Draw, Format, Paint

[@susannenemet4647]

I have never seen this before. What a great idea. No commitment until you are ready! Thank you.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@k.b.1996]

This is such a genius tip, my mind is absolutely blown. Simple yet so effective. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidmolloy126]

Hiya Brenda, What a great idea with the marker. I was surprised that you don't decide the format from the beginning. Thanks very much.x

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

David, You’re welcome!

[@pat4005]

That is such a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You’re welcome!

[@jayneyharmony]

Thankyou Brenda what a wonderful tip. I love it! I really really love your sketchbooks as well. You are an amazing artist and they are so beautiful thank you for sharing. It means the world happy painting sketching🎨✍️🩷😊

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You are so welcome! ❤️Brenda

[@RadishTheFool]

This is such a clever and elegant idea! Thank you very much for sharing it with us, and for demonstrating some considerations that can help us judge which format we prefer for any given painting. ☘️

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RadishTheFool]

@@brendaswensonwatercolors 🤗

[@akaMonkeyBusiness]

Very cool and very practical advice. Thank you very much.

[@carolepivarnik9316]

That is a super tip, Brenda! I've been using sheet protectors in my pet portrait classes so my students can get drawing practice in before committing marks to watercolor paper :) Never thought about using them to aid in sketchbook page design!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Carole, Glad to be of help! ❤️

[@Purpleiris444]

Brilliant! Your explanation is so clear…. I, too, find it better for me to draw first what had attracted my attention. But in your video I can then determine the format and paint.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Marlene, Glad it was helpful!

[@kathyhaynes6818]

I find it more fun and interesting when watercolor doesn't fill up the whole page. You've always been one of my favorite artist. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Kathy, Thank you for your kind comment❤️

[@rebeccawong1]

Love your style, please teach more👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you!!

[@joanporter916]

Such useful tips. I enjoy your demos.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you!

[@dmullins311]

What an easy and practical idea. I just always guess my borders which can be hit and miss. This is such a good idea. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you! It made a big difference in my work so I thought sharing it with others would be appreciated. Have fun!

[@alexbeury579]

I just love your work! Thank you for sharing..🤗

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Alex, Thanks!

[@SusieDiamond221]

As usual, your beautiful work and interesting and helpful tips and advice is always a pleasure. Thank you. 🌻🌻🌻🌻And your blog post about the Sunflower in the marigold field really resonated with me.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Elayne, Thank you! The sunflower among the marigolds is so symbolic to trying to stand out in a world of beauty and art!

[@AbiNomac]

Wow. I love your work. Subscribed!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Abi, Thank you😁

[@antoniskyriakou327]

BRENDA YOU ARE A MASTERPIECE YOURSELF! AMAZING PAINTINGS IN WATERCOLOR.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Antonis, Thank you for the vote of confidence!

[@SteviePaints]

And I thought you had it all planned out in advance! Great tip - thank you!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Stephanie, You’re welcome!

[@mariamyre9778]

Supertips love ❤️your style ❣️🎉👩‍🎨🎨

[@patytrico]

Love the ideas! Very inspiring! And practical tips too :D Thank you :)

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Paty, Thank you.

[@minahbang2421]

I haven’t thought of this before!! I tend to struggle with making my sketchbooks more interesting, this design border might be a solution!! Thank youu!❤️

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Minah, you’re very welcome. Have fun exploring format ideas using the overlay.🖋

[@judithwilliams3835]

Hello Brenda. How are you ? Thank you for this handy tip - I shall certainly use it !

[@TRYHEART67]

Love your style, and that was great. Tfs, Vicki

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you💕

[@TheYellowsun76]

This is such a informative video, I have not been working in journals long and I really like the look and feel of yours. I really like this idea of testing out the format. I subscribed and have a feeling I will be doing some binge watching of your videos. Thank you so much!!!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

I hope you enjoy my videos! It's fun to share my artwork with others.

[@BStarfireMcquinn]

I never thought of using dry erase markers and plastic to format. Thanks!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Happy to help!

[@anuahjokoski5266]

Thank you for sharing this, I found this very helpful and a good tool for design-ideas I have been trying to figure out for a while now !

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Anu, I’m glad you found this helpful. Such an easy thing to keep tucked in your sketchbook😁

[@KerrieWoodhouse]

You have a very inspiring sketchbook!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you Kerrie!

[@creativesolutionsart-h3o]

Very nice technique! I share your fondness for breakout borders ☺️

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Yup! Don’t box me in 😉

[@t.fedelis109]

Bellissimo video.grazie per le dritte

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You’re welcome!

[@t.fedelis109]

Grazie.

[@t.fedelis109]

Vieni a disegnare in Sicilia.

[@DonnaMakesArt]

This is a great tip! I'll definitely try it :D I really like how you did the text as the format/ box. very cute

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Donna, Thank you

[@suel4269]

Very helpful! I’ll use the clear plastic that came with my iPad cover that I’m replacing .

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Great!

[@madebylora]

This is really interesting. I just assumed the examples you showed would be portrait and then landscape. Interesting to see that even a portrait image can be “framed” as square etc.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

It’s exciting to think of our images differently!

[@a.r.t.doesart3184]

Wow!! This is so cool!!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

😁Thank you

[@gillianbc]

Brilliant idea. The formats make all the difference. I have little imagination so I either end up painting the whole background, no background or a vignette. This gives me much better options.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Gillian, Thank you! Have fun exploring new options in your sketchbook❤️

[@sooart5333]

Very nice work!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thanks!

[@Whitepaper_Art]

너무 잘 그리시네요~ You're picture is very good ~♡

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you!

[@AntonioMazzolaWatercolors]

Great video as always. So informative. Does the dry erase wipe off as easily from the binder sleeve plastic? Thanks. 😊❤️ 🎨

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Hey Tony, Yes! The dry erase pen works on all plastic, binder sleeve and acetate. Great sketching tool🖋 Happy Sketching! Brenda

[@marymccaslin1690]

Extremely helpful!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cindylabare960]

Great idea, thank you for sharing!!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Cindy, You’re welcome!

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you! That was Very helpful!!💕

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Donna, You’re welcome!

[@rebeccawong1]

Clever, thanks 🥰

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thank you🙂

[@KeithGShafer]

Do you ever consider ovals, circles or other shapes for your format?

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Keith, Even in the sketchbook I think like a painter and what can translate into a larger painting. Ovals in circles remind me of floral paintings from the Victorian era or cutesy...so I don’t use them.

[@ms.marvelous7019]

I like the idea of formatting your sketch with the acetate before committing paint

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Glad to share helpful tips.

[@annepercival7814]

Thankyou! Great tip about interesting spaces!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Anne, You're welcome!

[@frankcordiiv9107]

What kind of sketchbook are you using.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

frank cordi , I’m using a Stillman & Birn, Beta. Check out my video on them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipqspWNjfZKsgZI

[@carolratcliff]

Great advice!! Thanks.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You are so welcome!

[@dgibrilmonarque9769]

Very, very beautiful! Do you give lessons?

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

I teach a lot. You can find my schedule for workshops on my website. swensonsart.net

[@jungchen9250]

非常謝謝妳的分享！

[@hanichay1163]

Genius!

[@21stCenturyMaggid]

Thank You!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You’re welcome!

[@juliebergacker5680]

Awesome. Thank’s

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thanks!

[@missjameequilts]

love this!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Thanks!

[@hyeja_tube3157]

Great!!!!!🤝👍🔔

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

😁Thank you

[@wtb61]

Thank you for the help.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Happy to help

[@jacprice1687]

very helpful...ta!

[@LovkynaPeral]

i dont draw often, but when i draw i m so so scary i will do a mistake , what i cant take back :( Great Painting, OMG you are brilliant 👍✒👌🤗

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

You're not alone. Most people worry about a mistake...but draw any way. The mistake aren't that big of a deal. I can point out lots of mistakes in every sketch I make. It's part of being human.

[@LovkynaPeral]

@@brendaswensonwatercolors thank you, i know that...but thats take me away from even try out something. Last weekend i was painting after so so long time.it makes me happy to see it now, that i did it..but still i dont want to ´´waste´´ any page, when it is not working on the end, i cant change it.. maybe gesso on it and new try, or? :) yeah, just keep doing what you do, you are real artist. i m just a tryer to be crative :)

[@LovkynaPeral]

@@smisch7720 thank you so much for your comment. First of all, that you dont judge it, because it is possible the take all this Steps , i know. I know already this Steps.But somethimes i feel like that by painting in this Little journal, that maybe whe i paint something on loose Paper, yes, i can glue it, i know, but than i will thinking, okey, i could paint it directly in journal :( yeah, maybe JUST doing and dont thinking is the best help. :) like my weekend painting, and i m so proud of me , that after so long time and i did it in that watercolor journal...BUT Smi Sch, thank you so much fro your very lovely comment with no judging and really trying to ´´show´´ the ways.Big Thanks

[@Vickilou92]

Very helpful!

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Vicki, Thank you!

[@edmundosherrera]

very nice presentation ... i wish to do the same , but not good as you do

[@tmikeporter]

Interesting, however part of me from my years of filing sketchbooks asks "why do this at all?" It appears to add a bit of creativity to the page and enables the addition of words, narrative, that make the capture of the sketch mean more. I've never done this design border. I have annotated my sketchbook pages when we travel but more as a diary entry. How do you carry the acetate sheet in your sketch bag? It appears to be larger than your S&B sketchbook. I have duplicated your sketch bag design and love it, by the way. So much better than using a backpack which I did use for years.

[@brendaswensonwatercolors]

Hey Mike! Thanks for your comment. I keep a sheet of acetate the same size as my sketchbook tucked in the back of my sketchbook. Happy Sketching! Brenda