Moleskine Journal Page

Well my Moleskine journal finally arrived and it matched and exceeded my expectionations! My favorite feature is that it lays flat when opened so it's very easy to write and draw in. My major complaint of course is that it doesn't take watercolor well at all. The surface is too slick, so the colors bead and stay on top until they finally soak in to make a dull stain. It does, however, take india ink fairly well. So I'll just either use regular ink line, or ink wash.

I've also ordered the little watercolor Moleskine journals that open horizontally and will be using those as well for color journal entries.

Well last night when I opened the little Moleskine book to blank page number one, my first feeling was intimidation, and it showed the first several pages. I actually started getting frustrated because nothing I was writing or drawing made me happy when looking back over it. I'm sure with some practice I'll find an artistic direction of some sorts. To the right is one page I was actually happy with. I've been looking at other journals for inspiration. That always seems to get the creative juices flowing.

Okay, well my next post will be the Illustrator's Project I had planned around the holidays. I have four excellent artists who contributed! Thanks all!

Here's a question to other illustrated journalers out there. Do you sketch first with a pencil and then ink? It seems I capture the feeling of the moment better if I dive right in with ink and pen. But when I get the watercolor books, I might take more time with those. I don't know..I experiment and see.