Sketchbook Corner : Easily affordable papers and supplies

Hello everyone,

Welcome to "SKETCHBOOK CORNER".

A 100% art and everything related to art ramblings.

Papers and Crayons

When I first decided to become an artist I made the mistake of scrolling through Instagram feed of famous artists and started believing that "good quality supplies equals good art". This belief and the prices of these art supplies like moleskin sketchbooks, Winsor and Newton gouache made it really difficult for me to practice art as well my confidence. If materials are very expensive making mistakes feels utterly terrible.

Luckily during pandemic I stumbled upon book binding. I had Faber Castel and camel drawing books with me. So I started practicing book binding using the papers from these sketchbooks. I learnt saddle stitch, French link stitch and currently practicing Coptic stitch binding. I learnt these binding techniques from a YouTube channel named

'SEA LEMON'. Whenever I feel tensed or anxious you can see me tearing papers and searching for needles in my small sewing petti(box).

Coptic stitch binding

Coptic stitch is my jaan now!!

Camel crayons

As I started making sketchbooks, I slowly started drawing and painting too. That was when I discovered:

• Faber Castell(120 GSM) and Classmate sketchbook papers (I use the papers from their drawing books)are wonderful to work with and easily affordable. I no longer need to worry about money.

• Crayons have good textures and bright colors. I use camel crayons. When I am using them I feel happy as it reminds me of childhood days.

• The less expensive the materials are the more freedom to explore and make mistakes.

• Camel watercolors have good colors, long lasting and are more than enough for me.

• Being creative/an artist is using what you have and working with it.

With all these realizations and the newfound freedom and respect for these easily affordable and available art supplies, I started making more and more art and scribbles.

Sharing some of them here.

These pages might not make sense but they remind me of joy and happiness and finally the feeling of being an artist.

So don't waste time like me (4 years😑) in search of perfect high quality art supplies and start making art with whatever is available to you.

Have a fantastic time,

Aparna.

(Psst, If you know any easily affordable art supplies please let me know in the comments 🙏)