Author Archives: Dragon Co. (Austin Smith)

Review – Strathmore 400 series, 100 page, 8.5X5.5 Sketchbook

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Strathmore sketchbooks, specifically in this review the 400 series, 100 page, 8.5″X5.5″ sketchbook.

Design-wise, the cover is acceptable. It certainly does its job and displays all the necessary information in a way that is easy to read, and in three different languages. The stock of the cover and the cardboard of the back are thick and nice, capable of standing up to a great deal of punishment (the back more so, obviously). The back is unbendable without breaking it first, creating a solid drawing surface away from a table, if that’s how you like to draw. The book is spiral bound, the metal of said spirals is superb, they are strong and have enough give and bounce that they don’t bend into a different shape easily. The spine also keeps the pages very secure.

The paper in this book is a medium thickness, thicker than 20-pound, thinner than heavier drawing paper. It is relatively smooth, but still coarse. Good for the main purpose of the book; sketching, but poor for fine detail work as the bumps create imperfections. It is still much less coarse than other sketchbooks by Strathmore. Pencil and ink are taken well by the paper. Pencil smudges fairly easily, and shows through to some degree. Ink is absorbed quickly, making drying time fast and can be seen through the paper. There are 100 sheets in this book, which seems a large number, making the book fat. But that is hardly a complaint. The pages are very nice for their purpose of sketching.

I take a sketchbook everywhere, I try to vary what I take and where, but when all I want to do is a simple sketch, a Strathmore is what I take. They are easy to get, fair priced and a good quality. I would not try to create a “finished” piece on one, but that is not their intended purpose. They help one practice, hone skills, and create technique by being very durable and useable in a variety of conditions. This size of book is great for a bag or carry in the hand (half the size of a sheet of copy paper). It is a great thing to have when one is out and about and would like to sketch anything.

Speak Your Mind 8 #36-40

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QUESTIONS

1. What do you remember about kindergarden?

2. Do you like white carpet?

3. Do you have any older sisters?

4. Are you good at saving money?

5. Do you like winter or summer best?

ANSWERS By: Austin Smith

1. I remember I was five years old.

2. No, I don’t like carpet period, I like hard floors.

3. Yes, I have two older sisters.

4. Depends on what I want at the moment, and how much is saving, but I would say generally; yes.

5. I prefer the winter because I can more easily regulate my temperature. I can be from cold to hot, where as the summer I just seem hot.

Review – Pigma Micron 05 Technical Pen

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Ah, another Micron, this one is the 05 (.45mm) black version. Its main difference from other Microns of course being its nib size.

The pen body is slick but doesn’t slip when pressure is applied. Aesthetically it looks old school with its graphic design, but all the necessary info is readable and in intuitive places. The top of the cap is marked with the size, making finding the correct pen for the job from storage much easier. The overall length and weight of the pen is nice and makes it easy to handle.

Of course the main difference between this Micron and other Microns is the nib size. The 05 nib is a medium size, good for main lines and other things that should be noticed but that you don’t want to emphasize as much (assuming you’re using a broad range of pen sizes). The nib also takes considerably longer to wear out then its smaller counterparts, and one will find the ink becoming grey or stopping almost entirely before wear from normal use is noticeable.

The ink is of course the wonderful Pigma ink, which resist fading and running. It does fade after prolonged times, but not entirely and it is hardly noticeable. It also begins to fade as an eraser is rubbed over it, but this is minor and will only happen once or twice.

Overall the pen is nice and a great value. It is more of a writing size pen then the other pens in the Micron range, making it one of the most versatile of the line.

Speak Your Mind 7 #31-35

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QUESTIONS

1. Which would you rather wear: jeans or dress pants?

2. What is your favorite football team?

3. Do you like to go to fairs?

4. Do you have any younger brothers?

5. What type of job do you think you would like best?

ANSWERS By: Austin Smith

1. On a scale of how comfortable; dress pants.

2. I have no favorite football team for either of the sports known as football.

3. Haven’t been to any, but I enjoy fair-like concepts.

4. No, I have one older brother.

5. I like cartooning.

 

Speak Your Mind 6 #26-30

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QUESTIONS

1. Do you like sports?

2. What kind of music do you like to listen to?

3. Would you rather go to a movie or stay home and watch T.V.?

4. What is your favorite pet?

5. Have you ever had a broken arm?

ANSWERS By: Austin Smith

1. Who doesn’t. Well, I like casual sports, mainly because the people participating in organized sports I generally find annoying.

2. Almost any kind, it tends to be only certain song and/or bands I don’t like, not entire genres and such.

3. I’d rather stay home and watch a movie. But seriously, it depends on the people I’m with, but I’d say I stay home more often.

4. Favorite type of pet: Ferret. Favorite pet that is mine: my cat Spot.

5. No, I have never broken a bone.