Unique and Odd Sketchbooks (Patreon)

Two of my favorite sketchbooks. I like them because they are unique but also they have personal stories for me.

Both of them basically fell into my life. I didn't seek them out, I wasn't looking for unique sketchbooks to acquire. 

This one was sitting at a friend's house.  I asked her about it. She looked delighted that I was interested in it. 

She told me it was at her parents house for her whole life. Her dad's friend had made it I think. No one ever used it there. She asked them if she could have it when she moved out. She also never used it. 

I just told her I thought it was interesting and she told me to keep it. She could tell I was excited to use it and she was really excited to give it to me. 

The paper is really thick and textured. It feels like watercolor paper. But it's not absorbent enough to be watercolor paper. I think some kind of handmade paper. I like it for pen and ink drawings. 

My grandma found this one when she was going through my grandpa's things after he died. He got it in China and never used it. 

For all I know this is some kind of mass produced souvenir thing that anyone can get in China. But I like that this one made its way into my life. 

I like the toned paper and the red dragons printed on the corner of the pages. 

I tested out a few different mediums in it. It works best for pen and ink with some gel pen for highlights.

I've done some sketches for some of my best paintings in this book. Including this one, which, in terms of print sales at least, became my most successful painting.

A Quick Look at Etsy showed that you can buy custom sketchbooks and journals like this. Could be a good option. I actually really like this idea  of just getting a custom case for your sketchbook with a little pocket for your pencils and stuff.

However, the nice thing about both of these is that there's a personal story to them. And I think about friends and family every time I do my silly little doodles in them. And that's not something you can't really buy on Etsy yet.

So keep an eye out for odd looking books at thrift stores, used book stores, garage sales, friends houses. Maybe you'll find something special to draw on.

Happy Feb 11th everybody

It's the Super Bowl here in America. And I don't think there's been a Super Bowl I've ever cared less about.

I don't care about either team at all. I'm not interested in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship at all. I don't hate on it or whatever. I am just sincerely uninterested. 

This is  the 20 year anniversary of "nipplegate." The Super Bowl halftime show where Justin Timberlake "exposed" Janet Jackson's breast during the halftime show. He didn't even really expose her nipple, it was covered by a nipple shield. 

But it changed broadcasting history and became the cultural meme of 2004. 

Obligatory disclaimer, in hindsight I think it's obviously silly that it became the scandal that it did. And I think it's dumb that it tainted Janet Jackson's career when it didn't taint Timberlake's career in the same way. But in a sane world no one's career would be tainted at all, because prudish sanctimonious children wouldn't be so offended by such things.

However, I was 13 and it was like Christmas. I loved it.

But I didn't love it as much as some people close to me think I did.

One of my childhood friends and my brother swear that when Janet Jackson's nipple appeared on screen I kissed the TV.

This story is my personal nipplegate. 

Kissgate. 

The Parker Super Bowl Kiss Scandal. 

It goes by many names.  

I deny all allegations to this day.

Here's my case: We didn't have DVR on our TV.  So it's not like I could pause and rewind it and kiss it. I would've had to leap up from wherever I was sitting and get across the room to the tv so quickly to kiss it. The breast is only on the screen for like 2 seconds. It just doesn't make physical sense. Even if I was close to the TV. To see it, process it, decide to kiss the screen, then get over there and do it in 2 seconds? I think not. 

Here's their case: I was 13 years old.  Fair enough. 

I still deny it. I have no memory of it. And if I did, I would admit it because it's funny. 

I'm just trying to present the facts clearly for the Jury.

Have fun

goodnight Sweeties