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Sometimes all it takes to invigorate your sketchbook practice is a change of sketchbook.

I know, I know.

I am an enabler and you feel a spot of art supplies shopping coming on. For that I apologise. Or perhaps as the kids used to say, I could go with sorry, not sorry?

Let’s discuss 5 reasons you might want to use a toned sketchbooks and 3 ways you can try one out before you buy it!

Try Before you Buy (Toned Sketchbook Alternatives)

Before you go rushing off to purchase a toned sketchbook let me make a suggestion that you can try right now to see if if is in fact worth it for you.

I’m going to share my reasons why toned paper is useful too but first, let’s figure out how you can try those out in order to decide whether or not a toned sketchbook is something you would like in your studio.

Not only are these options usually free, they come with the added benefit of zero pressure. If they were headed for the recycling bin anyway you are at liberty to make a right royal mess on them.

So be free and joyous.

(By the way, being free and joyous AND experimenting with your sketchbook supplies is something we do a lot of every month in the Happy Painter’s Hub. Click here to find out more.)

1.Raid the Pantry for Toned Paper/Card

Rummage around in the pantry for a cardboard box. You know, like for cereal and what not.

Open it up and you will find the inside is usually a nice grey, sometimes tan, cardboard. This gives you not only the tone but also a bit of the texture you often get with a toned paper.

It will be perfect to try out your existing supplies (some of which are sure to love toned paper!)

2. Check the Mailbox for Toned Paper

Check the mailbox. assuming you are still plagued by snail mail, that is.

Those large manilla envelopes are ideal. If you have any of those about you can open them up too. The inside will probably be free of marks and ready to receive yours.

3.Brown Bag It

See if you have any of those brown paper bags for groceries. Or lunches. The inside of those will be perfect. And usually nice and large too.

Ok so now you have some toned paper to test out, let’s think about why you might want to.

Advantages of Toned Sketchbooks

1. The Midtones are Already There if You Choose Toned Paper

The idea of a toned sketchbook is that the midtone is already there on the page. That leaves you to put in just the darks and lights and your subject should emerge.

I do think this is especially advantageous for oil and acrylic painters who often start with a toned canvas so its ideal practice for them. Watercolour painters work on white, so we have to put only darks and midtones in our paintings.

I still think it is great practice to help us train our eyes and hands to put in the darkest values and the lightest ones. We are smart enough to know that when we get out our watercolour the very lightest highlights are already on the page - we just need to remember not to paint over them.

2. Brown Sketchbook Paper is Less Scary than White Sketchbook Paper

Another reason that toned paper is refreshing is that it is easy to develop a negative idea about the scary white page.

It can seem daunting. Somehow, the toned paper feels a mite less intimidating.

Could just be me, but if this is resonating with you, its worth giving the toned paper a go.

3. The Novelty of ‘Dark Mode’ in Your Sketchbook

In a similar vein, drawing with a white pen is somehow delightful, after always tending to draw with say a black pen or dark grey pencil.

It is very satisfying to stroke glossy white gel pen across a sketchbook page… but that’s obviously pointless unless that page has a bit of colour to it. I think it gives your brain and eyes a break.

We all enjoy a bit of novelty, perhaps its just that. I tend to think of it as ‘dark mode’ for your sketchbook. And if you are really keen on that you can actually buy sketchbooks with black paper. all personal preference of course.

I favour the tan, myself.

4. Toned Paper Loves Pencils and Crayons

Toned paper loves pencils and crayons. If you have a stash of coloured pencils, watercolour pencils, pastel crayons either wax or oil based you will find that these sorts of things are a joy to use on the toned paper.

As a side note, watercolour pencils are perfectly good as coloured pencils - activating them with water is purely optional.

Very often the colours and texture of the watercolour pencils can be just as good (or even nicer) than some of the regular coloured pencils. The colours tend to stand out marvellously. I think a part of it is down to the texture that you often get with toned paper. When the paper has a little more tooth the pigments in the pencils and crayons have something to hold onto.

5. Sketching White Subjects Positively Rather than Negatively is Fun

And just as we said with the white gel pen, all your white coloured pencils and crayons come into their own on a toned sketchbook. So if you like painting and drawing white birds or snowmen for example, the toned sketchbook is going to be your friend.

In watercolour, we usually have to paint these negatively to capture the main shape, and then paint only the shadows. Getting to do this the other way around is not just fun, its quite a good workout for the old noggin too.

I really enjoyed painting white bearded gnomes in my toned sketchbook for the Christmas month in the Happy Painter’s Hub this year.

I even created a couple of additional bonus tutorials especially for Christmas, which is going to make December a bumper month for the members!

Want to join us?

I’m opening the membership enrolment soon because of those extra Christmas goodies.

Click here if you would like to find out more and get on the waiting list to be the first to hear, the minute enrolment opens.

So there you go. Plenty of reasons to try a toned sketchbook (whether you already own one or not).

And by the way, did you know you can actually get toned watercolour sketchbooks too, these days? If you find you love working on a toned ground like an oil painter might, please remember that this is now easily available to us watercolour painters.

A toned watercolour sketchbook is definitely on my list!

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