Switching to an A4 sketchbook - and why!

October 23, 2024 | 15 Comments


I’ve been very happy using a Stillman and Birn Square Softcover Alpha (7.5 x 7.5″) in recent months for my everyday sketching. As I was a bit swamped preparing my Travel Sketching course, I didn’t have much time to focus on my own sketching, and the smaller size was perfect for that busy season. I enjoyed this size of sketchbook so much that I bought enough books to see me through to the end of the year.

But suddenly, out of the blue, I realised that I needed to mix it up and move back to a Hardcover A4 Alpha sketchbook.

This book is bigger and much heavier than the softcover square, and so it is quite an adjustment to go back to carrying it around.

However, there are three main reasons why I thought it was important to go back to A4…

 


1. Sketching throughout the day

With the smaller sketchbook, my morning local sketch was more or less a double-page spread. To finish the spread at the end of the day, all I was typically doing was adding some notes about what I had done that day.


Here are two examples of a typical page in a smaller book.


But with the larger sketchbook I need to do a sketch or two to fill up the spread. So this is a good prompt for me to sketch during the day – to sketch more objects at home (see my last article here).

 


2. More interesting sketchbook pages

As well as prompting me to sketch more thoughout the day, the larger sketchbook is also giving me more opportunities to design interesting pages.


I absolutely love the process of pulling a double-page spread together as it develops organically during the day (what I call designing on the fly).

I love combining open-ended urban sketches with objects and then adding elements (such as text blocks, headings, frames and even collage). Ah! yes all concepts from my Sketchbook Design course.

 


3. Working larger

It feels so good to have an A3 area to fill up when I do a double-page sketch. This size enables me to be freer and experiment more.

I’ve only done one big sketch so far, but looking forward to more soon.


A good challenge!

I haven’t started experimenting with more complex page layouts (open compositions – overlapping and merging images) as, at the moment, I’m just getting a feel for the larger page. It’s so much fun to add a collection of random sketches on a page and then work out how to make the spread look cohesive. It’s a good challenge!

I’m definitely connecting with my sketchbook more than I have in recent months and that makes me happy.

Here are some more recent pages…


Do you ever change your sketchbook size? What is the largest sketchbook you have used to date?

(By the way, my largest sketches have been the 11×14″ Spiral Alpha Sketchbook (see here) and the Clairefontaine Goldline Natural Large Square sketchbook 30x30cm (see here). I loved using both! One day I will have to try an A3-size sketchbook!)

(If you are reading this via email, please click on the article title link below and add a comment on my blog. Thanks!)

15 Comments

  • Kimberly J says:

    I love 11×14 sketchbooks. I wish I could take it around with me all the time but honestly, it is the best for me. lots of place to move around and there’s something interesting when I look back at completed books like that I tend to see what I’ve done so much clearer.

    • Liz Steel says:

      Hi Kimberly – yes the 11×14 is a great size (and opps I made a typo in my post which I just corrected – I meant 11×14 not 12×9)

  • akhil says:

    The post was very good, I appreciate how you explain it, Keep the posts coming! Very good talent.

  • Karen Isenhower says:

    I love the way the shadow of the hairdryer goes under the corner of the sketch on the page! I often struggle with shadows that interfere with something on the page. Seeing this gives me another idea to try.

    • Liz Steel says:

      Great to read that it was helpful Karen – that hairdryer and cord was a totally spur of the moment decision. Sometimes its fun to play with elements. 🙂

  • Kelly Billington says:

    Love this! I didn’t even know sketchbooks had sizes other than their measurement! I use a Stillman Bern for nature journaling and a clunky spiral bound huge one when practicing and such. I’d love to start a journal such as yours!!
    Questions: Do you use a ruler when drawing architecture? How do you choose the Bible verses for your day? Love that!!!

    • Liz Steel says:

      Hi Kelly,

      I never use a ruler for sketching – there are some techniques that I teach for achieving them more easily – such as using my hand as a guide.
      I’m reading through Mark at the moment and look up cross references from the Westiminster Bible and Treaury of Scripture Knowledge. During busy days/periods I use Daily Light on the daily path – compiled by Samuel Bagster.

  • Ginie Udy says:

    Liz, I know what you mean about the sudden urge to try something different! I was happily using square formats and just recently switched to A5 landscape!

    The biggest Everyday Sketch book I’ve used was a Jackson’s branded Kunst and Papier book that was ‘landscape’ 8.25 x 9.5 inches. Almost square. It was very fun to use and the pages are so full of interest and experimentation when I look back on it. It was hard cover which I liked but it was quite big, and with lots of pages, quite heavy.

    I then got into 8.25/ 8 inch square books after that that were also less pages so less heavy. I was just about to start the Alpha 7.5 inch square when Travel Sketching started and at the same time my sister sent me a Jasart Voyager A5 landscape book for my birthday in September.

    So I after using Seawhite of Brighton A5 landscape for the TSk course and the brand new A5 from my sister waiting for me, I started using A5 landscape for my Everyday book, and so far I’m enjoying the paper, the layout and size! Not ready for anything bigger…yet!

    • Liz Steel says:

      Thanks for sharing Ginie. I love the format of that K&P book. Just don’t like the paper as much as Alpha 🙂

      • Ginie Udy says:

        I enjoyed reading your review of this book on your blog and agreed with you that the buckling is even more pronounced than Alpha and just that bit too much! I loved seeing the layouts that you shared in this post too. Thanks as always for sharing your life and sketching explorations with us.

  • Jamie C says:

    Love these sketchbook pages and the layouts and design in them! I’m going through the sketchbook design class and so I’m thinking of page design a lot right now!

    The largest sketchbook I’ve used is the A4 Stillman & Birn Hardcover Alpha. I think it’s my favorite size. (Though it sure is a challenge to scan the pages, Ha!) I’m currently in a square 7.5 softcover alpha, and it’s been just the thing to get sketching a bit more since the size of the page is smaller. I’m nearing the end of it, though and debating if I’ll be staying with that size again, or switching it up! There is something motivating about the momentum of filling a book faster, since the pages are smaller!

    • Liz Steel says:

      Thanks Jamie! Yes both sizes are good. I switch to square when I struggle for time for the bigger book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

  • Martine says:

    This really got me thinking. I have used A4 before. I love the size and it forces me to work bigger. But with the coming winter months I won’t be doing much outdoor sketching. But I figured a square S&B would be enough of a change to get me to do more sketches in a spread. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    • Liz Steel says:

      Hi Martine – I hope you enjoy the square. It’s my favourite format for seasons when I’m not sketching as much

Leave a Reply