Pen and Ink Sketch Journal from Start Bay Notebooks

What is a Pen and Ink Sketch Journal - where sketchnotes meets urban sketching?

The Impact of Simplicity

Pen and Ink Sketch Journaling is based on a principal of simplicity of tools and actions
providing a powerful and personal message, combining simple sketching and personal narrative. It’s more than a diary and more than a sketchbook.

Pen and Ink: Using simple tools
Sketch: Incorporating spontaneous sketching
Journal: Using text and narrative to convey a message

---

A5 and A6 - portable and pocket

I use A5 for most sketch journaling - it’s portable and there is enough space to do serious things, if anything I do could ever be considered that serious. But I do aim for some depth in feeling in the simplicity of thought.

A5 Journal - I currently use Stillman and Birn 140mm x 216mm 150gsm. I like that they are slightly narrower than A5 because this size feels more elegant - but that’s just me. Moleskine Large Sketchbook (at 130mm wide) is also a size I like.

A6 Sketchbook - even more portable for carrying anywhere, fits into the pocket to carry at all times. But still enough room for proper sketch journaling - I find the pocket notebook size (140mm x 90mm) a bit too small and narrow but, again, that’s just me. I currently use Seawhites of Brighton A6 eco sketchbooks.

---

What’s coming?

This Substack is intended to expand upon the concepts of the pen and ink sketch journal, to provide examples, inspiration and ‘how to’ guides. From the simplicity of QUAD (quick and dirty) sketching to letting your thoughts and feeling out onto paper.

But that’s all for now,
All the best,
Peter