Leuchtturm's Mini Address Book is available online at www.journalingarts.com.
Leuchtturm’s Mini Address Books have finally arrived and are in stock at www.journalingarts.com. Keep your load light and your contacts organized with this tiny address book. It can be easily tucked into a wallet , without adding extra bulk.
Be sure to read my review of Leuchtturm’s Mini Address Book here: Review of Leuchtturm’s Mini Address Book.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Leuchtturm | Leave a Comment »
As an artist and art journaler, I am always on the lookout for high-quality, convenient journals I can use for making art. For basic doodling with pencil I can use anything, but when making art, I need a journal that can handle marker, watercolor, charcoal, ink, colored pencils, as well as pencil and pen.
The cover is made from thick, textured cardboard that begs to be embellished with metallic markers and collage. It opens flat and would be an excellent choice for creating an art or travel journal.
When I received a package of journals to review from Karen at Exaclair, there was an Exacompta Sketchbook in the box. It appeared innocuous enough with its textured black cover, but the silver edged pages, cloth spine and the silver embossed cover intrigued me and urged me to explore the paper within. Was it as nice on the inside as the outside?
The pages have silver edges that sparkle against the black background and add a sense of elegance. You would never guess that the sketchbook retails for about $12.00.
The Paper
According to Exaclair, the Exacompta Sketchbook contains heavy weight 100g paper that is ideal for use with a fountain pen, calligraphy nib, rollerball or felt-tip pen. The cream-colored paper is pH neutral, made up of 25% cotton, and has a bit of texture to it. The cotton fibers and a water mark can be seen when held up to the light and the sketchbooks are sewn and bound, meaning the books open flat while pages won’t become loose and fall out with use. I didn’t use a calligraphy nib or fountain pen in this review, but I did used a very wet Tombow roll pen, markers, charcoal and watercolor. I was pleased with the results, the paper performed beautifully.
The paper color is soft ivory in color, which is easy on the eyes and the perfect backdrop for pencils and charcoal. It is fairly thick, but it is not near as thick as Moleskine Sketch paper. Rather than being smooth, the paper is slightly textured with a laid finish. If you look closely, you’ll find the texture is more pronounced on the front side of the page than the back, making the vertical pattern more visible on some pages and the horizontal texture more visible on the others. If you want a consistent paper texture on a 2-page illustration, you will need to use the center of one of the paper signatures where the 2 pages are from a single side of the sheet, thus having the same texture all across.
This charcoal rendering of the wolf was done across 2-pages. The left page is the backside of the paper and is smoother than the right, front side. On the left, the vertical texture in the paper is evident while on the right, the horizontal textures are more prominent. While some of you might find the paper's texture and pattern distracting, I like it and think it adds some vertical energy to the rendering.
Charcoal
Charcoal is my favorite medium for this paper. It goes on smoothly and does a good job of picking up the paper’s texture. The charcoal stick makes a lovely, rough sound as it leaves a mark that really adds to the sketching experience. The deep color contrasts well with the paper and it is very satisfying pressing the color onto this paper. The texture can be enhanced by blending or rubbing the charcoal into the crevices and wiping the surface free of the excess powder. For areas that need to be to be dark black, extra pressure will push the charcoal down into all of the nooks and crannies.
In this close up image, you can see the horizontal texture of the paper on the right page. On the left page, the vertical texture is more visible.
Ink and Markers
I also used ink and marker on the paper to see how well these mediums performed, and like most other journals from Exaclair, the paper performed beautifully. The ink from my Tombow Ultra Roll Pen went on smoothly without skips. This is a wet pen and yet there was no bleedthrough and only a minimal amount of showthrough. I was surprised to find that the raised lines created by pen pressure were more visible than the ink on the backside of the page. I was pleased to use a paper that handled ink so gracefully, and was thrilled to know I can use both sides of the paper for my work.
The results of the marker test were similar to the ink test in that there was no bleedthrough and very little showthrough. The color appeared rich and saturated and the surface remained intact and unblemished. I was able to use multiple layers of color without the surface of the paper turning to mush.
Watercolor Paint
Then came the real challenge; wet, sloppy watercolor. So many have sketchbooks failed this test so I was interested to see how well the paper performed with this medium. The first light layers of wash went on with minor buckling, but the paper produced colors similar in brightness and clarity to watercolor paper. After the paint dried, the paper flattened a bit, but there was still some buckling and cupping. Unlike some coated sketchbook papers, there was no beading up or resistance. Each subsequent layer went on like the first and I was able to apply multiple light layers to achieve a reasonable depth of color, but the more layers I applied, the less stable the paper became. After completing the yellow areas, I managed to remove some of the surface of the paper, creating some small lumps of colored paper.
The watercolors were bright and lively on this paper, but I don’t plan on using watercolors with this paper for anything other than quick color sketches or for testing certain effects. The paper buckles less than most, but it is still enough to make using watercolors a less-than-rewarding endeavor.
Watercolors are clear and bright on the paper, but the paper buckled from the wet medium. While it was less than expected, I wouldn't recommend it for anything other than light, quick watercolor sketches. In the areas that received the most wet paint, the surface started to break apart resulting in some lumpiness on the page.
Final Impressions
I love this sketchbook. The paper is exquisite and it is a good value if you are inclined to bargain shop. The street price is about $12 although you can purchase it online with a Madeira leatherette cover for about $20.
This would be an excellent sketchbook to use for art journaling. It handles a variety of mediums, lies flat when opened and is big enough to comfortably draw in and small enough to transport. The cardboard cover can be easily customized with paints, collage, metallic pens, fabric giving you limitless options for creating a journal as unique.
Pros
Cons
Exacompta Sketchbook “Livres d’Or” Sketchbook Specifications:
According to Karen at Exaclair, this Sketch Book is going to get more of a prominent spot in Exaclair’s 2010 catalog. The paper comes from the same mill in the Netherlands that produces Clairefontaine’s fine art paper – http://jherbin.com/schut_mill.shtml. Thank you, Karen, for supplying me with this great little sketchbook to review. I really enjoyed it!
Have you used this sketchbook? If so, leave me a comment and let me know what you think about it!
Posted in Art Journals, Journal Comparisons, Journal Reviews, Past Work | Tagged art journaling, Journal Reviews, visual journal | 9 Comments »
Win this Rhodia 2010 Weekly Planner by entering the Rhodia 2010 Planner Giveaway by follwing the instructions below. The contest ends November 20, 2009.
I reviewed the pocket-sized 2010 Rhodia Weekly Planner in September and now I am giving it away! If you would like to win it, enter the Rhodia Planner Giveaway by following the instructions below.
Thank you, and good luck!
Posted in Giveaways | Tagged Giveaways, Rhodia Planner | 55 Comments »
I love pocket planners, but most don’t include a usable monthly calender with the current week. This has always frustrated me, so I created a set of small Monthly Calendars that are available as a free download at www.journalingarts.com.
The Monthly Calendars measure 4¾” x 3¼” and were designed to fit into Moleskine, Ciak, Cartesio, and Rhodia planners and will also fit into the back envelope for storage. Use one as a bookmark and you’ll always have your month to view where you need it.
Slide a Monthly Calendar into your Moleskine planner and use it as a bookmark to keep your monthly overview close at hand.
Each season is designated by a color and design. The free downloads are in color, but will print beautifully in black & white on your laser printer.
There is also a free download of lined Notecards that was designed to fit on the back of the calendars, but can be used alone for adding Notecards to your planning. You can print these out on the backside of your calendars by printing on both sides of your paper. The Notecards and Calendars were designed to line up properly when printed on both sides.
Free Notecards download can be used alone or with the Monthly Calendars for additional organization.
Posted in Creative Tips, Miscellaneous, Moleskine Planners, Planner Reviews | Tagged ciak planner, Moleskine Hacks, Moleskine Planner, Planner Reviews, Rhodia Planner | 4 Comments »
With the introduction of Leuchtturm notebooks to the US market this year came a new selection of journals and planners with strong organization abilities. The 18 Month Master Book Planner takes this theme to a new level in planning and includes some extras you won’t find in other planners.
Leuchtturm's Master Book Planner Measures a whopping 8¾" x 12½" and is at home on your desk or table. The size is also consistent with some notebook computers and may fit comfortably in your laptop bag along with your computer. You can order the Leuchtturm Master Book Planner at www.journalingarts.com.
The first thing you’ll notice is the size. It measures 8¾” x 12¾” or 22.5 x 31.5 cm and is larger than a standard sheet of paper. You won’t be able to carry it in your pocket or purse, but you may find that it will fit alongside your computer in your laptop bag. The size makes the interior print easy to read, gives you lots of room for scheduling and gives the act of planning a sense of importance.
The Planning Pages
There are 18 months of planning that start September, 2009 through February 2011. This is different than the popular Moleskine 18 month planners that are dated July 2009 through December 2010. Because if this, it may be better suited for business than school, but would work well for students who start school in September. The additional month or two of overlap in January and February would be convenient, however, if you were migrating towards a more traditional 12 month planner for 2011.
An example of the right planning page from a 2-page spread. Vertical daily columns. small monthly calendars and plenty of room for notes.
The planning pages are laid out in a vertical planning format in 24-hour time starting with 7 and ending with 22, giving you 16 slots each day for appointments. Each week is spread across two pages with the week number in the lower corner of the right page. Below each day is a boxed area for notes that measures about 2″ x 3¾” which is more than ample. Each day is clearly noted by a large date and a smaller day. The right column has small monthly calendars for the previous month, current month and following month, with the current week shaded in gray.
Because the pages and type are larger than normal, you would think that the pages would feel overbearing, but the use of a subtle gray ink keeps things toned-down but still readable. Like all of Leuchtturm’s notebooks, the overall design is clean and orderly and will appeal to your organized side.
Project Planner
In addition to the planning pages, you find this planner has some unique extras including a 2-page project planner for all 18 months. There are two grids, each with 14 spaces arranged vertically, spanning the dates from September 2009 through February 2001.
The Master Book Planner includes a 2-page project planner that spans 18 month.
Monthly Calendars and Monthly Planning Section
There are two sections with monthly calendars. The first includes three pages of small calendars, January 2009 through December 2011 along with their respective week numbers. There is not much room here for notes, but this format would be most useful for highlighting or color-coding weeks/months to be consistent with the Project Planner or other scheduling system.
Leuchtturms 18 Month Master Book Planner provides a 2-year overview using small monthly calendars.
The next section has vertical monthly planning, six months per 2-page spread dated September 2009 through February 2011 across six pages . Each column represents a month and indicates the date and day of the week allowing one line of planning for each day. Because of the size of the planner, this section is more useful than most allowing plenty of room for scheduling.
For more detailed monthly planning , there are vertical monthly planners with a slot for every day of each month. Because of the large size, there is plenty of room for your plans.
Blank pages for Notes
In addition to the notes sections throughout the planner, there 22 acid-free, plain, blank pages for notes, doodling, phone numbers and the like. According to Leuchtturm, as of August of 2009, the paper in all journals and planners is ink-proof, meaning that there will be no bleedthrough on the reverse. I haven’t had the chance to try this out yet, so I can’t confirm or deny it.
The expandable pocket will hold 8½" x 11", letter-sized paper without requiring it to be folded. Other items such as magazines, reports and large photos will fit, too. Items shown in the pocket are a template insert and labels that re included with the planner.
Large Envelope Hold Letter Sized Documents and More
One plus of using such a large planner, is the envelope in the back will hold an unfolded sheet of letter-sized paper in addition to thin magazines, large photos and a variety of other things.
Miscellaneous
There are also a few other features including:
Final Thoughts
Leuchtturm’s Master Book 18 Month Planner is big and would work well for business and family scheduling. The large size is easy on the eyes and there is plenty of room for detailed planning and note taking. But because of its size, it is not portable or convenient to carry and is best suited for a desk or table. However, if you carry a computer in a laptop case or backpack frequently, you may find this planner convenient enough to take with you.
If you do decide to give the Leuchtturm Master Book Planner a try, you will find a clean, orderly planner which will allow you to organize even the most chaotic schedules with ease. It opens flat to give you easy access to your schedule and is large enough to hold additional items in the back pocket. The project planner allows you to see your long term plans and progress at a glance and the extra plain pages in the back give you the ability to get your thoughts and ideas on paper at a moments notice.
Posted in Journal Reviews, Planner Reviews | Tagged Leuchtturm, Leuchtturm Planner, Planner Reviews | 6 Comments »
A month or so ago, I started a personal art journal. I didn’t have a plan, I thought I would just start drawing, go with the flow and see what happened. The result was the beginnings of an abundance journal.
The first pages in my personal abundance journal was done in pen and ink, acrylic paint, and rubber stamps impressed into thick layers of gel medium.
I started with a pen and ink illustration of curly, swirling, lines as the base image. In the photo, it is just barely visible through the sun’s rays and golden paint. This image was the inspiration for the entire journal, but the process of discovering this unfolded slowly. The organic shape of the lines reminded me of a flowing river and the circular shape of the curls reminded me of coins. I kept these images in mind as I layered on the paints and gel medium.
Because water was used to thin the acrylic paint, the color is translucent and the original line drawing of the swirls is visible. The coins were created by pressing a rubber stamp of a coin image into wet gel medium. Once the gel medium dried, diluted ink was rubbed into the depressions left by the stamp and the raised areas were wiped clean. This resulted in an antique look on the coins and surrounding area. The sun's rays were created with water-soluble pastels applied after the background was finished and then the entire spread was sprayed with a protective coat of acrylic spray.
The acrylic paints were thinned with water to keep the color translucent. By applying multiple thin layers the color was constructed slowly, adding depth and dimension to the background while allowing the pen and ink illustration to show through. In the golden-orange areas, thin layers of metallic gold acrylic were applied to add some shine that would relate to the coins I imagined earlier. Multiple washes of the metallic paint created a luminous effect that is soft and beautiful. More layers of gold made the paint more reflective, but by adding subtle, watery layers of the metallic paint over other areas of color added subtle movement to these areas.
The red background was created using watercolor. I avoided adding too much yellow to the red because I wanted it to contrast with the gold tones. The coins were created with a rubber stamp and black and red inks. Kanji character was stamped using black ink and the light areas near the top of the character were filled in using ink and a brush to define the edges.
In the left corner, the red background was created with multiple layers of red watercolor paint along with black to add some much-needed intensity and contrast to the image. I resisted the urge to add too much yellow to the red because I wanted it to contrast with the golds and make it pop. Shading was done with purples and blacks to enhance the dark areas. The coin images you see on this part of the illustration were done by using a rubber stamp with black and red inks. The Kanji character was done with a rubber stamp and black ink the light areas near the top of the character were filled in with a brush to define it.
At this point, the background was finished but it needed a focal point. A sun seemed to be the perfect choice and reinforced the circular imagery in the line illustration and coins. Because I wanted the sun to be opaque to cover the intense background, I chose vivid, water-soluble pastels. The bright color struck a nice balance to the background and the swirling rays added the concept of swirling water that I was looking for.
Once I felt the illustration was finished, I sealed it using a clear acrylic spray to protect it an to give the entire image an even sheen.
Material Used
Posted in Art Journals, Past Work, Works In Progress | Tagged art journaling, Moleskine, Moleskine Watercolor Journal, visual journal, watercolor journal | 3 Comments »
For those of you are obsessed with office supplies, notebooks and pens, check out the third Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper at www.officesupplygeek.com. I loved reading about the Handbound Steampunk Journal writtn by Julie at Whatever and I totally agree with the article 7 Reasons to Ditch Your PDA and Switch to Pen and Paper. Be sure to check it out to see what is happening with some of our favorite office supplies.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a Comment »
Over the years, Rhodia customers have requested a weekly planner. In response, Quo Vadis introduced the Rhodia Weekly Notebook for 2010. It is available in two sizes, and two colors-black and orange. In keeping with Rhodia’s famous notepads, the notes pages are gridded. For those of you who use fountain pens, the large edition (6″x 9″) is fountain pen friendly at 90 gr.
Rhodia's 2010 Weekly Planner has a flexible black cover with the Rhodia logo embossed on the cover. A vertical elastic strap keeps the planner closed and compact.
For this review, I will be exploring the Pocket sized Rhodia Weekly Planner that was provided by Karen Doherty at Exaclair. Unlike it’s larger, 6″ x 9″ sibling the 4″ x 6″ Rhodia Weekly Planner has 64 gr. paper, not the best choice for fountain pens, but more than adequate for ballpoint pens, pencils and even some markers. According to the folks at Rhodia, these are the specs for the 2010 Rhodia Weekly Notebook.
The Exterior
The cover of the planner is stiff, but flexible and has just the right amount of give. The leatherette finish is attractive and has as the slightest texture of leather. When viewed from a distance, it has a matte finish which is subtle and sophisticated. A vertical elastic strap wraps around the right side of the planner that keeps the planner compact.
The overall measurements are 4″ x 5¾” x 3/8″ thick. Since it is larger than most pocket sized planners, you’ll have a little more room on the inside to write, but you may find that it doesn’t fit your jeans or shirt pockets. The Rhodia logo and “2010″ are embossed on the cover and are quite large relative to the size of the planner.Luckily, the color is subtle so it is less obtrusive than it could be. If you are prone to collect little black books, this could be a good thing since the large logo will stand out from the sea of black.
The cover is slightly stiff, but flexible offering just the right amount of give.
The Interior
When opening the planner, the first thing that strikes me is the beautiful paper. It is bright white, super smooth and offers good contrast to the grey and orange print. The planning section includes equal-sized sections for the entire week. Monday through Saturday occupy the left page while Sunday shares the right page with a large gridded area for notes. The weekly planning format is good for scheduling appointments in an hourly format with planning periods 8:00 am through 7:00 pm. There is not much room for adding appointments on the half-hour, but a simple vertical line through the schedule would allow you to add half-hour increments. 12-hour time designations allow you to schedule with ease without having to mentally convert to military time.
The planner lays nearly flat when opened, but I imagine that it will open flatter with time and use. Because of the way it is bound, there is no annoying hump in between the pages when it is opened. The binding is thread-bound and the threads are a bright white like the paper and are only visible in the center of each signature.
Rhodia's weekly format features 6 days of planning on the left page and a squared page for notes on the right. Each day of the week has equal planning space, but Sunday shares the right page with the gridded section.
Tear-off corners on the planning pages are used rather than a ribbon book mark to keep your place. Once a day has passed, just tear off the corner. This will enable you to thumb to the current day.
Other sections in the planner you might find useful include:
Overall, the Rhodia Weekly Planner is an interesting new addition to Rhodia line. It offers a everything you need for planning on-the-go in a package of high-quality materials. The size is slightly larger than most pocket planners so it is easy to write in, but it is still small enough to stash in a large pocket or purse. The narrow profile and flexible cover make it feel less bulky than most pocket planners. The paper is thinner than I would prefer, but it is bright white, beautiful and smooth. The gridded paper an interesting combination with the planning pages and would be really useful if you are prone to doodle.
2010 and 2011 monthly planning calendars show the entire year at a glance.
The back of the planner includes a ruled page for notes and an alphabetized address book.
Posted in Journal Reviews, Planner Reviews | Tagged Planner Reviews, Rhodia, Rhodia Planner | 7 Comments »
For those of you who have been waiting for Rhodia’s Paul Smith Limited Edition Notepads, wait no more. They are in stock in the US at www.journalingarts.com. Classic black and orange combine with Smith’s sophisticated stripes creating a squared notepad that is second to none.
Paul Smith Limited Edition for Rhodia ‘09:
Throughout the world, he offers his clothes “with a twist’ in his own shops or in highly selective points of sale. After the success of the first collection signed Paul Smith which came out in 2005, Paul Smith celebrated 75 years of his fetish pad by signing a new Limited Series where his fancy and his particularly English sense of style led him: on the famous card marked Rhodia orange or black, a true support for the fashion designer’s creation, his falsely naïve pencil sketches, underlined with his emblematic stripes.
Paul Smith’s stripes? “They convey freedom, youth, humour. You can like them fresh, reminiscent of the sea or downright pop. In any case, they are never neutral.’
Four of Paul Smith’s doodles are featured across three sizes, available in either of the famous black or orange covers used by Rhodia since 1934.
Photographer design.
Man Reading design.
Camera design.
Picture Frame design.
Each Paul Smith notepad features Rhodia's smooth, gridded paper.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Paul Smtih Notepads, Rhodia, Squared Journals, visual journal | 2 Comments »
I am in the beginning stages of a new journal. I started it with no intent or theme, but as it has progressed, the journal has become one about the eternal flow of abundance. While some of the artwork has been more abstract this one manifested as a gently flowing stream.
Flowing stream illustrated in a Moleskine Watercolor notebookfor an art journal on abundance.
I used a Moleskine Watercolor journal because the wide format seemed appropriate for the subject matter. The elongated shape is more interesting than a traditional rectangle and it inspired me to see things differently than usual.
This illustration is on the reverse side of a page with acrylic paints and sealant, so I had little, if any issues with buckling. I was so pleased with how the paper performed on the page that backed up to the page with acrylics, that I am considering painting every other 2-page spread with acrylic so my watercolor pages stay flat.
Posted in Art Journals, Past Work, Works In Progress | Tagged art journaling, Moleskine Watercolor Journal, visual journal, watercolor journal | 6 Comments »
