Sketching ideas for future paintings

The thing with sketchbooks, is you need good paper.  It really does make all the difference to a decent sketch.  So you can image how challenging a Khadi-paper  sketchbook can be.  Not only is the paper roughly textured, but it swallows up watercolour like there is no tomorrow!

However, there is always a Solution 

and for this sketchbook I prepared some pages with gesso.

This will enable me to use acrylics for sketching ideas.

Prep with grey gesso and below

white/burnt sienna mix

As the gesso dries permanent, this makes it an ideal surface for acrylic paints -

of course, you could also prepare the pages with White gesso, I just chose not to.

Not all pages are gessoed though.

I have also painted directly on the white pages with acrylics -

 rough 'blocking in' idea for a future painting.

They remind me where I want to go with a large canvas.

This sketchbook is proving to be worth its weight in gold.

(I'm also going to add this post to my Useful Painting Tips blog, it may be helpful to anyone wanting to draw on khadi paper - sorry if this is very repetitive for those of you following both blogs)

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Khadi paper

Just bought myself some Khadi paper.  I've heard good things about it so looked online and through Jackson Art found a pack of 20 sheets (rough)  for around £15.

I chose the square sheets as I thought I could cut them up into smaller pieces.

On the wrapper it explains what khadi is:

Handmade paper from South India.  Made from 100% recycled cotton rag. Gelatine sized.  Acid free. 

For watercolour, ink, printmaking and drawing.

 This is the first painting using a whole sheet... well, I thought I might as well get stuck in and do a large painting first.  It gave me the chance to try out some large brushes anyway, but I did have to remember to mix a good supply of paint first...this paper soaks up the paint.

I'm Very pleased with this paper.

Extremely easy to work with and in a way the painting painted itself!