Over the years, my sketchbooks have naturally fallen into two categories: Anchor Books and Wander Books.
My Anchor Books are the ones I return to everyday. They become part of the rhythm of my creative life, places to warm up, experiment, document, and simply keep showing up.
My Wander Books give my curiosity somewhere to go. They usually begin with a subject, idea, or question I want to follow for a while.
Recently, I added a new Anchor Book and that doesn’t happen often.
This one is completely uncharted territory for me: black paper. It's an A5 Sakura sketchbook with 140g black paper.
I’m still discovering how I want to use these pages. Changing the color of the paper changes the way I see everything else. Instead of starting with light and adding shadows, I’m beginning in darkness and searching for ways to bring the light forward.
So that’s my intention for this sketchbook:
Follow the light.
I don’t know where these pages are going to take me yet. I just know I want to explore light, color, contrast, and how differently familiar materials behave when the surface beneath them changes.
If you’ve been feeling a little stuck in your own creative practice, try changing the surface you’re working on. Sometimes a small constraint or unfamiliar material is enough to make us look again.
Right now, I’m exploring these pages with pastels, charcoal pencils, and metallic Sharpies. I’ve linked the supplies I’m currently using below, and I’m sure that list will grow as I continue experimenting.
For now, I’m following the light and seeing where it leads.
Supplies I’m Using
Here are the supplies currently joining me as I explore these black pages. I’m sure this collection will grow as I discover what works, what catches the light, and what makes me curious to keep experimenting.
A little note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to shop through them, at no additional cost to you. Shopping through my links helps support the work, tutorials, and resources I share here. Thank you for helping me keep creating, sharing, and spreading a little more joy. 💛
Water Soluble Pastels (Classic)
If you’d like to follow along as I discover these pages, pull up a chair.
Until next time, stay wild. 💛