First page in hardbound Delta sketchbook by Stillman & Birn.

I was so eager to try this wonderful treasure, that started it on a Subway, coming back from Red Hook in Brooklyn, where I experimented in a shop with the "wooden" guys and different textures. I didn't want to waste an inch of this creamy thick 180 lb paper so started right on endpaper. I drew my little Red Dot Japanese knife, which my husband found on one of Manhattan streets, and I fell in love with it. I wanted to test color washes on the paper and it took it perfectly, no bleeding, no little soft fibrous substance from applying wet on wet. I added Uranus pen's ink, Kuretake brush pens, white gel pen, Pentel color brush and even blue Durer watercolor pencil.

Driveway in Long Island.

Went hoping to get some work, end up shyly eyeballing this pretty old car in the corner of some random driveway. Drew from the car, finished home. This 2 cars had their own story, old and modern, connected and incompatible, like us, people.
I really enjoyed ink puddles and drippings. Finding desirable ink it is like coming home. I added red ochre Kuretake and blue Faber-Castell Durer pencil. One day I want to get a bunch of Durer pencils. Now I have 3.

Trying different pencils in Stillman&Birn Gamma sketchbook.

Tried "Sketch and wash" pencil and Palomino Blackwing 602 on the bottom. Thought again how wonderful would be to get that crazy fisherman vest with million pockets, I saw on that old lady coming out of that fancy Manhattan building, where I did glazed stony panels. I would have a pocket for water brushes and one for Muji pen, and one for few Kuretakes...

Here tried watercolor pencil and oil based Pitt, both were pleasant on this paper. First I felt bad to use such strong paper for casual sketches, but then couldn't resist the pleasure of scribbling with different tools on such friendly surface, it was gliding and nothing bleed on the other side, even strokes with pressure.

Spent few minutes in the park, sketching people with oil based pencil. So nice, cold, sunny and magically lonely. Wind dropped few small branches from the tall trees, I thought would be funny to be struck by a stray branch, especially after falling on the marble floor on spilled hand soup. So I decided to limp home.

I wish I had sharpener with me, but it is too bulky for the trip, so I used washable pencil unsharpened. Had so much fun with it. Conclusion: this Gamma book is excellent companion for a trip with any media, hope to try it soon with watercolor.

Sketch with Holbein water brush.

Tried watercolor pencil for sketching and my new Holbein watercolor brush I got from Laure Ferlita. I really like it, it is so big and has a nice flow, but my habit to use it flat probably will damage point soon.

F train, July 25.

Today's sketches, NY Subway. First used Perfect pencil, felt a bit too hard, then Shorty. I forgot how soft and pleasant Shorty's lead feels. I don't draw enough. Here is a photo of my drawing gear: Perfect pencil Faber-Castell, it says B, but on this paper feels much harder. Then my antique triangle pencil, Uranus Multi pen and Shorty pencil. I was soaking wet from strolling around the City under the rain (felt like after water ride in 6 Flags), but it felt good to be alive, sketch and think. Tomorrow going again.

New Year's Eve.

Driving through Manhattan on New Year's Eve, was lucky to escape ticket from NYPD officer. Used interesting Exam pencil from Fiber-Castell with flat lead 2B.

Under the train, traffic.

I missed using Lamy Safari with ink, responding to water brush. I add Faber-Castell colored pencils for the sky.

Passing by.

Really pretty place, some kind of a park with boats and trees along the Belt, I looked at many times. On the way to White Planes, struggling in traffic, it was a moment of happiness. Sepia ink and Faber-Castell colored pencils in my red Moleskine.

Sleeping.

Falcon Namiki with Sepia ink and blue pencil in Moleskine sketchbook.

Going to Queens.

My drawing diary. Pen, pencils, ink in Moleskine Sketch.

Yard near my building.

Was waiting for legal parking so decide to draw my crib.

Fellini, my boy.

Ahhhh....