These were some great tips. I especially like the idea of keeping a list of ideas from when your inspired to reference when you're not sure what to draw!
1. put watercolor paint over your sketch to prevent graphite smudging/transfering 2. if sketching on the left (or right side if you're a lefty) side of the sketchbook is weird or hard for you, turn sketchbook upside down so it's the same as sketching on the non-weird side 3. paint over bleed-throughs with white gesso (or any acrylic color mixed with white gesso) 4. write down a bunch of prompts/inspiration in your sketchbook for your future self when you get art block 5. use a binder clip to keep your pages closed 6. make a color/reference chart of your materials (copics, watercolors, etc.) 7. for people that have the same brand sketchbook as her, put washi tape strips on the plastic folder part so you can use them whenever you want without having to bring rolls of washi tape wherever you go
for 7 you can also use that washi tape to hold pencils on the cover of your sketchbook so you don't have to carry a pencil pouch with you everywhere if you don't have a pocket
I've been doing that for a while now, spiral or not. It also makes me feel good about how much progress I've made once I turn it upside down to draw on the other side of all my pages. Also the flip-over aspect just makes it look cool. ^^
Another point on sealing pencil sketches-- Watercolor works great if you're okay with adding color, but in the past what I've used is just plain water. If you brush it on gently, it wont smear at all, and when it dries it will look the same as before (save for slightly wrinkly paper). It will erase, but only barely (this also is affected by the type of paper you use). I hope this helps someone! :D
Good point! Also, I've tried the watercolor thing on thin sketchbook paper, and it bled soooo bad, which ruined my drawing. Be careful that you have a good enough paper weight and/or that you've put down a thin layer of gesso before you do this! :)
@@hellanistpunk3282 Use a wide, soft brush and a light touch. Thin the gesso (you have to test different dilutions) and put two or more coats, going at right angles to the previous coat. If you want a super fine surface, use a very fine grit carborundum paper and sand a little.
These are some really useful tips! If you're going to make a colour chart in the back of your sketchbook, make it so it folds out so you don't need to flip to the back to see it when you're in the middle of a sketch, you can just have it right next to you
Catherine Cronin OMGaaaad just LOOOOOOVE this!!! I personally love to do all kinds of flip out pages for monthly todo lists half/peekabo pages etc in my bujo... Why did i NEVER this of doing this for swatches in my sketch books and marker journals and bujo for that matter!???? YOU ARE THE WINNER OF TODAY! And my personal hero. Cheers! 😊✌️✏️📒🎨
Alice, it's the gum arabic in water color that binds the pigment to the paper and also seals the graphite to the page. You might mix gum arabic into plain water to clear seal graphite on the page. Experiment with concentrations--0ne to five percent should work beautifully. Very nice videos. Keep them coming! Don
It's because of the gum Arabic in the paint. It holds the graphite just like any other pigment. Presumably, you could fill a waterbrush with diluted gum Arabic and it would work just as well without the color.
Also if you don't want color on the graphite page, workable fixative is cheap. Or just hairspray! I personally love the color of the watercolor but I know some people love how just black and white graphite pages look haha But I used hairspray all the time at art school. It doesn't take much.
Does it matter if it’s pump or aerosol hair spray? And is that a “you’re done messing with it and that page forever” thing or can you work on top of it?
Use the cheapest hairspray you can find; those are the best to use instead of a fixative (not everyone can buy that), as they contain less crap than expensive brands. I've used them for my charcoal drawings. None of them have colored or changed in the past fifteen years, but i wouldn't trust it for professional art.
i only have 10 pages left in my sketchbook, it's bittersweet. Theses are great hacks, definitely going to be trying the watercolor amd flipping the book. I've been using hairspray to keep my pencil from smearing. I always write out goals on the front of any new sketchbook as a reminder when I'm stuck on what to draw.
Never use hairspray on finished final drawings. It will destroy it over time by yellowing and breaking doen the paper. Use fixative specifically made for graphite and charcoal while the work is in progress. There’s no real need to fix it once it’s finished.
The last one reminds me of two of my journal hacks. 1) When my journal/sketchbook doesn't have a pocket I stick cute envelopes on the inside of the cover 2) to carry washitape I use a piece of that kind of plastic-like cardborad and wrap my favorite washitape on it. Then I just store that piece of cardboard in my sketchbook pocket/envelope.
Gesso also often contains powdered marble to add texture so be a bit concerned when using felt tips like fineliners as it may damage them, or other things. Also you can’t erase graphite after layering watercolours over top. Great tips otherwise and I shall remember to do the watercolour washes over graphite to seal them as it seems in spite of being aware of this property my brain never thought to intentionally use this property in sketchbooks. I prefer this idea to toxic and smelly fixatives! All the other tips were very well thought out and helpful too! Keep up the great content!
You actually can erase it! I literally tried it as I was planning on saying you couldn't erase, but it did erase. I was really surprised as that hasn't always been my experience. Thank you!! I'm glad you liked it! I didn't know that about the gesso so good tip!
Great tips! Another idea for Washi tape is to wrap it around a plastic card such old hotel card key or used gift card etc. This will hold more tape but still be portable enough to slide into any pocket plastic or not. You can get up to 4 different styles on one card, give or take depending on the width of the tapes. :)
Another great thing to lock in your graphite sketches is hairspray , i learned this during 1st grade and have done it ever since ,also works really well with soft pastels
Why are you destroying the pigment of pastels by fixing them? Have we learned mothing from Degas’ addiction to the stuff? It daekens the pigmeny. Never mix hairspray with sny art medium. Ever. But especially pastels. If you don’t care about darlening pigment and potentially destroying your work, at least throw down the cash for pastels fixative. You don’t need it, though, with the right supports that weren’t available when Degas was alive.
Spray fixitive is a product made specifically to affix graphite and other dry media to paper so you don't have to worry about smudging it (it dries clear). A cheaper version that works as well but doesn't smell so great is regular hairspray. The smell fades with time.
For graphite issue you can use a fixative like professional winsor and newton fixative which fixes it down or you can do what my art teacher taught me. Regular hair spray works aswell, I wouldn't use it on final pieces or pieces you plan to sell, but for doodles and quick things it's perfect and a lot cheaper than fixature.... Just a couple of spares from 15-30cm away works well!
Yeah that is fair I was just thinking more of the people who prefer to do just charcoal /graphite sketches or even figure drawings in their sketchbook!
Instead of using watercolor to seal graphite, use hairspray! They sell some for cheap at Walmart for like $1.50, if you're in the US. Much cheaper than fixavtive which can be like $20.
Morning Star this Is a much better for a full charcoal or graphite drawing. Like I mean a complete piece. But just for a sketchbook if your really worried about a drawing( which I usually am not) I like the watercolor idea
If you don't want the colour on your graphite sketches, but still want the benefit of protecting your graphite drawing (for example if you want to colour it in properly later) use a drop or two of gum Arabic in water and paint that over your sketch. Does the same as using coloured watercolour, but there is no colour. I always have a small bottle of liquid gum Arabic around, because it also makes colours more vibrant when dropped into my painting water.
nice selection of tips :D I alredy use some of them, but girl, the "watercolor-over-graphite" blew my mind ^_^ I don't have to carry spray fixative anymore
Just make sure to have your phone, tablet or camara with you. That way around, you can take your own pictures of things you would draw and play with in some future. Then, you can make raw scratches of it, and add details later. Or, play with some of the most basic techniques and practices, to improve the drawing skills. Some times, when I have a certain feeling, I also express it with a drawing sometimes and get surprised, time and time again, about, how close I can get, with the feeling alone.
I'm especially jazzed about the wash locking in pencil lines. I usually try to ink lineart over pencil, but sometimes I do come across something I don't want to ink but dont' really want to erase either, so it's really nice to hear a wash of watercolor (or bottle ink??) will lock it in.
Actually gesso is more than just white paint. It has ground pumice or something similar placed in it, and is used in order to provide tooth for the paint to cling to on a canvas.
I really like the inspiration page! I think I'm going to make one too, but I'm going to leave it blank, and whenever I get inspired but don't have the time/am not well enough at that moment to, I can write it down, and then I can look back on it and even if I can't remember the exact idea, it may spark others! Thank you so much.
Instead of using watercolor to seal graphite drawings, I use modge podge. The modge podge does smear the graphite a little bit, but I think it's worth it because if I don't use the modge podge, the graphite will just smear all over the place.
you can also use scotch tape instead of the plastic sheet/pocket, in the back.. its pretty much a plastic layer put enough scotch tape or packaging tape on the back to make a big area, and then put the washi tapes on top of that; and they peel off easily the same....
Oh my god ! Love this channel so much been subscribed for ages literally my fave art channel and can you also do a video on painting tips and tricks please thanks 👍🏼
If you don't want to put colour to seal your grafite, you can put hairspray on it, the kind that you use to put in the hair and get it sticker. It would seal the deal, and no colour. Also works with carbor and pastel chalks.
I love the watercolor over graphite, thank you so much! I keep post its in the back of my sketchbook, for those times when I mess up a sketch and want to cover it up. Then I draw over it again to fix my mistakes.
art block 1- monochromatic drawing / painting. 2 - When i eat chinese i tape the fortunes to a page and now i have a cool page and inspiration. 3- Draw a styled frame and fill it.
All really solid tips. I use most of them. Flipping my sketchbook is something I just recently tried, I have to admit when I flip thru it later it can be disorienting. I use clips to hold my paper down too, another useful tip is to use rubber bands along the edge of the paper to hold it down. Sometimes it's less in the way then a binder. I don't really paint over a page with gesso, since I figure gesso costs more then the paper. But what I often do, aside from using a watercolor wash, to keep paint from smudging, is to use an acrylic wash, and then later I might use the sketch as an underdrawing for an acrylic paint sketch. With watercolor over your sketch, you can go over it with colored pencil, or gouache.
I drew a realistic Selena Gomez drawing in a sketchbook and lets just say i wish i knew this life hack because i didnt rip it out of page so it sumged all over the paper. Rip selan gomez drawin 2017-2018
great tips! Would've never thought of that upside down trick. for number 7 tho, I find it easier to make a pouch out of paper, that way you don't have to worry about ripping the tape off at all!
Great video! I actually do not like drawing on the right side of my sketchbook😂 specially when it is new and it's really thick, my hand goes off the sketchbook and I mean is not a big deal but I prefer the left side so I got that plenty of space to move my arm without it going off the sketchbook!! I'm right handed by the way🙌🏼
Thank you! Awesome ideas 😊. For books with paper envelopes at the back, you can spool washi on a playing card and tuck it in the pocket. I also find Handbook sketchbook paper works really well with a crayon for watercolor resist/masking.
I keep a stiff piece of plastic that is just slightly bigger than the pages of my sketchbook at the back of my sketchbook so when I’m filling in large areas with my colored pencils I stick the plastic behind the page I’m working on so I don’t have to worry about the pressure increases when burnishing or the page underneath getting accidental color on it
This is very late, but since you recommended this sketchbook in one of your videos, I have been using it, and even though the shipping from the U.S. is a pain in the butt, I never want to switch again. They are so amazing. I do so manu different media in it, and put so much stuff in, and I have only had one issue in about 15 sketchbooks. So, thank you so much for the recommendation!!!
I'm SOO glad you like them! Seriously I absolutely love them so much!! The only sketchbook I've ever liked more is one I literally custom made for myself lmao.
If you don't want to use watercolors to seal your drawings there is this stuff called Fixative. It is a spray on clear seal so your drawings don't smudge. You can find it at Michaels or on Amazon.
I never even thought about using watercolor to seal my drawings! I usually use hair spray to seal, which is good if you don't want to add color, but I'm really liking the look of watercolor on sketches, so I'm gonna have to try that out next time i sketch.
I used to be super intimidated of that first page so I started color charting the first page to get past that first page and to see how materials react on that specific paper. These were amazing tips though! Great video!
I add mod podge to my sketches. Mod podge is used to go over finished puzzles to be framed with a clear shiny finish. Watercolour does look nicer but I prefer mod podge haha
I alway swatch on my first page, then there's no anxiety with it, and it's easily flipped through and when people grab your sketchbook to look at it without saying anything. Prepares them for things not being perfect or complete. The colored gesso thing sounds fun, I'll have to try that out. And honestly, the washi tape on the plastic pocket thing? Simple and clever, definitely going to try it out.
Smashed the LIKE button just for that first tip. I usually sketch with ballpoint pens just because I hate how graphite smudges, but you've actually given me a reason to mess with pencil drawings again!
Great tips, thank you! I have painting for a while but wanted to work on my drawing skills. Just bought my very first sketchbook, so this will help! Love the tips for flipping the book upside-down and the one about water coloring the graphite drawing so it does not smudge. Thanks again!
I do the sketchbook flipping hack too! I also use it landscape style if I'm just not feeling having my drawings upside down. 😅 I really like the watercolor sealing hack!! I used col-erase because I was sick of having image transfers and smudging but even those begin to seep into the other page after a while! Can't wait to do some experiments! When it came to drawings soaking through to the other page I used to just draw lineart over the leak. It seemed interesting to see some doodles in both directions!
Use a workable spray fixative to stop graphite smearing. It'll stop it smudging but can still be drawn across after the spray has been used. To stop the makers bleeding onto the page below, use tracing paper below until it's dried - its reusable.
Well if it's some work that you're still working on. The one thing I learned in my college class and graphic design is there's a thing called workable matta fixative. I just hope I spelled that right. Does cost little money but it should keep it from smearing on you. can you can work on top of it as well and it doesn't have any color to it. Which who knows maybe it has some of the same things in it that may be watercolor as that does the same thing. Definitely works for pastels for sure I know cuz I've had a lot of issues with smearing pastels all over the place. And I'm pretty sure it works for graphite as well. It saves you a lot of hassle of smearing your artwork.
These were some great tips. I especially like the idea of keeping a list of ideas from when your inspired to reference when you're not sure what to draw!
Hi, Waffles!!!
Waffles!
WAFFLES
I got this video recommended because jaffles
i keep a list in my phone on m y little notepad app. and i write down inthere pretty much every good idea i have.
1. put watercolor paint over your sketch to prevent graphite smudging/transfering
2. if sketching on the left (or right side if you're a lefty) side of the sketchbook is weird or hard for you, turn sketchbook upside down so it's the same as sketching on the non-weird side
3. paint over bleed-throughs with white gesso (or any acrylic color mixed with white gesso)
4. write down a bunch of prompts/inspiration in your sketchbook for your future self when you get art block
5. use a binder clip to keep your pages closed
6. make a color/reference chart of your materials (copics, watercolors, etc.)
7. for people that have the same brand sketchbook as her, put washi tape strips on the plastic folder part so you can use them whenever you want without having to bring rolls of washi tape wherever you go
Thanks 😌
Thx for the tips i really appreciat it you should get more likes that should have taken very long to write
for 7 you can also use that washi tape to hold pencils on the cover of your sketchbook so you don't have to carry a pencil pouch with you everywhere if you don't have a pocket
Me: ha I bought a spiral sketchbook to avoid drawing on the left side.
Her: you literally just have to flip the book upside down.
Me: .....
hodan ali Literally me
I've been doing that for a while now, spiral or not. It also makes me feel good about how much progress I've made once I turn it upside down to draw on the other side of all my pages. Also the flip-over aspect just makes it look cool. ^^
Omg me toooooo!!!!
Another point on sealing pencil sketches--
Watercolor works great if you're okay with adding color, but in the past what I've used is just plain water. If you brush it on gently, it wont smear at all, and when it dries it will look the same as before (save for slightly wrinkly paper). It will erase, but only barely (this also is affected by the type of paper you use). I hope this helps someone! :D
Good point! Also, I've tried the watercolor thing on thin sketchbook paper, and it bled soooo bad, which ruined my drawing. Be careful that you have a good enough paper weight and/or that you've put down a thin layer of gesso before you do this! :)
I was just going to comment and ask if water with no pigment would work too!!! Thank you!
Hairspray.
Maybe a light mist from a spray bottle of water would work without wrinkling the paper much? I love all the suggestions on here.
A fixative
These are GREAT!!!! I’m so using this especially the watercolor and gesso hack!! Also I might have to look into this sketchbook 😀
It's the bestttt I love it
does anyone have any advice so the brush strokes in the gesso don't show in the painting over the top?
@@hellanistpunk3282 Use a wide, soft brush and a light touch. Thin the gesso (you have to test different dilutions) and put two or more coats, going at right angles to the previous coat. If you want a super fine surface, use a very fine grit carborundum paper and sand a little.
+Nofirstname Nolastname you're a life saver; I'll have to try this.
Chloe Rose Art so many other artists commenting on dis vid
These are some really useful tips! If you're going to make a colour chart in the back of your sketchbook, make it so it folds out so you don't need to flip to the back to see it when you're in the middle of a sketch, you can just have it right next to you
Catherine Cronin
OMGaaaad just LOOOOOOVE this!!!
I personally love to do all kinds of flip out pages for monthly todo lists half/peekabo pages etc in my bujo...
Why did i NEVER this of doing this for swatches in my sketch books and marker journals and bujo for that matter!????
YOU ARE THE WINNER OF TODAY!
And my personal hero.
Cheers!
😊✌️✏️📒🎨
ThatOne Hippie-Chick Thank you, that's really lovely, I also love to bullet journal, I will have to try some flip out pages in there! 💚
Instant inspiration! Thanks for this video :)
JelArts hii jelarts!!!!
Hii
JelArts hiiii!!!
That gesso hack is everything. Also, HOW are you drawing with those gorgeous nails *_* (mad skills)
ITS SO HARD
Too hard to draw with Long nails
Alice, it's the gum arabic in water color that binds the pigment to the paper and also seals the graphite to the page. You might mix gum arabic into plain water to clear seal graphite on the page. Experiment with concentrations--0ne to five percent should work beautifully.
Very nice videos. Keep them coming!
Don
Wow it never occured to me watercolor could be used to keep pencil sketches from smudging all over the place! These were all good tips :)
I know, that was the greatest tip that I haven't heard anybody share before!
It's because of the gum Arabic in the paint. It holds the graphite just like any other pigment. Presumably, you could fill a waterbrush with diluted gum Arabic and it would work just as well without the color.
Maybe hairspray will work too
I keep full-stick post its in the back of my sketchbook and cover marker bleed through with them. Draw right over the top :)
RhomanysRealm oooh! This is a really great idea! Thanks for sharing ☺️
You could probably just cover the inside back cover with clear packing tape to stick the washi on for future use.
paperdoll mom Good idea! I was thinking contact paper or laminating sheets would work too.
Also if you don't want color on the graphite page, workable fixative is cheap. Or just hairspray! I personally love the color of the watercolor but I know some people love how just black and white graphite pages look haha
But I used hairspray all the time at art school. It doesn't take much.
Wahhbajack I always use Modge Podge because I draw very dark with straight charcoal sticks in my sketchbook so I need something thick 😂
Same! Been using hairspray for 20yrs :)
Does it matter if it’s pump or aerosol hair spray? And is that a “you’re done messing with it and that page forever” thing or can you work on top of it?
@Røxxy Mýr thank you!
Wahhbajack Or just water.
I use hairspray to seal my sketches and colored pictures.
Clarie011791 really?!😂
Does it work well?
How well does it work?
Hairspray is non-archival though, for those who want their sketchbooks as a keepsake
Use the cheapest hairspray you can find; those are the best to use instead of a fixative (not everyone can buy that), as they contain less crap than expensive brands. I've used them for my charcoal drawings. None of them have colored or changed in the past fifteen years, but i wouldn't trust it for professional art.
i only have 10 pages left in my sketchbook, it's bittersweet. Theses are great hacks, definitely going to be trying the watercolor amd flipping the book. I've been using hairspray to keep my pencil from smearing. I always write out goals on the front of any new sketchbook as a reminder when I'm stuck on what to draw.
Cyn Creates does the hairspray work well?
Brooklyn Rose it's been working for me. I use it for all my charcoal, pencil, soft pastel drawings. It doesn't leave it sticky or anything.
Never use hairspray on finished final drawings. It will destroy it over time by yellowing and breaking doen the paper. Use fixative specifically made for graphite and charcoal while the work is in progress. There’s no real need to fix it once it’s finished.
That first tip was awesome and I will now be using it all the time. Thanks man!
The last one reminds me of two of my journal hacks.
1) When my journal/sketchbook doesn't have a pocket I stick cute envelopes on the inside of the cover
2) to carry washitape I use a piece of that kind of plastic-like cardborad and wrap my favorite washitape on it. Then I just store that piece of cardboard in my sketchbook pocket/envelope.
Gesso also often contains powdered marble to add texture so be a bit concerned when using felt tips like fineliners as it may damage them, or other things. Also you can’t erase graphite after layering watercolours over top. Great tips otherwise and I shall remember to do the watercolour washes over graphite to seal them as it seems in spite of being aware of this property my brain never thought to intentionally use this property in sketchbooks. I prefer this idea to toxic and smelly fixatives! All the other tips were very well thought out and helpful too! Keep up the great content!
You actually can erase it! I literally tried it as I was planning on saying you couldn't erase, but it did erase. I was really surprised as that hasn't always been my experience. Thank you!! I'm glad you liked it! I didn't know that about the gesso so good tip!
HulloAlice maybe some pigments block erasing graphite and others don’t? Thanks.
For the marker bleedthrough tip, I've noticed that if you have a light watercolour wash on it before you use the markers they bleed less
Great tips! Another idea for Washi tape is to wrap it around a plastic card such old hotel card key or used gift card etc. This will hold more tape but still be portable enough to slide into any pocket plastic or not. You can get up to 4 different styles on one card, give or take depending on the width of the tapes. :)
That's brilliant!
Another great thing to lock in your graphite sketches is hairspray , i learned this during 1st grade and have done it ever since ,also works really well with soft pastels
THANK YOU
Why are you destroying the pigment of pastels by fixing them? Have we learned mothing from Degas’ addiction to the stuff? It daekens the pigmeny. Never mix hairspray with sny art medium. Ever. But especially pastels. If you don’t care about darlening pigment and potentially destroying your work, at least throw down the cash for pastels fixative. You don’t need it, though, with the right supports that weren’t available when Degas was alive.
Spray fixitive is a product made specifically to affix graphite and other dry media to paper so you don't have to worry about smudging it (it dries clear). A cheaper version that works as well but doesn't smell so great is regular hairspray. The smell fades with time.
For graphite issue you can use a fixative like professional winsor and newton fixative which fixes it down or you can do what my art teacher taught me. Regular hair spray works aswell, I wouldn't use it on final pieces or pieces you plan to sell, but for doodles and quick things it's perfect and a lot cheaper than fixature.... Just a couple of spares from 15-30cm away works well!
Yeah! I like the water color tip because its super easy on the go!
Yeah that is fair I was just thinking more of the people who prefer to do just charcoal /graphite sketches or even figure drawings in their sketchbook!
Yesss haha for heavy charcoal work a fixative is so important!
Alice could you make a new updated watercolor collection video?Ahhh I'm just obsessed with palettes
Shereen Bajo I’m the same! I have three beginner-sized palettes when I really only need the one!
SAME i only have the kuretaki gansai tambi 36 set tho and they wont end :C theyre great tho
Instead of using watercolor to seal graphite, use hairspray! They sell some for cheap at Walmart for like $1.50, if you're in the US. Much cheaper than fixavtive which can be like $20.
Morning Star this Is a much better for a full charcoal or graphite drawing. Like I mean a complete piece. But just for a sketchbook if your really worried about a drawing( which I usually am not) I like the watercolor idea
Careful with hair spray if you use ink, even permanent ink will break up if you spray it with hairspray.
I really like the idea of putting a list of art block ideas and of doing a color chart.
YOUR HAIR LOOKS SO GOOD IN THIS VIDEO YAAAAS GURL
I use hairspray in a travel-size can to seal my graphite drawings.
Your hair is slaying 🤭that colour suits you so muchhhh
Thank you so much, I loved all the tips! I never thought of using watercolor to stop my pencil from smudging! I'm totally gonna try that
If you don't want the colour on your graphite sketches, but still want the benefit of protecting your graphite drawing (for example if you want to colour it in properly later) use a drop or two of gum Arabic in water and paint that over your sketch. Does the same as using coloured watercolour, but there is no colour. I always have a small bottle of liquid gum Arabic around, because it also makes colours more vibrant when dropped into my painting water.
nice selection of tips :D I alredy use some of them, but girl, the "watercolor-over-graphite" blew my mind ^_^ I don't have to carry spray fixative anymore
oh, and I dont have gesso, but I cover alcohol markers marks with gouache so I can use the back of the page ;)
Cute art and great tips... makes me want to start filling my many blank sketchbooks 😁
Just make sure to have your phone, tablet or camara with you. That way around, you can take your own pictures of things you would draw and play with in some future. Then, you can make raw scratches of it, and add details later. Or, play with some of the most basic techniques and practices, to improve the drawing skills. Some times, when I have a certain feeling, I also express it with a drawing sometimes and get surprised, time and time again, about, how close I can get, with the feeling alone.
I'm especially jazzed about the wash locking in pencil lines. I usually try to ink lineart over pencil, but sometimes I do come across something I don't want to ink but dont' really want to erase either, so it's really nice to hear a wash of watercolor (or bottle ink??) will lock it in.
That 5th tip replay really took me a minute to get, lol.
Actually gesso is more than just white paint. It has ground pumice or something similar placed in it, and is used in order to provide tooth for the paint to cling to on a canvas.
I really like the inspiration page! I think I'm going to make one too, but I'm going to leave it blank, and whenever I get inspired but don't have the time/am not well enough at that moment to, I can write it down, and then I can look back on it and even if I can't remember the exact idea, it may spark others! Thank you so much.
Tbh I forgot you dyed your hair and then i was like "oh yeah! Hi alice" lol
icon for hire x flyleaf omg same
Young Dreamer i was like "whos the blonde" and then it took me weird
Loved the watercolor hack. Great idea and fun!
Thanks!
I do two pages of my sketchbook a day 🤗
Starving Army wow! Teach me your ways haha :0
Natalie Weng Well,it's just out of habit.No matter how busy i am,i have to sit down and do the pages or else i'll go insane 😂
Starving Army wow, I do one page a month..... 😮😂
Starving Army That's amazing!
same. Sometimes ill just sketch random imaages from pintrest. I cant go to bed at night knowing i didnt work in my sketchbook lol.
lol "my fifth tip" you took that mistake like a champ, it made me smile
Instead of using watercolor to seal graphite drawings, I use modge podge. The modge podge does smear the graphite a little bit, but I think it's worth it because if I don't use the modge podge, the graphite will just smear all over the place.
you can also use scotch tape instead of the plastic sheet/pocket, in the back.. its pretty much a plastic layer put enough scotch tape or packaging tape on the back to make a big area, and then put the washi tapes on top of that; and they peel off easily the same....
I use clear acrylic spray to seal my graphite sketches in the sketch book. Seems to work pretty good.
thank you So much !! i didn't think at all of flipping the sketch book to use the other page!! i really hated drawing in the left page for a long time
Wonderful! From now on I will watercolour everything!!!!
instead of watercolor you could use hairspray to fix it. simple, easy and clear. Smells good also
I used to use pva glue to seal the graphite instead of watercolour sometimes.
I always hated the idea of spraying fixative in my sketchbooks, and I wont ALWAYS wanylt to color over every sketch, so the glue tip is amazing !
Wow I never thought about flipping my sketchbook upside down!I always left my left pages empty! THANKS FOR THE TIPS! 💙
Oh my god ! Love this channel so much been subscribed for ages literally my fave art channel and can you also do a video on painting tips and tricks please thanks 👍🏼
If you don't want to put colour to seal your grafite, you can put hairspray on it, the kind that you use to put in the hair and get it sticker. It would seal the deal, and no colour. Also works with carbor and pastel chalks.
I love the watercolor over graphite, thank you so much! I keep post its in the back of my sketchbook, for those times when I mess up a sketch and want to cover it up. Then I draw over it again to fix my mistakes.
art block 1- monochromatic drawing / painting. 2 - When i eat chinese i tape the fortunes to a page and now i have a cool page and inspiration. 3- Draw a styled frame and fill it.
All really solid tips. I use most of them. Flipping my sketchbook is something I just recently tried, I have to admit when I flip thru it later it can be disorienting. I use clips to hold my paper down too, another useful tip is to use rubber bands along the edge of the paper to hold it down. Sometimes it's less in the way then a binder. I don't really paint over a page with gesso, since I figure gesso costs more then the paper. But what I often do, aside from using a watercolor wash, to keep paint from smudging, is to use an acrylic wash, and then later I might use the sketch as an underdrawing for an acrylic paint sketch. With watercolor over your sketch, you can go over it with colored pencil, or gouache.
I drew a realistic Selena Gomez drawing in a sketchbook and lets just say i wish i knew this life hack because i didnt rip it out of page so it sumged all over the paper. Rip selan gomez drawin 2017-2018
My graphite never gets anywhere, but my colored pencil gets all over the place.
The watercolor tip for graphite is so useful. I will be doing that now. I also have issues with drawing on the left side too.
Love that first and last one. But I'm going to try the paint on the back of a page today! Thanks
Omg the first one is so cool! Fun way to use my watercolors!!
great tips! Would've never thought of that upside down trick. for number 7 tho, I find it easier to make a pouch out of paper, that way you don't have to worry about ripping the tape off at all!
I loved the tip about putting water color over the graphite sketches! For a while i was just using one side of my paper to avoid that!
There are some new notebooks called rendr sketchbooks sold on Amazon that is filled with bleedproof paper, not sure if you knew or not. 😉
Great video! I actually do not like drawing on the right side of my sketchbook😂 specially when it is new and it's really thick, my hand goes off the sketchbook and I mean is not a big deal but I prefer the left side so I got that plenty of space to move my arm without it going off the sketchbook!! I'm right handed by the way🙌🏼
DaGarabatos that might explain why I usually start in the back of a book. ❤️
Thank you! Awesome ideas 😊. For books with paper envelopes at the back, you can spool washi on a playing card and tuck it in the pocket. I also find Handbook sketchbook paper works really well with a crayon for watercolor resist/masking.
I keep a stiff piece of plastic that is just slightly bigger than the pages of my sketchbook at the back of my sketchbook so when I’m filling in large areas with my colored pencils I stick the plastic behind the page I’m working on so I don’t have to worry about the pressure increases when burnishing or the page underneath getting accidental color on it
The washi tape idea was genius! (and all the others were super, too)
another pretty cool tip to seal graphite if u dont want to add water color or if you don't have any, you can use hair spray
This is very late, but since you recommended this sketchbook in one of your videos, I have been using it, and even though the shipping from the U.S. is a pain in the butt, I never want to switch again. They are so amazing. I do so manu different media in it, and put so much stuff in, and I have only had one issue in about 15 sketchbooks. So, thank you so much for the recommendation!!!
I'm SOO glad you like them! Seriously I absolutely love them so much!! The only sketchbook I've ever liked more is one I literally custom made for myself lmao.
I love the watercolor trick, havent tried it myself, but that is such a cute idea
If you don't want to use watercolors to seal your drawings there is this stuff called Fixative. It is a spray on clear seal so your drawings don't smudge. You can find it at Michaels or on Amazon.
You can use hairspray to stop smugging of graphite. It works for soft pastels too.
I never even thought about using watercolor to seal my drawings! I usually use hair spray to seal, which is good if you don't want to add color, but I'm really liking the look of watercolor on sketches, so I'm gonna have to try that out next time i sketch.
My first ever sketch book it’s arriving tomorrow and this hacks were my absolutely life savers
You could use a fixative spray for graphite. They are designed for exactly this purpose.
I used to be super intimidated of that first page so I started color charting the first page to get past that first page and to see how materials react on that specific paper. These were amazing tips though! Great video!
I add mod podge to my sketches. Mod podge is used to go over finished puzzles to be framed with a clear shiny finish. Watercolour does look nicer but I prefer mod podge haha
I was literally sketching her while listening. The obsession is real.
I alway swatch on my first page, then there's no anxiety with it, and it's easily flipped through and when people grab your sketchbook to look at it without saying anything. Prepares them for things not being perfect or complete.
The colored gesso thing sounds fun, I'll have to try that out.
And honestly, the washi tape on the plastic pocket thing? Simple and clever, definitely going to try it out.
Smashed the LIKE button just for that first tip. I usually sketch with ballpoint pens just because I hate how graphite smudges, but you've actually given me a reason to mess with pencil drawings again!
Wow these tips are all fantastic! I'll definitely have to try out some of these tips.
Also, the way you did the colour swatches was so cute! 😊
I love the first tip! So useful.. thanks!
You can also use hairspray to seal graphite drawings. There're also fixatives you can get specifically for that purpose.
the plastic in a sketchbook thingy is honestly brilliant
Thanks these are some awesome tips. Never thought of gessoeing the back of my pages.
The tip for flipping your book over is so helpful ! It’s simplicity makes it so cool. Thank you!
Great tips, thank you! I have painting for a while but wanted to work on my drawing skills. Just bought my very first sketchbook, so this will help! Love the tips for flipping the book upside-down and the one about water coloring the graphite drawing so it does not smudge. Thanks again!
Oh WOW that smudging trick YAY!
You can also seal graphite with hairspray :) Thanks for inspiration girl.
Using watercolor to seal the pencil is an interesting idea!
Thanks for the washi tape tip! Genius!
You could also spray graphite drawings with hairspray to seal it in
I do the sketchbook flipping hack too! I also use it landscape style if I'm just not feeling having my drawings upside down. 😅
I really like the watercolor sealing hack!! I used col-erase because I was sick of having image transfers and smudging but even those begin to seep into the other page after a while! Can't wait to do some experiments!
When it came to drawings soaking through to the other page I used to just draw lineart over the leak. It seemed interesting to see some doodles in both directions!
Idk about anyone else but the second one actually blew my mind... I'm not even being sarcastic... it genuinely blew my mind...
And this video is one of the main reasons I love RUclips! Excellent video thank you so much!
Omg...The upsidedown hack is very useful...what the heck ..why did I not think of it before....😀😀😀😀
Use a workable spray fixative to stop graphite smearing. It'll stop it smudging but can still be drawn across after the spray has been used.
To stop the makers bleeding onto the page below, use tracing paper below until it's dried - its reusable.
Well if it's some work that you're still working on. The one thing I learned in my college class and graphic design is there's a thing called workable matta fixative. I just hope I spelled that right. Does cost little money but it should keep it from smearing on you. can you can work on top of it as well and it doesn't have any color to it. Which who knows maybe it has some of the same things in it that may be watercolor as that does the same thing. Definitely works for pastels for sure I know cuz I've had a lot of issues with smearing pastels all over the place. And I'm pretty sure it works for graphite as well. It saves you a lot of hassle of smearing your artwork.
I was skeptical. These are very useful! Thank you !!
You could also use hairspray to seal in your pencil sketches
Great ideas! Especially sealing graphite with watercolor and the color chart at the end of you sketchbook!