My Top 7 + 1 Sketching Must-Haves for Spring '25

 

Kit Carson Park; watercolor/ink on stone paper

 

Spring is in the air and all I want to do is go outside and paint! But bringing along too many art supplies has always made me feel burdened and unfocused once I get there. 

As much as I love office and art supply stores, I've never been comfortable owning too much of anything: dozens of colored pencils, hundreds of paint tubes and brushes, shelves and shelves of jars, papers, and stuff is, to me, a nightmare. Not only do I lack the room to store those things, I don't have the mental space to hold it either--all those decisions: which pencil, what color . . .  Instead, I prefer to keep my supplies simple: a few brushes, several pencils, a small collection of watercolors, things that fit easily into my tote bag.

At the end of 2024, however, I decided it was time to treat myself to some new sketching supplies, especially as I planned to meet more frequently with Urban Sketchers. And so I bought (and now can't live without):

 1. A Sailor Fude Fountain Pen

For years I'd read various reviews about how super-fun these pens were: perfect for urban sketching and perfect for self-expression. Now that I own one, I know why everyone is so fude-crazy: they are indeed, amazing. 

Fude pens are a type of fountain pen with a bent tip originally designed for calligraphy, allowing for a thick or thin line from the same pen. As a writer I'm naturally a pen person so the fude has been a delight for both writing and drawing. My only very minor complaint is that the pen is substantially longer than most other pens and it doesn't fit in my pencil case. But who needs a pencil case? With this pen all I need is a sketchbook and brush (Sailor brand ink blends beautifully when wet) and I'm ready to go anywhere in town.

2. Acrylic Bottled Ink

 In the same way that I love pens, I love bottled ink. Although I prefer using pre-filled cartridges with my fude pen, I'm a big fan of using twigs, feathers, bamboo pens, and watercolor brushes for general ink drawing. Despite the availability of ink in every color you can think of, black, sepia, Prussian blue, and indigo are the best for me, along with gold and white for highlighting (with a twig, of course). (Note: the best thing about using twigs for sketching is they're free and you can throw them away when you're finished! Minimalism at its best.)

3. Black Stabilo Woody Pencil (Crayon? Or both?)

Is it a pencil, a pen, a crayon, or even a watercolor?? Whatever it is, it's designed for three-year-olds and that suits me fine. Beyond their versatility, what first drew my attention was how similar Woodys are to china markers. I love drawing with china markers but find them impossible to sharpen due to the outdated way they are wrapped in a coil of paper that requires a dexterity I don't have to unwrap. I've ruined so many markers while trying to remove that stupid paper I can't even count how many I've wasted. But now I have Stabilo Woodys with that same creamy, slightly waxy texture I enjoyed so much from the china markers. 

Woodys, again like china markers, aren't limited to black; there are many more colors on the market that I might investigate one day but for now black is it. Bold, expressive, and water soluble--what's not to love?

4. Stone Paper

Ink experiment on stone paper.

Wow, this stuff is weird, and it's really made from stone! I bought a sketchbook of it from the Albuquerque Museum gift store, but because it was wrapped and sealed in a plastic covering I never got a chance to actually see what it was I was buying.

When I removed the plastic cover at home was when I learned the truth: each piece of "paper" (which I later learned from YouTube IS made from crushed stone) was more like a piece of floppy vinyl than paper. The upside is that it's impossible to fold, tear, or destroy, meaning you can work and rework it without fear of it tearing. While this is certainly a plus, the same smooth, indestructible quality means it has absolutely zero control for what I wanted to use it for: watercolor. Which then turned out to be so much fun. "No control" lets the ink and/or pigment do its own thing; a constant surprise that lets me do what I like best: explore. It's also great for taking out of doors because you cannot ruin stone paper no matter how hard you try. It's even washable if you don't like your first attempts or colors.

5. Graphite Watercolors

I found these while watching yet another YouTube video. What intrigued me most was their similarity to one of my longtime favorite supplies: Derwent Graphitint pencils: water soluble graphite pencils with a muted undertone of color. 

Kuretake graphite watercolors have that same moody, semi-gothic, melancholy quality that appeals to me in Graphitints. One aspect I like is the limited palette of colors. All six work well together whether you choose to use two colors or six in the same sketch. As you can see from the photo above, I've already used them a lot!

6. Blackwing Pencils

"Half the pressure, twice the speed." Or at least that's what it says in the ads. 

I'm always on the lookout for a pencil that works alone and I think I've found it with Blackwings. Originally designed for musicians, Blackwing pencils have a long history of literary and artistic use. I particularly like the rectangular, extendable eraser. The three barrel colors I've shown here: black, white, and gray, are not the colors of the lead, but rather signify three different degrees of hard and softness. Currently, I can't decide which one I like the best, but I'll let you know when I do!

7. Escoda Synthetic Watercolor Brushes

I've wanted Escoda brushes ever since the pandemic and my first Domestika class when they were recommended by watercolor artist, Alex Hillkurtz. For a long time I delayed buying them because they were a) expensive, and b) I already had plenty of brushes.

Several weeks ago I caved and bought a set of three. Made in Barcelona, the hype is true: they are worth every penny and I have nothing more to say. The big brush is REALLY big and not exactly portable, but the smaller brush is just right for local travel. My only question: Why did I wait so long??

8. Bonus "Must-Have" Tip of the Day:

Now that my new supplies are in place, I wanted somewhere other than my apartment and neighborhood cafes to sketch, and with that in mind I recently bought memberships to Albuquerque's Natural History Museum, art museum, zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens. The memberships help the venues and the venues help me. Whether I'm indoors or out, spending time with dinosaurs and sculpture or sharks and tourists--there's always something fresh to draw and paint, no excuses!

NaNoWriMo '23 -- It's All About Me! (And You Too!)

 

So here we are again: November and National Novel Writing Month and the eternal question: Why am I doing this??

Because I love it, I suppose!

Whatever the reason, this year has found me throwing myself into creative challenges with more than reckless abandon. I had barely recovered from July's Camp NaNoWriMo when I decided to go for Inktober '23 (31 days of daily ink drawing with mandatory social media posting) and then the next thing I knew I had to do "the real" NaNoWriMo . . . and off we go.

When I first thought about signing up for NaNoWriMo 2023, my intention was to simply continue the story I had started in July. Although I had reached my 50K goal, the manuscript was in no way complete, so it made sense to think November would be a good time to write another 50K to finish things off. 

That all changed several weeks ago when I couldn't sleep one night and got up to write instead. Suddenly I was immersed in a new story, one I hadn't expected to write and one I didn't really want to write. Working on a "shiny bright idea" with so many other projects calling for attention felt like a very bad idea. But there it was and it wouldn't go away so I thought, use it for NaNoWriMo!

While it was easy enough (maybe too easy) to switch gears into a new plot and theme, the abruptness of the change didn't give me any time to assemble my usual scrapbook-style journal of prompts and photo references. I had a great journal full of mood boards and creepy settings to use back in July, but there wasn't a single item I could use toward my new story. Very quickly I had to come up with an entirely fresh approach: rather than rely on my usual magazine cut-outs, I could dive into my own life and make the prompts all about me! (Sort of.)

I was inspired by the example set by one of my Twitter (X) friends, writer and poet, Janis La Couvée, who is currently exploring memoir writing. Her recent tweets on the subject reminded me of a workshop I had taught while I was living in Carrollton, Georgia: "Write Your Memoirs, You're Never Too Young To Start." It was a fun class and I know of several full-length manuscripts that were written for both family record-keeping as well as more general publication. However, other than a blog post with the same title, I haven't thought of memoir for a long time until it occurred to me that using prompts from my own daily life and memories could be what I needed for NaNoWriMo. 

In other words, I'd be "memoir writing" but with a twist. I could assign my memories to fictional characters who could take them wherever they wanted to go. For instance, as a small child I wanted to be an archaeologist, something I obviously never did (unless you count Albuquerque yard work as a trial run), but a fictional character could actually work for a museum.

With that direction in mind, I've made a quick 30-day list I'm happy to share for any kind of writing you might be doing this month yourself, whether it be NaNoWriMo, a genuine memoir, or even a month of poetry.

Taking the words: "base a scene on," or "your main character remembers (something from the list) which then triggers (action or emotion)," try:

1. A favorite song.
2. A disliked poem.
3. Most hated childhood food.
4. Most frightening moment.
5. Happiest day.
6. Three items inside your handbag or pockets.
7. Three items of clothing you love.
8. Three items of clothing you never wear.
9. Favorite pet.
10. Worst day of school.
11. Your best childhood friend.
12. A letter you never wrote.
13. Favorite book: go to page 93 and use the first line you read.
14. A restaurant you would never go to and why.
15. Your attitude to shopping.
16. A hobby or skill you would love to have.
17. A place you have always wanted to travel to.
18. Favorite color.
19. Most disliked color.
20. Your last argument.
    
21. Something you're allergic to.
22. Your car (or lack of one).
23. An item in your house you wish you could get rid of.
24. An item you wish you still had.
25. Greatest fear or phobia.
26. Housework.
27. Favorite movie.
28. What you are wearing this very minute.
29. What you really want to say to your neighbor(s).
30. Your daily routine as it is now, or how you'd like it to change.
    

And there you go: 30 prompts for 30 days! Feel free to use them in daily order or for a more spontaneous writing session, mix them up and use at random. Or add your own ideas; after all, you know your own life best!

Tip of the Day: Although NaNoWriMo requires both planning and organization, you can still start a day or two late and be a winner. One way I'm focusing on writing, and writing only, is to clear my work space and limit my writing tools to the basics: my Alphasmart; a lined notebook for writing in cafes, parks, or the middle of the night; and a new sketchbook with a small number of my favorite pens and pencils. The sketchbook is for visual brainstorming in between writing sessions and to keep the creativity flowing whenever I need a break. Now to go write my 50,000 divided by 30 equals 1666.666 words for the day. Happy November! Happy Writing!

Urban Writing

 

Ever since I moved a few years ago to downtown Albuquerque I've done my best to fit in as much walking as I possibly can.  At first I tried walking once a week, choosing different routes and scenery for each separate outing. Then came the pandemic restrictions and I began walking much more frequently, solitary journeys spent exploring the exteriors of closed businesses, locked libraries, and empty churches. It was a somewhat melancholy pursuit, but it was also a healthy way to get fresh air and sunshine and, of course, exercise. It was also a good opportunity to think about my manuscripts and other creative projects without distraction or conversation. Yes, it was lonely, but it was also time well-spent, especially as I would often take photos to later use as reference shots for some at-home urban sketching sessions.

In the last year things have changed considerably. Most places such as cafes and shops are fully open, more people are out walking or bicycling, and the general atmosphere is a lot more upbeat, exactly what you'd expect from a busy urban environment. I love the activity--even if it is more crowded and not as easy to take photos of individual businesses without appearing overly intrusive.

However, the change from "empty deserted street" to "watch where you're going" got me thinking about how fun it would be to switch from "urban sketching" to "urban writing." How could I use what I saw on my daily walks as writing prompts rather than solely as potential scenes for drawing?

A big part of urban sketching is what artists refer to as "reportage." More than simply drawing or painting what you see in front of you, reportage asks that we give an impression of what we feel and think about a scene. In other words, what's the story? And what do we personally bring to the sights we are witnessing? What part of us makes the scene our own?

To explore these topics more fully, I wrote up a list of ideas to get my pen moving:

Urban Story Prompts

• Choose a location and then write a scene that takes place there in the past.
• Take the same location, but now cast it into the future. What has changed? What is better, or worse? What are the people like?
  
• Could the same or a different location be the setting for a fictional crime? What could I add to make it more sinister?
  
• Or how about using that setting for a romantic tryst?
• Is there a particular area I see every day that could be the catalyst for neighborhood dissatisfaction? A place that a group of characters might want to tear down or drastically improve in some way? Why do they want to do this; what's their motivation? What's preventing them accomplishing their goals? Politics? Money?
  
• Choose and use a location as the basis of an important fictional memory for one or more of your characters. It could be an entirely new piece, or woven into something you're already working on.
  
• Create tension by showing a character's fear of a setting, or their excitement at the prospect of going, or returning, there for some reason.
• Invent two characters that have just left the place you are looking at. Why were they there? What transpired? What was their mood when they left?
  
• Use the setting, even if it is a beautiful, elegant environment as the backdrop to a dystopian, Orwellian nightmare.
  
• Or how about as the setting for a whimsical, heart-felt children's picture book?
  
• Imagine the setting at midnight. Add some supernatural or paranormal elements.
• What are the possibilities of using your setting for a nonfiction piece? You might enjoy researching the site or area and then writing about a little-known aspect or history of the place.
  
• Could the setting be an essential part or reason to write a memoir of some sort? Is it a place you know well and therefore holds a wide series of associations for you?
  

Whether or not you are more than familiar with a certain place or are seeing it for the very first time, try to tune into your emotions as you write. As with all the best and most productive freewriting sessions, write about what makes you sad or happy or nostalgic about a certain view or group of buildings. Don't stop to erase, cross out, or censor what comes up for you. Always go with your initial thoughts and instincts.

 

Lastly, be sure to include as many details of your setting as you can: doors, windows, gardens, the cat under the tree, the way light falls on the pavement. You might not want to use absolutely everything you write when it comes time to edit, but it's handy to have a full account to pick and choose from.

Tip of the day: Keep in mind that you don't always have to go for the photogenic or "postcard perfect" scene. Dilapidated, neglected, and forgotten "out of the way" places can often be the most fun to write about. Enjoy your walk and don't forget your notebook!

 

Things to Do at Home: Urban Sketching, Picture Book Style!

Baby werewolf in a coffee mug. Every home should have one!

Greetings from Albuquerque! And greetings from another day of, well, stuck in the same old place with no relief in sight. But stuck doesn't have to mean running out of ideas or things to do. Sure, there may be days (weeks) when it feels impossible to wring another ounce of inspiration out of lock-down, but, hey, we're creative people--we can do it! 

Like so many others in the world right now, here in New Mexico we've had to place our lives on hold while we wait for our health statistics to improve. The two things I personally miss the most are 1) the library, and 2) meeting with my various creative groups. I especially miss my art groups, but fortunately Albuquerque Urban Sketchers has done a fine job of staying in touch, encouraging members to keep drawing, even if it's just sketches of our home life. 

With the instruction of "drawing in place" however, comes the caveat of "drawing the truth." Didn't wash the dishes? Show us those dirty plates! Laundry piling up? We want to see! Be real, be honest, be exact. No fancy-pantsy Architectural Digest staging for us sketchers! 

I have to admit that when I read these "be honest" guidelines I wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea of using my sketchbook as a visual to-do list ("Mop that floor!" "Scrub those sneakers!"). Instead, I needed to shake things up a bit, color outside of the lines, as it were. That's when I thought of sketching at home from the viewpoint of a child: What if I crawled under the bed? Or, What if I lived upside-down on the ceiling? In other words, I could sketch out a picture book.

Some of the tips I considered to help me get into picture book mode included:

• Thinking in terms of height and size: e.g., what do the items on my kitchen counter look like if they're above my head? Or, if I were only four years old, would a flight of stairs seem as deep as the Grand Canyon? 

• Ask what a child would find interesting about a house. While the neighbors might admire a well-kept lawn, a child might notice that there's a gopher hole right in the middle, or that birds are building a nest in a rain gutter. Adults might disdain an old piece of furniture, but to a child it's a time machine or the entrance to Narnia.

• The same goes for any ornaments or household objects. For instance, you could bring a cat figurine to life, invent new uses for a potato masher, or create an entire story around the items in your closet.
  

• Explore small objects: egg cups, button collections, jewelry; even the junk drawer can be a source of interesting things to draw. 

• Toys and their varied surfaces and textures can provide an infinite amount of sketching ideas. Try posing and arranging them in unexpected places. (For some of the best examples you'll ever see using this technique, I suggest viewing the work of Dare Wright--my absolute favorite children's book creator.)

• Don't overlook your own backyard (if you have one, of course. For me it's a balcony, but I do see trees!).  Is there a mysterious, neglected part of your yard? Use it to the full. Make a "fairy garden" and sketch the results.

• Study and copy patterns found on wallpaper, draperies, bed linens, or tile work. Patterns can be useful additions to creating a lively border or background to a picture book page.

• Think back to your childhood home and/or the place where you grew up. Can you reproduce from memory anything you loved or that was unusual or visually interesting? Don't worry about quality, just get the general ideas down and worry about perfection later.

• Even though we're temporarily cooped up for much of the day, it's important to get out and into the fresh air whenever possible. Can you visit the exterior of a museum or playground to sketch for a little while? How many details can you observe? Taking your own photographs can be a quick and easy option if you choose not to linger anywhere.

• Go wild: if you're sketching your toaster, why not color it pink and covered with gold stars? Or replace the cars in your garage with a herd of antelope? 

• Sketching for children is a good opportunity to consider your color palette. Rather than just aiming for primary colors or anything "bright and shiny," give some thought to mood. Are you feeling happy, sad, wistful, or nostalgic for your own childhood? Play with watercolor washes and draw over them later.

•  Set up some reference files from magazine cut-outs or sites such as Pinterest.com, e.g., Toys, Children's Clothing, Play Rooms, Bedrooms, Animals.

Can we go play??

I must say it's been an eye-opener these last few weeks lying on the floor sketching chair legs--and not just because I discovered my base boards needed a good dusting, but because it's made me think seriously about illustrating a children's book from the perspective of an urban sketcher. Sketching is, after all, a way to explore ideas, collect data, and experiment with mediums, palettes, and composition. And where better to start than at home? 

Tip of the Day: If you find yourself getting bored with your own supply of pots and pans and coffee mugs, experiment with designing an entirely new set on paper. Draw a household from your imagination, one set on Mars or ancient Greece. Place your characters on a pirate ship or living in a log cabin. You don't have to be accurate, just playful. Have fun and let me know how it goes. See you next time!

Travel Writing: Pack Your Journal!

A view of Shanghai--thanks to my travel magazines!

Without a doubt my favorite magazines for finding writing and art prompts are travel magazines. I can spend hours snipping, tearing, cutting, and dreaming over photos of tropical beaches, European cities, and the kind of Asian resorts that make me want to run away from home in a heartbeat. There's hardly a single page I can pass up without having an idea for a story about a millionaire with three poodles or an orphan who finds a full set of packed Louis Vuitton. 

The bulk of my magazines come from the library free giveaway bin: Conde Nast Traveler, Travel and Leisure, National Geographic Kids, Sky; you name it, I've read it. Strangely enough, though, for all my love of travel and the magazines that go with it, I've never attempted writing a travel article myself. Lately I've been thinking it's an area I should look into. To better understand what goes into an article, I started taking notes on what makes a good story, as well as the different kinds of articles magazines publish. Some of the main points I've observed are:

• A piece of travel writing can be as small as a paragraph, or as long as a book. That said, there's not many travel magazines willing to reprint your entire book, but they will look at small sections or chapters. Travel magazines are also a good way to promote your book via reviews, which in turn make a good starting point for armchair travel writers. If you've enjoyed reading a book about Singapore or the North Pole, submit your opinion!
• Humorous articles seem to be overwhelmingly popular. The more mishaps the merrier. Whether it's the time you fell off the gondola in Venice or slipped on a banana peel at the Ritz, enquiring minds what to know more, more, more.
• The articles don't always have to be slapstick funny, but they can be deeply personal. I've read articles that have brought me to tears: stories about adopting children overseas, scattering a loved one's ashes on a faraway beach, or coming to terms with a serious illness or disability through the daily rigors of getting from one place to another.
• Travel experiences don't have to be recent to qualify as magazine-worthy. Travel memoirs are among some of my favorite articles: "When I was ten years old, eating ice cream in Helsinki with my grandmother . . . "
• For many people, travel isn't just about business or pleasure. Sometimes a trip has a deeper significance, such as taking a pilgrimage to a sacred site, or doing volunteer work in an area hit by a natural disaster. Writing about these experiences for publication can inspire others to take the same path.
• The more unusual the place visited, the better the story, whether it's a little-known trail-way, restaurant, or museum: weird is good.
• Speaking of restaurants. . . . Many travel magazines devote entire issues to food themes, complete with recipes. Yum! (Don't leave out the wine!)
• Budget travel is always a big hit with both travelers and readers.
• But luxury is even better! I particularly like the articles that show how to combine the two extremes, as in, "A backpackers guide to Lake Como," or, "How to get invited for free to the most expensive island in the world." If you can manage it--write about it!
• Clothing articles are always a stand-out: what to pack, what to wear in Hong Kong, the best in-flight slippers, etc. etc. If you have a clever way to travel in the same outfit from Barcelona to Tahiti, let us know.
• Theme journeys make for good stories: eco-travel, visiting literary shrines or artist's studios, motor racing. . . . Designing a trip and an accompanying article around a specific interest sounds like a great way to test the travel writing waters.
• Travel buddies. Some of the best stories I've read are about the people you travel with. Whether it's a spouse, children, extended family, best friend, group of strangers, or all by yourself--the human element is in many ways the most important part of the trip as well as the story.
• Artwork. Be sure to take your sketchbook on your next trip. Many of the articles I read include sketches of the journey taken, and most of these sketches are totally raw, smeary, crooked, and real. In other words--they're sketches. Their lack of "perfection" is what captures the moment so well. Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, give it a whirl. You might find a whole new reason to travel!

Tip of the Day:  Keep in mind that travel writing doesn't always have to be nonfiction. Perhaps poetry or a novel based on your travels might be just the ticket. Bon Voyage.