Part of the fun of any art project or challenge is gathering the materials and test driving ideas. Since Holidays in Ink is 42 days long (Nov. 22-Jan. 2), I made a hardbound sketchbook with 46 pages, allowing for sketches for six weeks, a title page, index/table of contents/prompt list, and some test pages in back. I love this splotchy fabric cover, and thought it was perfect for an inky theme!
I used Strathmore 400 watercolor paper because it doesn't crack when folded, I like the way it handles ink, and I happen to have some full sheets here in the studio. It has some texture, yet is smooth enough to do some calligraphy. The paper has a different texture on each side. Since I often work across the spread, I made sure that the facing page textures matched when folding the signatures.
The book is just shy of 6x8" -- a bit on the small side for me, plus I almost never work in a horizontal sketchbook like this. I'm still considering making a book in a different format --- either square or portrait, or possibly changing the paper. A bit larger is tempting too. Fortunately, there is still enough time to make a couple of books and have a choice.
There will definitely be a prompt list posted before the challenge begins! Many were a little overwhelmed by the two huge lists last year for subject and process, so I'm just doing a single list this year. I don't want to put it out there too early, but I think you're going to love this year's prompts, and will feel inspired to create from the list. It will be posted by Nov. 15, if not sooner. If you want to be sure not to miss that post, you can subscribe by entering your email address on the upper right side of my blog, in the box. I do not share email addresses with anyone.
Part of the challenge for me will be exploring the characteristics of the 25 brand new inks in the Inkvent Calendar by Diamine, testing them for chromatography, sheen, shimmer, how they react with water, how they get along with my fountain and dip pens, and creating some calligraphy and artwork with each as I go through the prompts. The Invent Collection is packaged as a single box with little doors in the front. During Advent, you open one door a day, and enjoy a 12 ml. bottle of new ink each day until Christmas. Melissa and I are determined not to open it early and cheat, so we'll probably start dipping into those on or just before December 1. Until then, I plan to choose inks mostly from these residents of my ink cabinet:
Top row:
Organics Studio Emerson Twilight (sheening ink)
Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Ink Emma--waterproof and supposedly lightfast (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Middle Row:
Diamine Twilight (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Cult Pens Little Matty
DeAtramentis Document Brown--waterproof and lightfast (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Cult Pens Deep Dark Green
Cult Pens Deep Dark Red
Bottom Row:
J. Herbin Emeraude de Chivor (sheen and a bit of shimmer)
Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Ink Vroni (waterproof and supposedly lightfast) -
Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrun (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Diamine Solstice (shimmer)
Some of those inks are waterproof and lightfast, a few have a large chromatography range, and others have festive sheen or shimmer. The ones above are all fountain pen inks. I'll probably use some of my calligraphy inks too, but haven't put them into this post. My focus this year will be more about fountain pen inks. I'm sure I'll be pulling out a couple more reds, greens and gold for the holidays too.
Stay tuned for ink and paper tests, calligraphy and brush pens, sketchbook-making, and more Holidays in Ink prep. I'll show you how I plan to switch inks daily during this challenge, without spending all of my time flushing out fountain pens! I also want all my supplies to pack into a portable kit.
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If you missed the first post about this year's Holidays in Ink challenge, you can click here to see it. To see all Holidays in Ink posts from this year and last year, click here and scroll down.
I just stumbled across your blog. Beautiful artwork! I also use fountain pens and make my own sketchbooks (to sketch the magnificent Hudson Valley or course!) I found that for watercolor paper that tends to crack when folded, if I run a line of clean water down the line I'm about to fold, it will make a nice, rounded, fold with no cracking. Of course you have to let the signatures dry before punching the holes, but the nice neat folds are worth the extra step.
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