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| 5/28/16 watercolor, colored pencils |
I think my relationship with “my Stefano” is over.
I’m so sad that I can hardly write this. Spain, Germany,
Brazil, France, Japan, many U.S. cities and of course at home, my leather
sketchbook cover has been with me wherever I’ve sketched for the past three
years. Reliable, sturdy and trustworthy like an old friend, handmade by a sketcher in Italy, it was the perfect
support for my hand-stitched signatures – protecting the pages while providing
a stable base for my clip-on watercolor setup. Although it always added a bit more bulk to my bag than I wanted,
its benefits far outweighed that drawback.
Last year when I was packing for France was the first time I
started having doubts. Ultimately I did bring the Stefano along, and it earned its keep many times, though I
had to devise a different way to carry it to keep the weight and bulk
manageable.
Now, a year later, as I start prepping for our trip to the
U.K., I’m again thinking about ways to reduce the amount I carry, and I keep
running into the same question: Do I need to bring the Stefano?
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| Sketching with the Stefano in Barcelona in 2013, my first international sketching trip. |
The sad truth is that I haven’t used the Stefano at all the
past few months. I implied as much when I talked about my last sketchbook binding process and how my four-sheet signatures
are sufficiently thick and strong that I can easily carry and use them without
a cover. A major role for the Stefano – being a stable base for my clip-on
paint box – is mostly moot because the setup itself just isn’t very stable. I
always seem to find a place to set the watercolors down while I paint, which
works much better. And without its bulk in my bag, I even have room for a small
water bottle in my everyday Rickshaw bag,
which eliminates the need to carry a supplemental tote most of the time.
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| Sketching with the Stefano in L.A.'s Venice neighborhood. |
I couldn’t bear to come out and say it earlier, despite my
doubts, but I have to say it now: I don’t think I need the Stefano anymore. I
don’t think it’s coming with me to the U.K.
Ahh, my heavy heart. Yes, I know it’s just a piece of
leather and some elastic, and it makes no sense to continue using something
that no longer meets my needs. I don’t know why I get so attached to “things.” In
this case, it’s probably because the Stefano isn’t something I just
bought off the shelf; it was custom-made to my exact specifications. Smooth and
shiny when new, it now has scuffs, slightly worn corners and a beautiful
patina from daily, well-loved use. On four continents, we’ve been through a lot
of sketches together.
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| Sketching with the Stefano at Cannon Beach, Ore. |
The only thing that lightens my heart (and bag) is knowing that what’s
replacing the Stefano are refinements to my own sketchbook-making process and sketch
kit, and my bag is less bulky as a result. As I’ve said before, it makes me very happy when a process I’ve
developed with much trial and error over time continues to improve my sketching
experience and serves my needs better. It means I can sketch more often, more
easily or more enjoyably. I know that’s all that matters.
Good-bye, old friend.
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| Sketching with the Stefano at Maple Leaf Park in my own neighborhood. |
OOh No - But at least it is your choice and you have decided it is time to 'move on' (this sounds very deep and meaningful).Imagine if they stopped making them and you suddenly had to find a replacement. Nothing could ever meet their standard !
ReplyDeleteI am drawing in my 60th Moleskine watercolour sketchbook in 8 years. I am sure I would find a perfect Stillman & Burn equivalent, but I am still learning with my watercolour pencils, so I like to 'know' my paper. I will make sure to see what you are sketching in in Manchester !!!
60 Moleskines! It must be so wonderful to see them all lined up! :-)
Delete- Tina
It's funny, I have a sketchbook cover Stefano made for me as well. Recently I have attempted to try using a larger sketchbook and in doing so I had Stefano make me a new cover for the larger sketchbook size.
ReplyDeleteHaving to not use the cover I've used for 2 years was also a source of stress to me. Even though I'm not giving up his covers at all, moving to a new one that does not have the wear and tear and history of the previous one was something I was bummed about.
I feel your pain, but I'm glad you have evolved your process!
And I'm glad to hear you are enjoying your "Stefano"! The covers are beautiful works of art.
Delete- Tina
More and more I'm using a piece of fomecore as a backing board for small sketchbooks. Weighs nothing and yet I can clip lights (museum), and books of all sizes to it. Works great. Not as cool-looking as your Stephano though. --- Larry
ReplyDeleteSad but I think a necessary change, judging from what you have written.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! At first, I was afraid you might say that it had fallen apart after so much use. This situation is better in that it is your choice. I can understand the sadness.... it has so much history.
ReplyDeletePart of what makes me so sad is that it still has many years of use left in it! Ah, well. Maybe I'll find a different use for it sometime.
Delete- Tina
Sorry to hear you are retiring it. You seem to have moved on and adjusted to a new way of sketching. I know we are always trying to find a way to lighten our sketching materials. You seem to have succeeded...I still have a long way to go. lol
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you got great use out of it! It would be even more of a sad tale if you had never used it at all. We live and learn and grow and, I'm sure you will eventually find some other good use for it. I have a similar leather cover from a company called Foxy Fix. I carried my little handbound sketch-Journal in it for a while, but also found the added weight and bulk (even though slight) was just a bit too much for my EDC. So, now I keep it in my car with another notebook insert to jot notes down in for our businesses, hold business cards and receipts, record mileage, and keep our auto insurance and registration, etc. It works really well for this! Also... If your looking for any kind of a temporary protective cover for your signatures while your carrying them around I found that these clear, slip-on, paperback book covers called Vista-Gloves. They add no weight or bulk and protect my cover- less sketch-Journal from getting dirty, wet, or otherwise marred. They come in a pack of 10, so they'll last a while. I've used the same one on different sketchbooks for a few months. They are available in several sizes, based in the height of your book. I use the 5x7 size. Im not affiliated with the company or any, lol, but I find it to be one of the most practical purchases I've made for sketching!
ReplyDeleteI do think I'll find a different use for the Stefano eventually -- after all, its versatility is one of the main reasons I chose it! Thanks for the tip about the Vista-Gloves, Wendi. I seem to burn through signatures fast enough that they doesn't get too worn in my bag, but I have been concerned about that, so I'll definitely check it out! Thank you!
Delete