Customizing my sketchbook covers.
I watch a lot of YouTube videos, and I love the ones where YouTubers customize their own personal belongings. I thought I'd do the same with my current sketchbook.
The Supplies
I primarily used Spectrum Noir Metallic Markers for this art project. I bought a couple packs months ago from JOANN Fabric using a few of their coupons. I was surprised how well they worked on a dark surface. I liked the vibrancy of the colors and how it popped against the dark covers. I'll be searching for another dark surface to use these markers on.
I used a few other supplies. I tried using FolkArt white acrylic paint to add highlights, but I opted for a couple Sharpie white paint markers (extra fine and medium tips) instead. My original plan was to splatter the white acrylic paint onto the cover to create the stars. Unfortunately, I didn't think about that until after I sketched my coconut tree scenery. Using the paint markers to add the stars and complete the moon worked out better than how I was using the acrylic paint anyway.
At one point I tried using a black permanent Sharpie marker, but it didn't show well over the metallic markers. I happened to have a DecoFabric black fabric marker I used on a canvas backpack I customized last year. It worked as well as the white paint markers and matched the black color of the covers.
The Design
Coconut trees and island scenes are subjects I've sketched for years. Because I sketch and doodle this often, I felt comfortable sketching directly on my sketchbook without searching for inspiration online first. Sketching on the front cover took me about an hour because I experimented with the supplies and colors.
I'm not good at highlighting and shading in artwork. I keep sketching and practicing, hoping to get better one day. In this art project, I laid a lot of colors over one another to fix what I didn't like. Fortunately, the markers I used were opaque enough to cover whatever I decided I didn't like.
I did experiment with adding water to the colors. The metallic markers are water-based, so I thought diluting it with water, like how one may use watercolor paints, would add an interesting effect. It looked and worked nicely, but I ended up sketching directly over the "painted" parts anyway.
My original plan was to customize the front cover only. The next day I decided I wanted to customize the back cover. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the exact colors I used, so the final sketch didn't exactly match the front cover. Ultimately it doesn't matter since I really customized my sketchbook covers for fun.
My Thoughts
I was inspired to customize my sketchbook covers, and I did just that! This was a short post, mainly because I don't know what more to say except, I had a lot of fun.
If you're into arts and crafts, I'd encourage you to customize something. If you're not sure how to get started, or if you'd design something you'd like at the end, you may consider something disposable like an old plastic food container and washable paints or markers. I started customizing old ice cream cups to experiment with art mediums and techniques before moving on to things I use or like.
What's Next?
Over the next few weeks, I'll customize more items using different art mediums and techniques. I have a Switch Lite, an old 3DS, and a few portable external hard drives that are looking plain in my eyes.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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