Ghosts of Patrons Past

1/29/15 Diamine Chocolate Brown ink, Caran d'Ache Museum water-soluble colored pencil, Canson XL 140 lb. paper

I could have gone to life drawing at Gage, but instead I went to real-life drawing at Zoka Coffee. Unlike paid models, my unwitting models at Zoka tend to come and go as they please. If I expect to complete a whole sketch of an individual, it’s likely that I’ll be frustrated. So I learned long ago that it’s fine to leave their ghost on the page and carry on with the sketch.

Technical note: I’ve been using Canson XL 140-pound paper consistently in my handbound sketchbooks for well over a year because it gives me the best balance between the weight and the degree of tooth, and the price is reasonable. I recently bought a new package of it, and the paper has changed! One side is much toothier than the other, and I really noticed the difference with my fountain pens today – its texture was rough enough that my nibs were snagging at times. Dangit! As many other sketchers and artists have discovered, as soon as we find a product we like, it changes! Aauuggghhh!

1/29/15 Diamine Chocolate Brown ink, Museum pencil

1/29/15 Diamine Sapphire and Chocolate Brown inks

1/29/15 Iroshizuku Take-sumi ink,
Museum pencil