Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Watch ad-free on Patreon: patreon.com/collection/79329 Join me on Patreon patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Sketchbooks are seriously on-trend nowadays. Amazon is overflowing with options, and YouTube is full of artists telling you how to fill them. But do your sketchbooks free your creativity, or (if you're honest with yourself) are they a barrier, an inhibition, or even an artistic trap? I have 101 sketchbooks which I've accumulated over 40 years of painting and in this video I'm going to show you around some of them as I offer you, and myself, a mental reset - back to how sketchbooks used to be, and in my opinion still should be, used: for whatever comes out of your pen or brush, NOT for curated collections of paintings. And as we go I'll introduce you to our June challenge #joyofjune which is my way of helping all of us to bring this artistic freedom back into our daily art habit.
*Full details of the challenge coming soon on Patreon and in the YouTube Membership tab*
Materials:
Etchr Mixed Media Sketchbook with Canvas cover amzn.to/4dAsjzq
Etchr Hot Press Watercolor Block A4 amzn.to/3JimxmP
Hahnemuhle Bamboo mixed media pad amzn.to/3JAlgry
Strathmore Watercolor Journal 5 x 8 inches amzn.to/3WtkXaF
Viviva Square Sketchbook amzn.to/4mK2P75
Viviva Sketchpad Refill amzn.to/3SrBWa8
Clairefontaine Carnet de Voyage, various sizes amzn.to/4d8DcIw
Canson XL Mixed Media Sketchbook 5.5x8.5” 90lb / 160gsm amzn.to/41gIXgZ
String and Space Sketchbook amzn.to/4c55HFO
Paul Rubens Watercolor Book amzn.to/4jAE0Yw
Paul Rubens Pink or black Watercolor sketchbook. amzn.to/4kbSbnK
Strathmore Mixed Media Sketchbook amzn.to/3Sr0DU4
Strathmore 81/2 x 11 Hardcover Watercolor book amzn.to/3Sr3rAt
Strathmore 400 series amzn.to/44Urdwd
Strathmore 300 series amzn.to/45uEYSq
Canson Graduate Sketchbooks amzn.to/3ZGZATR
Artx watercolor sketchbook amzn.to/4mK2P75
Viviva from their website:
*Use code DIANEANTONE to get 10% off your order if you shop here.*
Square Sketchbook Ivory 64 pages 120lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-Square-64
Square Sketchbook 40 pages 140lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-Square-40
A5 Sketchbook 64 pages 120lb tinyurl.com/A5-64-page
A5 Sketchbook 40 pages 140lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-A5-40
A5 Sketchpad 32 leaves 120lb refill tinyurl.com/Viviva-Sketchpad-Refill
Get a Studio Insiders Pass and choose ten FREE sketch downloads EVERY MONTH from our library of over 300 sketches: dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
(There are no recurring charges, just a one-off payment to set up the Pass. **Patrons and Channel Members get this pass FREE - look for the coupon code when you join!**)
-------
Get an overview of what we do here at Diane Antone Studio:
https://linktr.ee/dianeantonestudio
Join my FREE Studio Insiders' Newsletter for coupons, freebies, offers, inspiration, news and more: dianeantone.com/join-our-newsletter
Join my YouTube Membership: youtube.com/dianeantonestudio/join
Join my Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Become a Studio Insider for 10 FREE one-click sketch downloads per month: dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
----
SUPPLIES
Browse all of my recommended supplies on my Amazon Storefronts:
USA - amazon.com/shop/dianeantonestudio
Canada - amazon.ca/shop/dianeantonestudio
UK - amazon.co.uk/shop/dianeantonestudio
About my brushes
I have always bought my favorite brushes from Drawell direct from Japan. They are handmade in Japan. Drawell will ship readily to anywhere in the world. The prices on their website are in Japanese currency but if you send Mr Maeyama an email he will give you prices in other currencies. The brushes I use are the Maestro Series (black and Gold handles) and the Golden Nylon Series 11-2 (red and white handles) and I use sizes 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. drawell.co.jp/english/product.html
------
CONNECT WITH ME
Visit the YouTube Community Tab here: youtube.com/DianeAntoneStudio/community
Diane Antone Studio Private YouTube Members Group - for Members only facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Website: dianeantone.com
Facebook Diane Antone Studio: facebook.com/dianeantonestudio
Facebook Members Only Group:
facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Facebook Learn to Paint Watercolor Group: facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolourpainting
Facebook Learn to Paint Mixed Media Group: facebook.com/groups/learnhowtopaint
Instagram: instagram.com/dianeantonestudio
Please visit our baby sister channel @fromthegarden
Tip Jar: tinyurl.com/dastipjar
---
Diane Antone Studio makes a commission from sales made through the above links.*
#dianeantonestudio #watercolor #art
Watch ad-free on Patreon: patreon.com/collection/79329 Join me on Patreon patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Sketchbooks are seriously on-trend nowadays. Amazon is overflowing with options, and YouTube is full of artists telling you how to fill them. But do your sketchbooks free your creativity, or (if you're honest with yourself) are they a barrier, an inhibition, or even an artistic trap? I have 101 sketchbooks which I've accumulated over 40 years of painting and in this video I'm going to show you around some of them as I offer you, and myself, a mental reset - back to how sketchbooks used to be, and in my opinion still should be, used: for whatever comes out of your pen or brush, NOT for curated collections of paintings. And as we go I'll introduce you to our June challenge #joyofjune which is my way of helping all of us to bring this artistic freedom back into our daily art habit.
*Full details of the challenge coming soon on Patreon and in the YouTube Membership tab*
Materials:
Etchr Mixed Media Sketchbook with Canvas cover amzn.to/4dAsjzq
Etchr Hot Press Watercolor Block A4 amzn.to/3JimxmP
Hahnemuhle Bamboo mixed media pad amzn.to/3JAlgry
Strathmore Watercolor Journal 5 x 8 inches amzn.to/3WtkXaF
Viviva Square Sketchbook amzn.to/4mK2P75
Viviva Sketchpad Refill amzn.to/3SrBWa8
Clairefontaine Carnet de Voyage, various sizes amzn.to/4d8DcIw
Canson XL Mixed Media Sketchbook 5.5x8.5” 90lb / 160gsm amzn.to/41gIXgZ
String and Space Sketchbook amzn.to/4c55HFO
Paul Rubens Watercolor Book amzn.to/4jAE0Yw
Paul Rubens Pink or black Watercolor sketchbook. amzn.to/4kbSbnK
Strathmore Mixed Media Sketchbook amzn.to/3Sr0DU4
Strathmore 81/2 x 11 Hardcover Watercolor book amzn.to/3Sr3rAt
Strathmore 400 series amzn.to/44Urdwd
Strathmore 300 series amzn.to/45uEYSq
Canson Graduate Sketchbooks amzn.to/3ZGZATR
Artx watercolor sketchbook amzn.to/4mK2P75
Viviva from their website:
*Use code DIANEANTONE to get 10% off your order if you shop here.*
Square Sketchbook Ivory 64 pages 120lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-Square-64
Square Sketchbook 40 pages 140lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-Square-40
A5 Sketchbook 64 pages 120lb tinyurl.com/A5-64-page
A5 Sketchbook 40 pages 140lb tinyurl.com/Viviva-A5-40
A5 Sketchpad 32 leaves 120lb refill tinyurl.com/Viviva-Sketchpad-Refill
Get a Studio Insiders Pass and choose ten FREE sketch downloads EVERY MONTH from our library of over 300 sketches: dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
(There are no recurring charges, just a one-off payment to set up the Pass. **Patrons and Channel Members get this pass FREE - look for the coupon code when you join!**)
-------
Get an overview of what we do here at Diane Antone Studio:
https://linktr.ee/dianeantonestudio
Join my FREE Studio Insiders' Newsletter for coupons, freebies, offers, inspiration, news and more: dianeantone.com/join-our-newsletter
Join my YouTube Membership: youtube.com/dianeantonestudio/join
Join my Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Become a Studio Insider for 10 FREE one-click sketch downloads per month: dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
----
SUPPLIES
Browse all of my recommended supplies on my Amazon Storefronts:
USA - amazon.com/shop/dianeantonestudio
Canada - amazon.ca/shop/dianeantonestudio
UK - amazon.co.uk/shop/dianeantonestudio
About my brushes
I have always bought my favorite brushes from Drawell direct from Japan. They are handmade in Japan. Drawell will ship readily to anywhere in the world. The prices on their website are in Japanese currency but if you send Mr Maeyama an email he will give you prices in other currencies. The brushes I use are the Maestro Series (black and Gold handles) and the Golden Nylon Series 11-2 (red and white handles) and I use sizes 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. drawell.co.jp/english/product.html
------
CONNECT WITH ME
Visit the YouTube Community Tab here: youtube.com/DianeAntoneStudio/community
Diane Antone Studio Private YouTube Members Group - for Members only facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Website: dianeantone.com
Facebook Diane Antone Studio: facebook.com/dianeantonestudio
Facebook Members Only Group:
facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Facebook Learn to Paint Watercolor Group: facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolourpainting
Facebook Learn to Paint Mixed Media Group: facebook.com/groups/learnhowtopaint
Instagram: instagram.com/dianeantonestudio
Please visit our baby sister channel @fromthegarden
Tip Jar: tinyurl.com/dastipjar
---
Diane Antone Studio makes a commission from sales made through the above links.*
#dianeantonestudio #watercolor #art
