STARTING A NEW SKETCHBOOK ✶ How I break in a new Strathmore mixed media sketchbook

Starting a brand new, blank beautiful sketchbook can be really intimidating, so here's how I help ease the fear and jump in to making art in a new book.
Check out my website for the most up to date blog posts, portfolio & shop updates: littletinyegg.com/
CONTACT:
✿ [e-mail]
SOCIAL MEDIA:
✿ Instagram: / littletinyegg
✿ Tiktok: / littletinyegg
Subscribe to my Patreon!
✿ patreon.com/littletinyegg

[@thislondonbridges]

“You’ve gotta make marks if you wanna be an artist” super resonates. Love following bits of your art journey, thank you!

[@littletinyegg]

HEck yea!

[@newflanged_]

Love the idea of rounding corners!!! Never thought about it and it really makes a difference! I don’t like edges on mixed media sketchbooks

[@littletinyegg]

Yes I hate pointy corners 🐯

[@cottonhxney]

Alright. I’m convinced - I’m buying that corner cutter that’s been sitting in my Amazon wishlist for months 🫡 Thanks for the video! Always a treat

[@littletinyegg]

Of course! Thank you! And yes the corner cutter is 10000% worth it

[@makingmeaningnow]

“Person handle the book”, both hilarious and a good idea that I am going to give a go 😂

[@anyangay5216]

Youve inspired me to start a sketchbook again. Thank you!

[@littletinyegg]

Stickers are from @friedmegg (pink landscape) @juuliansolis (kewpie) and @pigekid (holographic rat)! Thank you so much for watchinnggg :)

[@user-lb2hu1hw4w]

You're so creative, thanks for inspiring me and others!

[@Ddalgiichigo]

When I start a new journal I usually smear paint on the cover or paint the cover and then just mess up the first page 😂 just make something that purposely isn’t perfect or smear and mix and swatch colours. And you’re right even if a painting starts to feel like it’s going wrong if you keep going it always looks better than you thought. Even if you still don’t like it after it’s finished if you leave it aside and come back to it you’ll find you like it a little more

[@Marxnchill]

The strathmore mixed media sketchbook is the only sketchbook I’ve ever filled multiples of! They make it so inviting yaknow? Such a well designed product!

[@littletinyegg]

It’s literally perfect!!

[@onecentstudio8707]

Cut to me hunched over in the corner, rounding the corners on my sketchbook

[@littletinyegg]

Must. Round. Corners. 👹

[@Rose-In-Wonderland]

i love how you designed the front cover. im about to start my seventh sketchbook and was looking for some ideas, love it!!!

[@littletinyegg]

Oooh exciting! Thank you! Putting the stickers on is my favorite part lol

[@bonniek356]

To the point of not ripping out pages- just cover up the pages you’d want to rip up! If you’re a painter, gesso over it and then do a painting! If you’re a dry media artist, tape a piece of paper/post it/washi tape over it and use it to add some character to the page!

[@littletinyegg]

Yes definitely! I do that all the time! Even a layer of acrylic paint makes a great ground for sketching on top in pencil or marker! Thank you!

[@blondeamazondesign]

Love that you round the corners 🙌🏽

[@cherrybombb_]

If I could like this video several times, I would... I bought a new sketchbook last week, and it's been staring at me and I''ve just been giving it such a HUGE side eye. I've been so intimidated to get started, but this was a much needed, but gentle push to get into it. Thank you!!

[@littletinyegg]

Im so glad you like it! Happy sketchbooking!

[@lunastefanieroy]

4:11 - such important and inspiring words. I love how you spoke about your fears of having ruined the notebook, hating the piece... but you kept going and in the end you liked it. This is a wonderful video.

[@littletinyegg]

Aw thank you so much! I really appreciate that!

[@JeffNotes]

Ohhh so true, that blank page syndrome affects everything in art, in every medium. Everything in this video looks awesome btw! your art is simply wonderful! =)

[@littletinyegg]

oh thank you so much! And yes I hate the blank page fear!

[@softandcosy]

4:22 the water is such a pretty colour, i love how the sketchbook page turned out!!

[@littletinyegg]

Aw thank you so much!!

[@artistamandamillar]

Love watching you art!❤

[@littletinyegg]

Thank you so much!

[@beverlyhelm5287]

Ooo, I’ve got a strathmore sketchbook coming from my daughter for my birthday and already have 2 stickers for the cover.

[@julieduncan1996]

Had to laugh as you rounded the corners because I do the same thing! Except, I don’t trim them until after I finish a page. I really like your lovely painting! ❤

[@littletinyegg]

aww I love that!

[@naturalflow157]

Really nice art work, :) I admire your ideas and how you put it together to express yourself. Very inspiring, thank you for sharing and wishing you the best on your artist journey :)

[@littletinyegg]

aw thank you! That is such a sweet comment to receive!

[@pigeonhome]

loved this video!!! :D

[@littletinyegg]

Yay! I'm so glad :)

[@lofty_ari7368]

Ayyy i had that same sketch book it was really good tbh good for water colors and ink. Also good video !!!

[@littletinyegg]

Nice! I love it for wet media! Thank you 💖

[@lofty_ari7368]

@@littletinyegg yessss it super good for water colors i honestly enjoyed that sketch book, and youre welcome!!!

[@onecentstudio8707]

btw do you have trouble with your washi tape tearing up the paper in your sketchbook? I also use the strathmore mixed media boosk and it is always ripping up the paper, but maybe my washi tape just sucks idk

[@littletinyegg]

Sometimes I do! You can try sticking the tape on your pants or some fabric before you stick it down to take away some of the stickiness

[@onecentstudio8707]

@@littletinyegg ooh the pro tips! I will try that! I don't really mind because it's ~just a sketchbook~ but I don't get that satisfying tape reveal

[@zaeerinko1787]

Hey i have a question…what is the texture of the paper? Is it smooth or has a grain in it? Is it like cold pressed ? Or considered smooth but little bit grainy? Is it like the bristol vellum from their yellow sketchbooks? 🤔 I need to know before purchasing

[@zaeerinko1787]

Plus i have that cutting thingy laying around my art studio you gave me a great idea on using it🤣

[@littletinyegg]

its kinda textured like watercolor paper!

[@meghand4950]

Where did you get your brush cleaner?

[@littletinyegg]

It is from Blick!

[@user-lp9zm1fp6q]

Thank you for posting this. I was browsing videos looking for some inspiration because I'm anxious to start painting in my new sketchbook that I bought earlier today... I want to make so many different things and want each sketchbook to be a theme, but then I end up using the same sketchbook for different things sometimes and feel like I ruined the theme... Anyway, you inspired me in this video to use reference photos to practice in my new sketchbook... the only thing I'm now kind of stressing about is dating things and should the photos be in order... because I just thought of a flower field I wanted to paint and was like wait, maybe I need to see if I want to do something before that date... this is how my neurotic brain keeps me from making art. Sigh... I'll start with my name and the cover like you did

[@littletinyegg]

haha oh my sketchbook is super out of order and lots of things don't have dates! Don't let perfectionism hold you back!

[@morganpeerless5453]

What size is this

[@littletinyegg]

I believe it is ~8x11 or A4

[@whitneymason406]

Hi! 👋

[@littletinyegg]

Hi Whitney!!