Grand Sketchbook Tour 2022: Why I am so productive and passionate to sketch every day

[@mildredmassey4742]

Loved this Becky. You are such a kind person

[@jaimejaime1178]

Hello Becky! Jim again from Madrid (Spain - an expat living abroad - with a smile)... First of all, I wanted to Thank You personally for your hard work and everything you share with us... For REAL! THANK YOU! Second, and not trying to bore anyone with my own troubles, just wanted to share that my personal situation for the past 4 years has been very difficult, going through several surgeries on my spine and legs and being in bed for about 80% of the time with extreme very little mobility... But, this past summer, my wife (the love of my life since I met her when I was 15 - I am 55 years old now) bought me a sketchbook and a set of graphite pencils for drawing in bed. She knew my all time Art passion which, due to LIFE (in general), I was never able to follow due to my professional career and life as a whole, but it motivated me tremendously to snap out of a very difficult time at an anemic level. YOU, Becky, have ALSO had a BIG part in my personal (yet slow) RECOVERY... so I THANK YOU! (I am completely HONEST with YOU and I hope my comment can help others also). Your PASSION for drawing and living in "colour" consistently everyday of your life has MOTIVATED me in a way you can't even imagine... I make and take the time everyday to watch some videos of your channel (as I said in my last post you ARE VERY productive, which is a GREAT thing for everybody)... AND, watching and feeling your passion for LIFE and DRAWING/PAINTING has motivated ME to start wanting to be able to go outdoors again (I used to climb mountains and trekked every week with my dogs before all this happened). So, again and I am not trying to be a pain to anybody (so sorry for this long post)... And from the bottom of my heart, I want to Thank You, Becky, because YOU have been instrumental in my life and in MY Path to recovery... So, PLEASE... Never doubt yourself and continue to follow your HEART! You are doing a lot of GOOD in your Life... Thank you and Cheers from Madrid (Spain)!!!!!

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you for sharing your life story with us, Jim! ☺️❤️ I'm very glad that my videos have been helping you to go through this difficult period in your life. I wish you all the best with a speedy recovery and soon you will be able to go outdoors again! ☀️🌈

[@toricaple1327]

Thank you Becky. I have just been diagnosed with cancer and something you said about time being precious hit me. I love the idea about art journaling as an option to express myself, being active creatively, and as a way of pulling myself away from the TV. I have been isolating that way lately. I am thinking art journaling might be a bit more healthy mentally. I love your videos. Thank you for being that inspiration to many, and assisting me in moving in a positive direction.

[@BeckyCao]

Hi Tori, I wish you all the best ❤️ Savour the everyday and make the best out of the moments with your family and friends.

[@lisagiuliani8167]

Sending you prayers for strength and a speedy recovery 🙏

[@mols556]

Thanks so much for this and all your videos. I started sketching and making art a little over a year ago when my father fell ill and then passed away. Everything you're saying about how short and precious our lives are rings so true. Cheers!

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you for your appreciation. It is very true that the passing of loved ones can influence our sensations about life and living.

[@debzhouse]

Thank you for sharing your lovely sketchbooks.

[@betsymcgovern5672]

Thank you for sharing Becky your art works. This gives me a courage to try and sketch. Youare so talented. I am a 75 year young person, and I know it’s kinda late to start, but I am going to try.

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Hello Becky! Your sketchbook tours and interesting descriptions of your experiences are a feast for the senses! Thanks for sharing your talents.

[@ecowomble1781]

Hi, just found your channel. I really like your drawing and painting style. The way you draw trees is soo good. I find your sketch books really inspirational. I think I will try to keep one and raw every day. I am a beginner to sketching and alter colours as a way to relax. I look forward to viewing your back catalogue of videos.

[@suzanneboily5224]

Great works! enjoy all your moments.

[@janhogan3873]

Thanks Becky for your fabulous sketch books, they are so relaxing to look at as well as inspiring. Always look forward to your visits around your neighbourhood, so interesting to see it from your perspective.

[@frederikkenielsen1233]

You are SO inspirering! ❤

[@AngieMaeart]

I enjoyed seeing your sketchbooks. You are such an inspiration to me. Thank you for all you do ❤

[@BeckyCao]

You are so welcome!

[@donnaslayter4360]

Happy to see Becky pop up on the iPad. Love from donna

[@carolmarlatt3834]

Thanks so much for sharing. Love your work.

[@smariegalski3641]

That was such a wonderful tour through your sketchbook and the life details you captured. You are so talented.

[@KatiesArt16]

Love your videos Becky! Thanks so much for all you do for aspiring artists!! ❤❤

[@dawndavidson6062]

Great video as always Becky - thank you so much! Loved what you said at the beginning and all your helpful commentary throughout! Your channel is excellent!

[@lindsaymitchell8899]

Dear Becky your Grand tour has been so enjoyable, I found myself saying I remember this page, I was there with you ( well kind of ). Your confidence has grown over the years and I believe we can see this in your Art Journals and your presentations. God bless Becky

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you so much! ☺️💗

[@susanhunter8126]

I enjoyed each and every page of your sketch books and remembered so many of them. You have been an inspiration for me and I’m sure for more people than you’ll ever know. Thank you.

[@tammyh.8454]

good advice, great work, love it!

[@markdonovan1540]

It's interesting to hear your thoughts and feelings about making art. I imagine we all have different reasons for being creative with some of our time, many of which we undoubtedly share in common. Your commitment and dedication to daily practice is very special. Most of us probably produce creative work sporadically, unless the person is involved directly in creative activities as a profession or vocation. Many watercolour or sketching hobbyists among us, myself included, have started getting into art later in life. It's certainly true what you say about time going quicker when one gets older - I'll soon be 64, so the time spent painting does appear to slow down the perception of the passing of time while in the painting process. I've yet to get into any regular painting activity, but since I started painting watercolours about 4 years ago, I've found the hobby has grown and I do make more effort to paint or sketch more often. If I can produce 2 or 3 paintings per week, then I get to enjoy the release of artistic expression. I've only completed one sketchbook in 4 years! Mind you, I have 4 sketchbooks on the go at the same time and I also mainly paint at home using watercolour paper on a table. I enjoy the urban sketching loose style, but I also enjoy landscape paintings - especially from imagination as opposed to reference photos. Recently, due to attending my first ever in-person watercolour class, I've started painting loose style figures. This change of subject has opened up a whole new experience of painting which is a lot of fun and really makes me more aware of brush strokes and how to load the brush. I think I would do more urban sketching in plein-air if I can simplify more and focus on a good composition that I could complete within an hour. Your style and approach to sketching with watercolour is an excellent reference for me to try and develop and improve that aspect of painting which I enjoy doing.

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you for your appreciation, Mark! ☺️ Keep creating and you will develop a style by following your heart.

[@katze5349]

It was such a joy to watch your video! Thank you so much! I love this mix of landscapes and every-day-items. You are so gifted ✨

[@carterb43]

Thank you for reminding me life is short. At 61 is getting even shorter, and your video is the reminder I needed to put down my phone and start living the way I have dreamed of (making art).

[@lizafranco6141]

I love seeing the world through your eyes. Your talent is so beautiful and hearing you explain what each piece means to you, welcomes us into your journey.

[@catholictortillas777]

Life is precious! I have been painting and sketching almost one year now and I have so much to show though! I love to plein air or coffee shop sketch. Thank you for sharing and teaching! I am going to Mexico this summer and plan to bring my sketch and paint material. I will try to get a balcony at the hotel. Any tips on your favorite travel sketchbook or paint? Hug

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you! Enjoy your travels. I like Arteza watercolor sketcbook, Speedball handbook journal, Etchr mix media sketchbook, Mungyo watercolors (12 half pans).

[@patriciatolliver4057]

Patty-I loved your sketchbook tour. Very inspiring. I'm working on my people in my views. I'm finding that I feel like something is missing if I don't sketch every day. I will work a little harder at this. I'm really enjoying this part of the journey. I want to have a collection of this for my family to see what the last part of my life was like. Thank you Becky.

[@BeckyCao]

I just turn on the lamp and sketch.

[@robynchapman4872]

I loved watching this video! You are amazing! Just found you on KZbin. I am just a beginner in going to coffee shops and trying to sketch. Thank you for sharing your sketchbooks and your style.

[@doriswatanabe8282]

It is such a treat to see these wonderful sketchbooks - such lovely colors, so optimistic and full of joy. Thank you for sharing. I'm hoping I can take a class again with you next month. I so enjoyed the lessons from a few months ago. Keep on doing what you do!

[@carolhama4156]

Becky, your sketchbooks are absolutely delightful! I could see the progression in your work! Your sketches of food on plates, in bags and plastic containers, of the urban landscape character houses, etc they are all stunning! Thank you for sharing them with us! They were a real special treat for me, as I recognized a couple of your sketches from Olympic Village, Crab Beach and of course the False Creek area etc and other Urban Sketching excursions we did! And since I grew up in Montreal I recognized several of your venues there, too! It was just like visiting with you! Thank you for letting us into your colourful and expressive world of pen & ink sketching! I wish you every success I haven't bought a sketchbook in years, (I need to sketch more), but I am certainly very glad to see they make them out of watercolour paper these days! Goodbye warpy Moleskins, hello real watercolour paper in sketchbooks!

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you so much for your appreciation, Carol! ☺️❤️ We certainly had a lot of wonderful times sketching together years ago, thank you for all the good times. Perhaps you can join the Vancouver Urban Sketchers' meetups? They are meeting at good locations these days. I'm usually not available on weekends as I teach on those days, so it's a pity that I can't join. I hope you are doing well.

[@karenvc8005]

Becky, I really enjoy your videos. Your thoughtful commentary today was especially appreciated to learn that you too used your art making to cope and make sense of a difficult time. I too isolated and spent the first six months of the pandemic recording different views of the interior of the home I share with my husband. And the feral cats we fed daily under our car port, many self portraits and even more sketches of my husband napping of the sofa. There is beauty in the everyday world.

[@Loisbowers-qv6vb]

Thank you so much for sharing Becky

[@BeckyCao]

You are so welcome Lois！

[@PunjabiHumanitarian]

Becky, what you said about the passing of time hit deep! It got me thinking about where I spend my time and I realize I spend enough time on myself and my hobbies, health, hygiene etc. But not even 1% of it on family including grandparents, aunts & uncles and some of the cousins and somewhere that feels wrong 😢 Edit: Forgot to mention but also goes without saying, your sketchbooks are amazing!!!

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you for your appreciation!

[@karinmerlijn1866]

Wow what a lot of sketches😍 and so beautiful

[@lindacadeau554]

I love your sketches Becky, you are so inspiring ❤

[@van_creative]

Awesome special edition video. Many truths shared.

[@QueenViolet8]

I really enjoy watching your videos they’re so relaxing and informative 😁 got me to pick up a pencil and paint agat😊 Thanks

[@dinadomingues6197]

I love your work. Thank you for showing it

[@garbledsand-which2321]

This is so inspiring, thank you for sharing! (I might just try some water colors.)

[@Stormy-14-]

Hi Becky, thank you so much for your videos, you have taught me so much. I am a cancer survivor and through it all I always looked forward to seeing your videos, you made me love art again, thank you👍👍❤️❤️

[@BeckyCao]

You are very welcome! ❤️ Take care.

[@featherweightswoon6855]

I love your sketchbook style. I’d love to do that style myself. You are very inspirational and I will try to do similar pages. (Rose G.- Coquitlam)

[@Justme_247]

I wish I was as talented as you are. I draw everyday too. It makes me feel good even if it doesn't turn out so good.

[@cassandrascott2613]

Thank you for sharing!

[@moniqueri160]

Speaking of addiction to UTubes... I am afraid I am slowly developing a need to see all your videos😂 They are calming, show simple reality of daily life and they are inspiring teaching tools.

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you for your appreciation, Monique! ☺️💗

[@darinl9405]

Hi Becky..thank you for sharing your artwork..Since I am a knew subscriber here, I wonder what kind of paper you use in your sketchbook?

[@BeckyCao]

I used several kinds of sketchbooks in this video: Etchr mix media sketchbook, Etchr Perfect Sketchbook, Arteza Watercolor Sketchbook, Speedball Handbook Watercolor Journal.

[@darinl9405]

Well I ask about the paper..

[@BeckyCao]

@@darinl9405 Oh! I have both hot and cold press paper in these sketchbooks. The paper weight range from 110 lb to 140 lb.

[@dinadomingues6197]

I have a question, all your sketchbooks, are they perfect? Or do you have others where you experiment?

[@BeckyCao]

Yes, I enjoyed using these sketchbooks. The papers work differently but I had no problems with them.

[@katsmith8263]

👍👍👍👍💪💪💪💪💪

[@sugaryxegnirys]

This was the chill video I needed after working. It’s cool to see your progress across the year. What would you say was your favorite sketchbook out of all five?

[@BeckyCao]

Thank you! ☺️ My favourite one is the large landscape Etchr Mix Media sketchbook, I love the size and how ink and watercolors work on that paper. On the other hand, this volume contains a great number of interesting sketches and life memories, way more than my past sketchbooks.

[@katsmith8263]

I don't know how to draw, because I could draw only in the evening, and there us not enough light at the evening. How could you do this?

[@BeckyCao]

Just turn on the lamp. 😄

[@CAT-Anne]

[@madhavmankar1898]

Nice and Beautifully Creatives Vizlistion process of Deom preacatical, Sunday Class Sketches. Compjtion.painting.Weo including New Every day Skching drawing with Colours Textured mixed with Lendscape.❤🎉😮😊