6 Favorite Pages In My Everyday Sketchbook

I recently shared the five worst pages from my everyday sketchbook, and thought I should even out that with what I consider to be my best six pages in my everyday sketchbook from 2022.

I’ve actually had this sketchbook for a while now, and have added more pages in 2023 that are now my ‘favorites’, but I’ll save those for another post so that you can enjoy these first.

I think I’ll have this sketchbook  completed by the time this post goes live, so I’ll share a flip through in May.

If you prefer video, there is a video of this post added at the bottom.

1. The Dutch Windmill – August 2022

Something you probably don’t know about me, but I currently live in the Netherlands due to my partner’s career. I’m lucky enough that I can do what I do for ‘work’ anywhere in the world, so moving here was a no-brainer in terms of opportunity for him.

That said, I have struggled to find joy in the flat, rather dull landscape here. Yes the skies at sunset are stunning, but I just don’t have the skills to sit and capture those famous Dutch sunsets.

So, I decided to try and paint a windmill. Because we all know how much the Dutch love their windmills right?

This was painted with watercolors, which I then ‘embellished’ with water based Tombow markers and a touch of Schmincke gold watercolor as well.

In reality, it’s a terrible painting, and I am capable of better than what I created, but I love the colors. I love the combination I chose and it makes me happy to look at it. And isn’t that the point of doing art?

2. The Ecoline Ink Doodle – February 2023

So I’ve noted this down as February 2023, but the original part – the ecoline ink – was put to paper back in late 2022. I then doodled over the top in February with my Micro pen, I think a 005 size.

The reason I love this is the color combination. It’s so bright and vibrant and not normally something I would be drawn to, but I’m clearly in a season of loving bright colors as that is what I have used for the most part this year.

3. The New Supplies Doodle – March 2023

Whenever I get new supplies, I test them out in my every day sketchbook and that is how this doodle came to be. The new colors were:

• Daniel Smith quinacridone magenta
• Daniel Smith serpentine green
• Daniel Smith sodalite genuine
• Daniel Smith transparent red oxide
• Schmincke deep sea green (super granulation)

I then used the aforementioned micron pen and a new white Pentel pen as well. I had great fun, and I love the way the colors work together. Is it the most amazing thing ever? Of course not, but I am a firm believer in doodling to allow the mind to wander, and this is exactly what I was able to do with this piece.

4. The Quick Sketches Of My Partner – March 2022

Back in March 2022 I managed to capture my partner in two quick pencil sketches. I later went on to add in some color.

These are my favorite pieces in this everyday sketchbook because although they aren’t exactly him, they capture something, the kindness in his face perhaps, but to me, they are very him.

5. The Parrot – July 2022

This one featured in my post covering the ways I used my everyday sketchbook, but this parrot is still one of my favorites. It makes me smile to look at it. I’ve had many kind words said about it. And the colors are just gorgeous.

I did this following a Patreon tutorial from Jane Beata, and used a mix of watercolors and pencils.

6. The Left Hand Doodles – March 2023

This is another page that happened because of the new paints I used in the New Supplies Doodle above.

Following a suggestion in a book, I used my left hand to use up the paint in my palette, and was moderately successful in getting some nice wet on wet action to take place on the page, which led to some gorgeous color combinations.

What Did I Learn From These Pages?

In going through my everyday sketchbook and finding out my ‘favorites’ I learned that I am currently very drawn to vibrant, bright colors.

I’m normally a black and white girl. I have for a long time loved pen and ink drawing, whether simple or complex, using black ink, but now I seem to have transitioned to loving the bright, contrasting color combinations.

I’m not complaining; life could use more color right?

If you haven’t already seen it, below is the accompanying video from my YouTube channel. I also have a post on my five worst pages in my everyday sketchbook, but also four ways that I have been using my sketchbook which is great for anyone new to putting pen or paintbrush to paper.