Sketchbook Tour & Making My Own Paint Markers 

We don't know why it made us feel happy to see a little messy paint action going on with those homemade markers! We just love seeing folks get paint all over the place!

Hi Sandi! A couple of people already kind of mentioned, but I think the issues you were having with the paint markers is because the paint isn't thin enough. Someone else also mentioned Golden, which is good to use as an example, because they have 3 different thicknesses of paint- heavy body, fluid (soft body), and high flow. High flow would be the appropriate viscosity for a paint marker, but if you only used Liquitex Soft Body and didn't thin it with a medium, it would be too viscous still and would not flow appropriately for a paint marker. I believe FW acrylic inks are also about the right viscosity for paint markers. Further, I would advise that if you opt to thin your paints instead of using one meant to go directly in paint markers, you should definitely use an acrylic medium and NOT water. Someone mentioned Liquitex Flow Aid in the comments, and that may work, though if you use too much it will have the same issues that you'd get by adding water, since it doesn't contain any acrylic binders. What might be best could be an airbrush medium, since that uses acrylic binders and won't alter the opacity as much as other fluid mediums. I believe airbrush paints are also suitable to go in paint markers, if you need yet another option 😅 Though you've probably already started doing research or further experimentation on your own... I hope this unsolicited advice isn't unwelcome!!

Another buffet, full throttle, no holds barred...got myself hemmed in w/multiple pieces playing tag with crayons, watercolors, inks & pens...this is my version of heaven...

Hi Sandi! Wow!! I love the landscape you painted of the neighbor’s property took my breath away. Thank you so much for sharing that particular piece. There is something so wonderful about the looseness in your work.

looooove the page at 5:30!!

Sandi, this was excellent!! Thank-you so much. ( Just now watched it.) 😊

Need to get myself over to substack!!! ☺️💖☺️🤗

I just love escaping into your art world, Sandi! Thank you!❤

I like your pictures. They are so powerful.

Love your sketchbooks! Would also love to see a video on how you use the sketches to make a finished painting!

I love all your work but there's something so magical to me about your bird paintings, especially your owls 💜💜

I just want to say I love how you manage to capture people. The biker dude is so expressive, it's like I can actually feel him looking at me!

Please please please Sandi, publish a book of your sketches. My husband, sister, niece and nephew say I am the hardest person to buy for and I reply “it’s because I’m holding out for Sandi’s books”.

I did my degree in art but glass art so i didnt learn to paint or draw. I never did art when I was younger. I went to art college when i turned 33 and learnt to do glass. I wanted to do a masters I took last year as a break and did a glass artist residency. I was applying for my masters and I didnt have a clue what to do. I remembered in alot of your vidoes you talked about playing. So when getting my portfolio together I decided to play. I had it in my head if i didnt get in it wasnt meant to be but at least I had fun instead of being stressed out. I got in. I start my masters iin art and engagment in september :) Im glad i listened to you about playing.

SO INSPIRING!

lol 'wall of glass', my brain does the same thing😝 16:53 often the big burly bikers are teddy bears

I especially loved the landscape at 5:32 I think it's quite strong in composition, value and colors. Always fun and inspiring to see your videos :)

Much love ❤️ 🙏 I've never used soft pastel before but after seeing your work I might have to try them

You are so prolific, Sandi! Thanks for sharing. And ALSO the good bad singing!

I LOVE Sandi Fridays ❤ So excited for the birds class, can't wait! The painting you were concerned about the values : totally enchanted with it. It gave me the feel of being in a shaded woods on a very bright, sunny afternoon. No really white highlights, but still super vibrant colors. If you really want to keep track of your mixes in the markers you could number them and cover with masking tape so you can get at the numbers later. Then, while you're mix/swatching (in designated recipe sketchbook?) you could write the ingredients by your numbers.

LOVE the "Painting Birds" painting at 20:28 that's teasing your new class. I cannot wait for this to go live!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful sketchbook!

The more of your work I see the more I love it 🙏😎

I didn’t even think to look on amazon for empty paint marker markers! Thank you for letting us know. I tried to use paint and watered it down before but they ended up drying or something cause they didn’t work that well. I ended up using Air Brush medium instead of water and high flow from golden and it works great now.

I love this! The intensity of the ink tint blocks (is that what you called them?) is brilliant. Do you feature these in any of your videos in more depth? I’d like to know about them and perhaps add a few to my supplies to try out.

So excited to see a video this afternoon. I have been binging on your videos & I plan on taking your Acrylics workshop. I just placed an order with Blicks. I ordered some Inktense blocks & a sketchbook & some more watercolors but I forgot the Tombows. Guess that will give me an excuse to order again.

I love your sketchbook tours. I always find them hugely inspiring! Edited to add: I keep meaning to have a go at car sketches - I love this idea!

I just love your unique interpretations of the landscape!

I love the pic of your neighbours property.!! The colour s are gorgeous!

Love your work with the kids! I’m excited for a book from you! 🌺

Thank you Sandi ❤ nice as always 🤗 love your sketchbook tours

The one from your yard. The golden brown mountain and the shadow in the background. I love love love that one.

Yay! Thanks Sandi!!! Been waiting for this! Now I can kick back and enjoy my Friday afternoon 🧡🩵🤎

Estaba apurada por terminar de trabajar y dejar todo limpio para tirarme en la cama, tapada hasta la cabeza y disfrutar de tus cuadernos ❤ gracias Sandi 🩵

Yes, more ducks and owls please ❤

bumpity paper makes you shudder and I laughed out loud! lol

Love your park scene.the blues and red with the black looks amazing in the hoodies.

I would keep the paint brush that you show at the end as it may be useful for creating different marks. I know some artists actually take old brushes and cut off some of the fibres to create a more scattered/varied brush stroke and adding in a textured layer ie. grasses.

I love your sketchbooks, it’s so inspiring seeing how much art you can create in such a short space of time 😍 plus I currently have a royal talens sketchbook and they have a lot of pages! 😮

Sandi, Amazon has all the Cretacolor Mega colored pencils available as singles!! They have your beloved Ultramarine!!

Starting my weekend off in a happy way with Sandi !! Thanks for posting Sandi !!

Totally love your sketchbook tours thanks Sandi 😊 ❤

Hi Sandi ! I love looking at these sketchbook tours. You really have a unique style and such a spontaneous and fresh way of painting and drawing. I am also amazed by your way of approaching complicated subjects, like this Creek area, from which you created an incredible drawing, nothing seems to scare you. Your audacity is stimulating and inspiring also for me as an artist. Thank you for sharing all of this . Greetings from France 😊

Thoroughly enjoyed this one with a big cup of coffee this afternoon. Love the painting of the neighbouring property. I am so excited for the bird class!

A interesting and nice tour

Oh I just loved watching this! Thank you so much! I’m away from home and don’t have my Mega hex pencil with me but do have my Prismacolour Ultramarine 902 which I think I brought instead of the mega hex because it is the same colour and I’ve lost my big sharpener. The 902 is the very thin old style Prismacolor. But I’m sure you’ve probably got it and already compared it.

Thanks for your idea of building up a scene while you're riding in the car. I ride trains in Europe alot and have started to do this as the trains are very fast so I capture pieces here and there, and add them together with some memory pieces. Giving permission to manipulate the scene as you are moving is very freeing.

If you have liquitex flow aid, that works great to thin paint for the markers.

The paint markers section you’ve posted already. Still love it, but just wanted to share in case anyone had seen it already.

Thanks so much Sandi for another great video! My sketchbook is like my diary so full of expressions and memories...precious...thanks for sharing

I so love your sketchbook tours! Handing you a glass or wine or tea! Thank you so much for your car sketch idea! I did this on our 4 bus trips in Mexico recently. It was so fun and helped pass the time. HUG

I love the page with the lake and the jetty 💚. Just seems to capture a ‘vibe or mood’ that speaks to me in some way. Of course we are only 7.32 m in…… but just couldn’t help myself to comment on that one 😊

Love the birds in the sketchbook tour. I love how you explain exactly what you have created step by step. Also I bought that viva sketchbook about a year ago. It was either Blick or Jerry's Artarama. I really love the sketchbook, but it did take me sometime to get used to it. 😊

love love love the lake paintings that start at 10:58. i love that they say so much with very little detail... they're stunning. you inspire me so damn much! xo.

I will be saving my pennies for your bird class, very exciting. I am guessing it will include a few different media and surfaces?

Your sketches are always so inspirational. ❤ I've been trying to get that "sketching from a sketch that was sketched from a sketch on location" process going myself but it's sooooo hard. I'll keep trying though, I know it's going to be useful. I don't know if you're going to see this, but as a paint marker user I like to write the mixes on the barrel, as well as adding a swatch. To have it last, I'll cover the marker with a clear packing tape. When refilling, ripping the tape out cleans the barrel really well so new mixtures can be recorded on a clean(-ish) slate.

Beautiful sketches and paintings!

Parchment paper works well for protecting them

Thank you!

Blick’s may have ultramarine megacolor. I use sepia & picked it up at Jerry’s. I could check locally if you get stuck & send it to you

so inspiring❤

i saw some dude on yt doing the refillable marker thing and he used that 'high flow' acrylic paint... was golden i think.

Whenever you do the 2 + 2 fingers at the end I think you are remembering Chuck Woolery "We'll be back in 2 and 2 after these messages" 😂 Was it thwt Love Connection show he did?

5:29. Exquisite!

Your first sketchbook cover looks like a painted bird flew into it, haha...like the imprints they make on clear windows.

Love the Canada 🇨🇦 goose or geese!!!❤. Although they are messy and can be aggressive..sorry about that! 😂. A big fan from Canada

I find it quite telling that content that was made for paying Patreon's, finds its way to the artists you tube to reach more likes and money for themselves! What is the concept of a Patreon to then find it for free on RU-vid other than a con on the Patreon.

✌️ P r o m o s m