Jess and I reunited over Zoom for a thoughtful, art-filled chat with TPK Premium members. Below is the video recording and a short recap of what we discussed!
This week, I sat down with watercolor artist Jess Greenleaf of Greenleaf & Blueberry for another cozy Zoom conversation with TPK Premium and G&B Patreon members. If you missed the live event, don’t worry—you can watch the full video recording below.
During the course of the conversation, we promised to include a list of our favorite sketchbooks in this synopsis. Here they are:
Our theme this month was sketchbooks and their versatility. They’re not just art journals; they can be spaces for reflection, experimentation, emotional processing, and memory-keeping. Jess and I have been talking about the value of sketchbooking since we met in college, and it was really cool to share that dialogue with all of you.
Jess emphasized that sketchbooks aren’t just for artists. They’re a flexible, creative outlet that anyone can use to process ideas, relieve stress, and experiment. I talked about how sketchbooking helped me through the emotional fog of the pandemic—sometimes it’s just about putting something on paper, no matter how small.
Jess also shared how sketching became a vital part of her daily rhythm during COVID, from still lifes of toilet paper rolls to 20-minute cloud studies. These mini painting sessions gave her a sense of stability and helped her grow technically as an artist. (Bonus tip: Jess often dates her pages and notes how long she spent on each one.)
One of my favorite parts of the chat was our discussion of copying as a learning tool. Jess and I both agreed that mimicking other artists’ styles can be invaluable—so long as it’s for practice and exploration, not passing off as original work. Jess showed a page where she had studied Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, and I talked about my deep dive into Peruvian hand lettering. Copying can help reveal what you love stylistically.
We talked about the joy of using whatever’s available as a sketchbook: old folders, repurposed journals, and accordion-style books. Jess showed off a few of her current sketchbooks, including a Shinola journal, a Blackwing brainstorming notebook, and a color study accordion sketchbook. It was inspiring to see how many forms a sketchbook can take.
This session was packed with inspiration, and I think everyone left feeling excited to crack open a sketchbook. As always, thank you to everyone who showed up live. Your presence, questions, and shared pages made this conversation even richer. If you couldn’t make it, I hope this recap offers a bit of encouragement to start (or restart!) your own sketchbook journey.
Warmly,
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