Sketchbook Conversations -- a chat with Emma Palmer

Welcome to the first of my new Sketchbook Conversations blog series. Last week I shared my sketchbook story and starting today I'll be sharing stories of other artists and their sketchbooks. (If you're interested in participating, please contact me and I'll send you the details).

artist interviews, sketchbooks, Sketchbook Conversations, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

Today's Sketchbook Conversation is with Emma Palmer. I'll let Emma take over from here and share her sketchbook story:

Hi, my name is Emma. I'm an artist and illustrator. 

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

When it comes to sketchbooks I'm a little different to other artists. Strangely I owned one (actually several ahem!) for a couple of years before actually using it. I just don't tend to sketch, preferring to get stuck in and create the image I have imagined straight up. 

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

One day I ran out of my favourite watercolour paper, the shops were shut and so there was nothing left for it but use a sketchbook. 

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

I found it quite liberating as there felt less pressure to produce a picture of perfection and gave me the opportunity to play with new ideas. I relaxed which is always a good thing. My sketchbook is a watercolour Moleskin. I use a H pencil to sketch the idea and then paint with gouache & watercolour paints. I have been painting imaginary portraits on one side of a page with the intention of adding either an object or an animal on the other side. I love my sketchbook now and hope to fill many more of them with whimsical stories, which I would one day like to create oil paintings of.

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

My advise for anyone starting out is to use a grey putty rubber! I use to be put off art thinking that if I was any good at drawing I should be able to get it right first go, but that is rarely the case with my style of imagery. Putty rubbers are great, they don't damage the paper's surface and you don't get all those messy rubbery bits, plus they last forever.

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

If you would like to follow my work please check out my Instagram gallery emmadrawseveryday

sketchbooks, art, Emma Palmer

I also sell my cards and other pieces of art through my shop in Made It, the handmade market website under the same name.



Thank you, Emma, for sharing your sketchbook with us!


*Photos in this post © Emma Palmer. Used with permission.

Comments

  1. That is a great sketchbook Emma! I love your clear and clean style and images of modern people. Anne, I think I am really going to enjoy these sketchbook conversations and hopefully I will have the confidence to start my own! :)

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    1. Hi, Simone. I'm so glad that you enjoyed peeking into Emma's sketchbook. I love her imaginary portraits!

      I think after you see some of the coming sketchbooks you might not be able to resist starting one of your own. :)

      Enjoy your weekend!

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  2. I love Emma's work and it always makes me smile when she pops up in my insta feed!

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    1. Hi, Anna. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I feel the same way about Emma's work! :)

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  3. Nice beginning to your series Anne. Emma's style is very fun��. Why don't your posts come in my email anymore? I couldn't find a spot to sign up again.

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    1. I don't know why you don't get the emails anymore. I signed up to test it a while back and I still get mine.

      I just put the sign up option back. I was cleaning up the sidebar and removed it because so few people had signed up.

      I've been enjoying using Bloglovin. You get an email each day with all the new posts from the blogs you sign up to follow.

      Oh, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post! I'm looking forward to sharing more.

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  4. You have a wonderful blog Anne, gorgeous! And this is a lovely post! I very much enjoy to read the story and see Emma's imaginary portraits here!

    Gabrielle.

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    1. Thanks so much, Gabrielle! I'm glad you enjoyed Emma's post and I'm SO glad you joined in on the conversation, too!

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    1. I'm loving this new series. Glad you are, too. :)

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