I have always been afraid to paint the covers of my sketchbooks because I am afraid that if I don’t like it will ruin the whole book for me. If I did try this I would use greens and purples. Turquoise maybe? Thanks for the opportunity to see what happens with different mediums. I think I liked the idea of working with just gesso the best. 🙂
Thank you so much for watching Prisbot! I was worried about the same thing lol it is why I almost wonder if it is better to do it before the start of the sketchbook :P Rather than the end lol Turquoise sounds lovely x x
This has been so helpful to watch! I have thought about decorating my watercolor sketchbook covers and have been wondering about various mediums and grounds.
Thank you for trying out different ways to decorate the sketchbook, I tried watercolor ground and next time I'll try with gesso. Lately I've been loving to decorate my sketchbooks with dark colors just to add some shiny paint on them 🥰
A transparent plastic cover with a print of your own artwork as graphic would work nicely, a floral or architecture for example. Thank you for upload, pretty hair lady 😊😊
Loved this video. So informative! I liked how you demonstrated the various supplies. I am going to give it a try after seeing this helpful video from you. Love your style and energy!
I love working on Gesso in general. I call it the 'magic material'. Especially the clear gesso. It can go on many surfaces and be really fun to experiment with. I plan on gessoing the covers of my sketchbooks in the future to decorate them. I like how your covers turned out! Really nice combination of bright colors. I might do galaxy colors on mine, to me they're really calming and fun to work with.
I’m glad you did this extensive experiment of trying the various ways to personally decorate your Etchr covers. I wondering if on the plain cover without anything added if spraying the cover with plain clear water for a wet on wet technique would that help move the watercolor paint more? I am also wondering if doing a collage for the cover might be best too. As for what color or colors would I use for painting my covers, I would have to say it would be greens & blues.
Thank you Colleen! You are the second person to mention wet on wet - that is an interesting suggestion - Squishy chameleon mentioned that she'd seen a TH-cam video with just clear water being added on so it may be worth searching it. I've concluded all my sketchbooks will have a rendition of these abstract mixed media covers :P xx
@@SketchesnScrubs You are welcomed & I loved 🥰 how they all turned out. I am hoping to get one of those canvas covered Etchr sketchbooks soon to give this wet on wet painting a try!
Love this demo… if I ever decide to add colour to my Etchr sketchbooks, I will definitely be using gesso after seeing this! I really like my sketchbook covers to be plain, but I know there will come a day when one of my white Etchr books is too dirty and I’ll have to paint it 😂. I’ve rewatched a couple of your London art shop tours recently! We’re taking my mom to London later this spring to celebrate her birthday and I’m really hoping I’ll get to see an art shop while I’m there. Unfortunately, Jackson’s seems too far off the “path”, but hoping to see some others that are near spots we’ll be anyway.
If I ever do paint one of my sketchbooks, I’ll be selecting a colour that hides whatever dirt/stain I’ve managed to get on the book that necessitated painting it 😂.
Pinks & purples are my favorite colors, but I think I’ll do my A4 with purples & greens. My A5 will be the pinks & purples. I’ll use gesso & acrylic inks. Thx for your video❤
I have started thinking about how/what I want to do for my covers, so this video and information is extremely helpful! Thank you! I have gesso and watercolor ground already, so I am a step closer to being able to paint once I decide what I want to do. I don't have a clue what color I would paint my sketchbook cover yet. I am extremely indecisive. It's annoying. I went to look for some other videos, and it looks like some people spray/water down the cover first and then paint on it for a wet-on-wet experience. I am going to overthink this and never paint my covers. 🤣
Lool I am super indecisive too :P you are not alone lol but I hope that you find something to try and go for it! (Easier said, than done I know) But it can be a lot of fun - keep me posted on what you do :P I'll be your accountability buddy x
Unless I totally finished the sketchbook and it was gonna sit on my shelf. I wouldn’t use watercolour or gouache or Neo colour twos because if you get them wet when you’re using your sketchbook that will reactivate them and make a mess of the outside of your sketchbook as well as your working space. I would think acrylic inks, acrylics and markers would be the only way to go. Even coloured pencils can transfer over time unless you seal it.
Very good point Jess! I sealed mine with PVA glue. I left the sketchbooks un coated for a couple of weeks and they were fine but I shared your concerns and also, I preferred the coated feel xx
I actually don’t dislike the effect on just the cover alone! Though I see that it is darker and less vibrant… It’s definitely ‘painting on fabric’ so the experience is a lot different from painting on watercolor ground or gesso. For sure to do any sort of blending you will need either the gesso or watercolor ground. If I did it directly on the cavas I would do just very deep/vibrant colors and probably only use inks to dye the fabric… Looking at the etchr sketchbooks again in this video I do feel that the white covers are really plain…. I’m sure they had letting you decorate the cover in mind when designing, but if you don’t it…. Does look a bit boring/lonely 😅
I have always been afraid to paint the covers of my sketchbooks because I am afraid that if I don’t like it will ruin the whole book for me. If I did try this I would use greens and purples. Turquoise maybe? Thanks for the opportunity to see what happens with different mediums. I think I liked the idea of working with just gesso the best. 🙂
Thank you so much for watching Prisbot! I was worried about the same thing lol it is why I almost wonder if it is better to do it before the start of the sketchbook :P Rather than the end lol
Turquoise sounds lovely x x
This has been so helpful to watch! I have thought about decorating my watercolor sketchbook covers and have been wondering about various mediums and grounds.
Glad it was helpful Donna! I hope you enjoy decorating your sketchbook ❤️
I didn't want to prime my cover with anything first, but you convinced me. Just gessoed it. Thanks😄
purple
Thank you for trying out different ways to decorate the sketchbook, I tried watercolor ground and next time I'll try with gesso. Lately I've been loving to decorate my sketchbooks with dark colors just to add some shiny paint on them 🥰
Thank you for watching! I am glad it was helpful x
So informative! Thank you! I would go purple too.
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for your kind words x
Maybe I should have watch this video before doing mine🥲
Oh no! I hope it was okay in the end :P it's on the long side but hopefully it is helpful x
A transparent plastic cover with a print of your own artwork as graphic would work nicely, a floral or architecture for example. Thank you for upload, pretty hair lady 😊😊
Thanks for the tips John x
Loved this video. So informative! I liked how you demonstrated the various supplies. I am going to give it a try after seeing this helpful video from you. Love your style and energy!
Thank you so much Michelle! I am so glad that you enjoyed it and found it helpful :D You are too kind xx
This is brilliant, what a fantastic idea ☺☺
Thank you so much Chantelle! 😊
I love working on Gesso in general. I call it the 'magic material'. Especially the clear gesso. It can go on many surfaces and be really fun to experiment with. I plan on gessoing the covers of my sketchbooks in the future to decorate them. I like how your covers turned out! Really nice combination of bright colors. I might do galaxy colors on mine, to me they're really calming and fun to work with.
Thank you for sharing! I agree, working with gesso can be so nice and it certainly made this enjoyable! xx
I’m glad you did this extensive experiment of trying the various ways to personally decorate your Etchr covers. I wondering if on the plain cover without anything added if spraying the cover with plain clear water for a wet on wet technique would that help move the watercolor paint more? I am also wondering if doing a collage for the cover might be best too. As for what color or colors would I use for painting my covers, I would have to say it would be greens & blues.
Thank you Colleen! You are the second person to mention wet on wet - that is an interesting suggestion - Squishy chameleon mentioned that she'd seen a TH-cam video with just clear water being added on so it may be worth searching it. I've concluded all my sketchbooks will have a rendition of these abstract mixed media covers :P xx
@@SketchesnScrubs You are welcomed & I loved 🥰 how they all turned out. I am hoping to get one of those canvas covered Etchr sketchbooks soon to give this wet on wet painting a try!
Love this demo… if I ever decide to add colour to my Etchr sketchbooks, I will definitely be using gesso after seeing this! I really like my sketchbook covers to be plain, but I know there will come a day when one of my white Etchr books is too dirty and I’ll have to paint it 😂.
I’ve rewatched a couple of your London art shop tours recently! We’re taking my mom to London later this spring to celebrate her birthday and I’m really hoping I’ll get to see an art shop while I’m there. Unfortunately, Jackson’s seems too far off the “path”, but hoping to see some others that are near spots we’ll be anyway.
If I ever do paint one of my sketchbooks, I’ll be selecting a colour that hides whatever dirt/stain I’ve managed to get on the book that necessitated painting it 😂.
Pinks & purples are my favorite colors, but I think I’ll do my A4 with purples & greens. My A5 will be the pinks & purples. I’ll use gesso & acrylic inks. Thx for your video❤
Awesome combos Samantha! You’re welcome ❤️
I have started thinking about how/what I want to do for my covers, so this video and information is extremely helpful! Thank you! I have gesso and watercolor ground already, so I am a step closer to being able to paint once I decide what I want to do. I don't have a clue what color I would paint my sketchbook cover yet. I am extremely indecisive. It's annoying. I went to look for some other videos, and it looks like some people spray/water down the cover first and then paint on it for a wet-on-wet experience. I am going to overthink this and never paint my covers. 🤣
Lool I am super indecisive too :P you are not alone lol but I hope that you find something to try and go for it! (Easier said, than done I know) But it can be a lot of fun - keep me posted on what you do :P I'll be your accountability buddy x
What kind of paint do you use?! My goodness, what ever the brand is, it is gorgeous!
Lol thank you! Do you mean on the covers or in my art? In my art is usually Roman Szmal or Daniel Smith watercolours with Etchr Gold watercolours xx
Unless I totally finished the sketchbook and it was gonna sit on my shelf. I wouldn’t use watercolour or gouache or Neo colour twos because if you get them wet when you’re using your sketchbook that will reactivate them and make a mess of the outside of your sketchbook as well as your working space. I would think acrylic inks, acrylics and markers would be the only way to go. Even coloured pencils can transfer over time unless you seal it.
Very good point Jess! I sealed mine with PVA glue. I left the sketchbooks un coated for a couple of weeks and they were fine but I shared your concerns and also, I preferred the coated feel xx
I actually don’t dislike the effect on just the cover alone! Though I see that it is darker and less vibrant… It’s definitely ‘painting on fabric’ so the experience is a lot different from painting on watercolor ground or gesso. For sure to do any sort of blending you will need either the gesso or watercolor ground. If I did it directly on the cavas I would do just very deep/vibrant colors and probably only use inks to dye the fabric…
Looking at the etchr sketchbooks again in this video I do feel that the white covers are really plain…. I’m sure they had letting you decorate the cover in mind when designing, but if you don’t it…. Does look a bit boring/lonely 😅
Thanks for sharing messy desk! 😂 fabric paint is a good idea 😂 they definitely had decorating in mind x
First!
Thank you!