Journals and Sketchbooks

Unfortunately I'm a terrible sketcher, but cool idea! Fun project.

That's pretty close to perfect for my daughter. She infatuated with Japanese culture and spends every free moment painting or drawing. We've decided that a requirement for our backpacking trips is low mileage days so she can have time to sketch along the way.

I think it is very cool that not only do you carry a specific sketch book for each trip, but that you actually make and bind the paper, is revolutionary to me. The idea never even occurred to me! What a great way to keep the memories.

I carry a small commercially produced 4×6 "post card" block for watercolor sketches. There are a number of manufacturers and they generally have between 12 and 15 sheets of 140 pound cold press paper. They're bound on one side, but the other three sides are coated with sizing to hold the pages flat as you paint. I also carry water flow brushes – a brush that holds the water in the barrel so you don't have to use your drinking water – and half pan field kit to hold a few basic colors.

Many years ago I found a copy of "Watercolor Painting on the Trail" by Judith Campbell, published by Appalachian Mountain Club Books (1993) that had great tips for putting together a lightweight kit for the trail.

@ Ryan H. – Keep sketching, you will get better. For many years, the trail was the only place I painted because I didn't want anyone else to see how bad they were! But over the years they've gotten better and better and last year the Wilderness Society even published one of my watercolor sketches.

But even more importantly is the record I have of where I've been. Even if a sketch is horrible, I still had to look at the scene for much more than a minute. Just looking at the old sketches brings back memories that I honestly don't think a photograph would.

^I would LOVE to see some of your watercolor sketches!

And I too think this is neat idea. I often take a small (4×6) notebook to write and sketch in. Usually I just write short notes about the trip and do little doodles here and there, but I'm thinking about bring a few more pens/pencils and stepping my sketching game up.

It's always fun and rewarding to dig up and old notebook full of "trip reports." :)

Hey. Very nice post. Thank you. Any project with knots is a must do too.

Very nice idea. Thanks for sharing. This would be good for a trip with my son.