set of prismatic color soft pencils and I can’t wait to try them. I honestly have not seen these color pencils but am always ready to try a new brand. The little tutorial on making your own sketch book is great. Thanks
Prismacolor, Fabre castell
like prismacolor as they were my first pencils. also love faber castell pastel pencils for about everthing as they blend so nicely with all other mediums favorite colors are almost all warm colors
Prismacolors are great. Love the blues, cool grays, burgundy to lavender. Gorgeous!
Hope to win that big beautiful set!
I’m a member of an art group and always lo looking for program ideas. Making our own sketch books sounds like a good one to try and expand upon. My favorite color(s) are greens and blue greens.
Love quick sketchbook, just right for leaving home and having something to sketch on while out.
My favorite color is Light Cerulean Blue by Prismacolor.
I am new to working with colored pencils! It’s a challenge to get familiar with the various papers, blenders, erasers, etc., and I enjoy every minute that I can spend working with it. In the past I have used Micron pens for drawing, and it is my desire to combine them with colored pencils.
Great idea for artists on all levels. Love it.
My favorite pencil color is violet made by Prismacolor. Prismacolor pencils are so smooth and yummy.
How can I tell violet is my favorite? I keep a ziplock bag of the stubs (pencils I can no long hold) for my granddaughters and violet out numbers all the other colors.
I find such sketch books make great gifts, very personalized. Favorite color? Any green.
I started out with prisma colors for school
Nice to have another way to make a quick sketchbook. My favorite color is a bright, vibrant Opera pink- especially if it is sitting next to a hot popping teal.
Love my reds and yellows.
Awesome idea for the sketchbook!! My favorite color is Prismacolor PC943 Burnt Ochre – great for field sketching!
Wonderful idea for a quick sketchbook, especially when you live so far from any store & don’t want to wait for shipping. 🙂 My favorite color is reddish-orange or orangey-red. Not sure of its proper name!
A clever sketchbook idea and beautiful set of pastel pencils. I love the greens, sometimes the most difficult to balance.
Paul
I love the earthtones, but have just started working with toned papers, like Strathmore grey, and tan, which is giving me a whole new outlook of working from dark to light in my shading, and really making use of the lighter shades of yellow and pink, and especially my white and light grey.
Would love to give those Blicks a workout.
Thanks,
Michael.
Just put together a liitle sketchbook using your directions – the folding technique reminds me of origami. Perfect purse or pocket size! It fits well in a snack size clear plastic double zipper bag too, which would be great for on-the-go watercolor sketches (so they don’t get paint on your pocket or purse lining). My favorite color is turquoise and its related family – cerulean blue, aqua, teal. Enjoy Dick Blick branded products – haven’t tried the pencils, but use the brushes, markers and paper.
Thanks for the tutorial!
Thank you for the tutorial, will have to give this a try. Never thought of making my own sketchbook, great idea. My favorite color is burgundy.
Love my red colors! They can range from the orange tones to the dark crimson. Hope I win!!!
I’m all about the greens! Thanks for the opportunity to win this great set!
I love Prismacolors and yellows, browns and oranges are my favorite colors.
My favorite colors are red and turquoise, especially together! And my favorite pencils are the Caran d’Ache Luminance pencils. I enjoyed the sketchbook tutorial, and I’m thankful for the chance to win a set of the Blick pencils! 🙂
cerulean, raw sienna
Carmine is my go to color!
Thank you for the sketchbook ideas. I will try that out. Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win the colored pencils. I love the purpls thru the blues.
I like that little sketchbook – thanks! I love the reds, browns, & golds that let me show the changes of light in a cityscape.
Thank you for the interesting tutorial. I’ll be making a couple of these this afternoon for myself and a friend.. It’s so nice to find these little bits of happiness on this site.
My favorite pencils are prismacolors and my favorite color is red.
Cerulean, aqua, indigo…
Any green
Impossible to just choose one!
Use the Blick portrait collection. Good selection of colors. Also like the Prismacolors.
Beautiful. I would love to use these at the monthly Adult Coloring event I run at my local library!
Prismacolor are the only colored pencils I have, but would love to try others. It’s gotta be indigo!
I love reds. No favorite colored pencil brand though.
I like Prismacolor and my favorite color is any type of blue or purple.
I have some Dick Block pastel pencils I like, I’m drawn to greens.
Believe it or not, my favorite colored pencil brand is Dick Blick … and favorite color , well anything blue!
I love Stabillo Carbothello (but hate how fragile they are!)
Favorite color – cerulean blue. Thank you for the sketchbook tutorial and for a chance to win a set of colored pencils.