Sketchbook Play and Chat | let's experiment!

IN THIS VIDEO I experiment with mixed media on clear gesso - so bring your sketchbooks and let's sketch together.
It's been a while also so let's have a little catch up too.
LINKS to things mentioned
My updated website: www.melaniecha...
My 2024 sketch calendar: www.melaniecha...
Clear Gesso: amzn.to/45kbRym
Matt Medium: amzn.to/3QVmKlL
White Gesso: amzn.to/3Ea992H
*Links may be affiliate links, which means I'll get a small commission at no extra cost if you buy using the link.
ABOUT ME:
My name is Mel Chadwick and I'm a professional freelance illustrator and artist based in Cornwall. Here I share studio vlogs, sketch walks, tips and tutorials.
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[@Ltaman1000]

Great to see this and hear a catch up from you Mel, sounds like you have been busy - lovely to see you relaxed and playing in the sketchbook!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Many thanks! Glad to be able to do a no pressure video and chat.

[@rl4424]

Hi Melanie, I enjoyed your new video! Thanks for the update too. 😊❤

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks for watching!

[@debsllewelyn230]

Thanks for this lovely relaxing video Mel. Beautiful piece of art and chat

[@MelanieChadwick]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@colleenjones5721]

Just ordered your calendar. Love your artwork and videos.

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks so much Colleen!

[@serberusu]

your voice is so relaxing on a warm summer night, thanks for drawing with me

[@MelanieChadwick]

My pleasure 😊

[@timbrant1538]

Absorbent ground works well on paper. Prepares it well for water-soluble mediums. Give it a try.

[@MelanieChadwick]

thankyou!

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Melanie. An interesting video, but two things I'm surprised that no-one's mentioned! In reverse order: 3: Gesso is pronounced, "Jess-oh" with the accent on Jess. We can check almost any pronunciation we're unsure of on Google Translate - it does a pretty good job, unless it's a really obscure language! Tell Google if you know the original language, otherwise it may decide it's English, which doesn't always help, as it can come up with the American pronunciation! If unsure, choose 'English (British)' Put the word in and then click on the 'listen' icon at bottom left to hear it pronounced, 2: *A very serious health warning!!!* : Using gesso, creating a rough surface, _will_ cause serious damage to your watercolour / gouache brushes, brush markers (regardless of tip!), pen nibs and fineliners,.It also _will_ eat up your pencils and Neocolors _very_ fast. If you wanted the resist, then you'd need to sand it to a fine, smooth surface - but that creates plastic dust, which is not good for your health nor that of the environment. But at base, it's not intended for sketchbook use, though it seems to be a fashion on ArtTube recently. 1: Acrylic gesso and paint contain plastics which find their way into our soil / water very easily. It's not only in artists' paints, but it's in all sorts of household paints and other things as well, and none of this is good news for our struggling planet!!!! The reason your pencils came out darker is a direct result of the rough surface, which grabs all that gorgeous soft core in its teeth. Did the watercolour dry in the end? How long did it take? 😊

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thankyou for your comments. I'm surprised no one else had corrected me on my pronunciation too! For some reason my brain forgot when I was filming and ended up saying it with a hard G. I wanted to experiment and explore this medium more and thought my sketchbook would be a good place to start. I did know that sanding would have produced a finer surface but wanted to test this out. Also using a white gesso would produce a smoother surface. I think these mediums would help prepare paper that is thinner or unsized. For me though it was just wanting to experiment and see where it leads and I do learn best by doing. The watercolour dried within 20 mins and I quite like it's muted effect, but I probably won't use this technique outside on location.

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@MelanieChadwick I think using a hard G instead of a soft J where it begins a work is a sort-ok UK thing, as I think the majority of English words beginning with G are hard g. (Even after eight years, sometimes I still get tripped up here in France, as in the alphabet, G is pronounced Jay and J is pronounced as a very soft G!!! There are other trip-ups, too, with this alphabet pronunciation!!! Eg vowels that are pronounced the 'wrong way round': eg e becomes uh. and i becomes ee, and U (you) become oo as in mood). It was really good to see your experiment - I really enjoy this sort of video, and learn a lot from them. I got a bit concerned when you used the tools I mentioned, though, as it's something we don't realise is happening till after the damage is done. Hence my comment, hoping to save you from grief later, 😊

[@cherihermans9118]

Loved you video also like the way you try different things. Totally enjoyed the video. ❤

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thank you so much 😊

[@deborahmeyers551]

Loved this Mel I love wild flowers

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thanks Deborah!

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

So beautiful!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Thank you! 😊

[@debhosaflook7849]

I apologize if you answered this question before the video is over, but I'm afraid if I don't ask when I think of the question, I will forget to by the end, hahaha. What sketchbook is this? I like the size and the shape of the pages, very different from I would normally work in. Thanks and love the video so far. 🥰

[@stephanie_smith]

I think its the same one I own, which is the Ranger Dylusions Sketchbook. It's a great mixed media creative journal....heavy paper!

[@MelanieChadwick]

Not at all and yes it's here: amzn.to/3OOPFW9

[@debhosaflook7849]

@@stephanie_smith Thanks so much. I was thinking that was the brand as I recognize the envelope in the front cover but have never seen that size/shape before. I have the big one and then the smaller one which I have loved both!!! 😊

[@debhosaflook7849]

Thanks so much Mel. I thought that was the brand but was not sure. Appreciate you taking the time to respond. Means a lot. Have a lovely weekend. xx

[@WendiWells]

So much to experiment! The wreath is quite lovely! Do you think gesso will become a regular part of your sketchbook practice?

[@MelanieChadwick]

Possibly! but still very much experimental. Can see how it would work well for a more muted subject matter, will be exploring more. Thanks Wendi!