Old Newfoundland Sketchbook : Redux
November 25, 2014
A few years back we did a road trip across Newfoundland. I was looking through my old sketchbooks, digging up reference images for an upcoming project, and I realized I’ve never actually posted scans from the trip.
I did a video flip through back in the day – which is fun and all, but I’m no videographer. It’s on the dark and grainy side. So here’s a better look at my first successful water-soluble sketches.
These were done with a Lamy Joy fountain pen, the name brand ink cartridges and a 6×9″ Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook. Tinted with Windsor and Newton Watercolors.
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Citizen Sketcher 
Really nice, they are so fresh and free….
Thanks Sheryl – that’s precisely my goal! Sketching should never be work – only play :)
seeing your wondrous sketches always is a gift and even better, it makes me want to leap into the sketchmode…you are a hero, a constant and very talented..I now have your book and love it..intelligent, forceful,many faceted..might I say inspirational..it was a bright and shining day when I subscribed to your blog.. thank you ..now excuse me while I go and work on my sketch-a-day book of my dog Luc… sandra
Thanks for the good words. I’m glad to help out with inspiration to do art. Really – doing it with you guys keeps me going. It’s a two-way motivation for certain! I get as much out of it as anyone :)
This is incredible … I’m impressed and jealous. Of course, Newfoundland lurks in our imaginations. Who lives there? Why? Anyway … I’d buy this and frame for my living room. Seriously.
It’s true! NFLD seems like another world. The fact the villages were deserted for winter, made it even stranger to be there. Felt like visiting a viking settlement. All the evidence of fishing and hunting was very odd for a city boy. If you’re truly into having some framed work – I can make archival art prints here in the studio. We can make that happen :)
I am, Marc … and let’s do it. What are we talking about in American $?
Just tried the email on your wordpress – that seems to be out of date! Want to touch base at marc(dot)taro(at)gmail.com and we can get into the details? Thanks!
These are great! You’re a big inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing and getting me into dip pens and watercolour!
Hey Great! Dip pens rock.
Absolutely beautiful, thank you. What a light touch you have!
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May I just ditto Sandra’s praise? It’s better than I could say it. Now excuse me…
Wow. Absolutely incredible work. So precious are the details. And yet, the images are loose, like memories. Great work with the colors as well. You have an amazing talent and a honed skill.
Beautiful! Makes me want to go there… which nib did you have on the Joy?
Hey Gina – This was the 1.1mm – sort of a calligraphy nib. I have a 1.9 as well, but that particular one doesn’t flow that well for some reason. Oddly, I haven’t used them since – doing more with the Fine size Safari – simply because the Safari is a shorter pen and fits in my pen case :)
Just watched the video. OK, deep breath here, how much for the sketchbook?????????
What Sketchbook are you using?
This one is a Stillman and Birn Alpha. The 6×9″ ish size in hardcover. (I dislike coil bindings – they always squish eventually and get hard to turn). Lately I’ve been using their Epsilon – slightly smoother paper for drawing.
Wonderfully vibrant, dynamic mark making and I love the way you build colour into your ink and wash drawings.
I fall in love with that video some month ago. Amazing, really!:-) with rock and sky is my favourite) actually all of them with rock and sky)
And if it’s still not sold, i am in line.
First saw these on the video awhile back and was so impressed, not only with the beauty of the sketches, but with the number of pages you completed on your trip. I’ve enjoyed seeing them again here and making the connection that these are your work. I recently found your blog via Shari Blaukopf and I look forward to picking up your book when it’s out.
Love the feel of these sketches; looking at them, I can tell that the weather was not exactly warm and sunny!
I absolutely love this style. Reminds me of Denis Clavreul, a French artist and scientist. I found your video years ago and took a screen shot of each page. I’m particularly interested in the ink you use. I’ve tried a water soluble ink in a Lamy, well actually I think it may have been a carbon pen which has too fine a nib.
I would be interested in some prints too.
Also, do you have any workshops in the US. I would rather go there than Italy!