Carnets de voyage are my latest obsession. There seems to be quite a large market for these publications in France judging by the all the titles available. One book I should have included in this photo perhaps is Carnets de Voyage by Cecile Filliette, as this was the first one I found here and the one that sparked off my interest. Perhaps it's unusual, considering my own style of drawing, but I find this loose, colourful, sketchy style very appealing. Drawing a subject or scene cements it permanently in the memory, so how exciting it would be to come home from a trip with a sketchbook of colourful memories! The second book I bought was Richard Schilling's Watercolor Journeys with it's illustrations from his travels but also a mine of useful information on creating your own journals and all the pros and cons of sketching in the field. As a cruise ship dentist, he has the perfect job for travelling the world and having the time to paint the places he visits!
Thanks to the very talented Laura, (hers is a must-read blog and now it's official!) who wrote about the carnets de voyage she came across on her trip to France, I bought Mali Secret, a fabulous, inspiring book by Stefano Faravelli, and just so it wasn't lonely on it's way from Amazon.fr, I added Madagascar by Claire and Reno Marca. This one is illustrated by Reno and includes photos by his wife Claire. Madagascar is my favourite place in the world - I'm amazed it still hasn't been over-run by tourists - so it was doubly thrilling to find this beautiful book. Mes Carnets des Iles by Rolf Weijburg has a more distinct, highly stylised feel to it, I can't really imagine these detailed illustrations were done completely in the field but it's interesting to see how different these carnets de voyage can look.
So with no lack of inspiration, my blog should be full of colourful sketches but alas, I'm still struggling with watercolours! I think my main problem is that I've had trouble finding paper that I'm happy with. I now have brushes I'm comfortable using - having accidentally bought synthetic and not sable travel brushes when I visited Green & Stone, I found I really liked them! They seem to me to be much more controllable than sable - which made me feel like Alice in Wonderland trying to play croquet with the floppy flamingo!
These books, above, are some of the papers I've tried. From the top, this one is 300g cold pressed paper by L'Atelier du Papier and it has a too regular pattern on it's surface, and a little too rough for my liking. The Bockingford is quite nice but again slightly too rough although good for practising. The Arches Carnet de Voyage I like very much but as it is very smooth - hot pressed satin grain - it's perhaps too challenging for a beginner like me, I have a long way to go yet before I can make the most of it. The 'carnet du fond du jardin' is also by L'Atelier du Papier and is incredibly absorbent paper - I must remind myself not to be fooled by the attractive covers this company employs because I don't like their papers at all! Ah, but thank goodness for Green & Stone yet again, because I only bought this little pad as I liked the size but the paper is just the thing I've been looking for - fairly smooth but with just enough tooth. The only problem is, I bought only two little pads so I'm afraid to ruin them! On the positive side though, I think I've found a good excuse for a return visit!
4 comments:
Felicity, check out Titouan Lamazou's Carnet de Voyages for a really inspiring book! The ones you mention and picture are as well, but this one is amazing. Pricey but amazing. Ironically, I love, but cannot find, l'Atelier du Papier paper!! I bought a pad of their Minerva paper in Isle sur la Sorgue, where it's made, in September, and fell in love with it. It's hot press and very sturdy and just wonderful for plein air sketching. I wasn't as fond of their cp paper. Would you mind telling me where you found yours? I looked in Paris and couldn't find it there.
This was a very informative post---you and I share the carnets de voyage obsession!
And thank you for your nice words about me, too.
Thanks Laura! I've seen a lot about Lamazou recently, promoting his 'femmes du monde' exhibition and book but I'm not that keen on his style, it's perhaps a little too loose for me. I'll have to check out that book though.
I bought the L'Atelier du Papier sketchbooks here in Geneva, they are available in Jallut, which I think is actually a French chain. The one I pictured is one of a range - I thought the paper was the same but with different covers to choose from but the papers are different too. This one (with a ladybird) I find especially nasty - it has a very regular, machine made look to it. I notice it's cp so I shall look out for the hp. Geneva has some good art materials but it's very erratic in what is available. I found that artist's guoache is not sold here (they hadn't even heard of it, there is only designer's)and apparently Schmincke is only available outside of the French speaking cantons! If I find out any more about the papers I'll let you know.
I know what you mean about his Femmes exhibit. I wasn't so interested in that, either, but the travel sketchbook has some fabulous work in it, not all of it loosey-goosey (which I love, of course!)
I didn't like the ladybug pads, either, but that Minerva one is great. It seems very odd to me that Geneva is so lacking in art supplies! The Swiss, perhaps, concentrate on other things? ;D.
Yes, investing, looking but not doing!
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