Plumchester Review and the End of Sketchbook NUMERO Uno

OK - I am just going to STOP predicting items for my next post.  I just finished my first complete sketchbook journal and what a thrill it was to complete and go thru. How fun!  See my video below. I used the Stillman & Birn Alpha Softcover 5.5" x 8.5".  I really liked it and it handled all level of medium very well and did not seem too toothy although I did detect a bit of resistance to my Lamy Joy 1.1 nib, but not anything too much to put me off.  I also am not sure of the size, it was easy to carry and through into my bag, but it seemed too small for me, although at the beginner phase, it also did not overwhelm me to fill the page.

As I excited as I was to be committed to finishing this sketch book, I was even more excited to begin work in the Plumchester Sketchbook I purchased some time ago. I LOVE square format notebooks, my all purpose sketchbook is a square spiral bound and I have been using a square global arts watercolor book for my urban sketching.

So here are some shots of the book. Side note(as a vegan), I also love that it is NOT a leather cover and is vegan friendly. YEAH!  It is 8.3" x 8.3" and has 48 pages of 160 GSM pure white pages. It has an elastic band to keep it closed. and has a yellow page marker. It is $18 USD, which is pretty good compared to the Moleskin Art which is $20 for 7.5" x 7.5" 120 GSM with 88 pages and a soft cover.

I ADORE the paper - very smooth and silky to write on. Here is the first page. There is absolutely NO tooth on the paper and receives the Copic Multiliner SP pens like BUTTER. Just lovely. It also is nice to use pencil with, although the Palamino pencils seem to smear a bit.

There is a little bit of buckle to the watercolor page, but honestly no more than my Stillman and Birn Alpha. It handles best a light wash and even a wash of watercolor pencil just fine(see sketch below).  I did find that my Lamy Joy 1.1 nib and other fountain pens seem to absorb almost a little too much and it does seem that it is hard to control the line of the fountain pen width as a result of the way it absorbs into the page.

 I did use a COPIC sketch marker to outline and to fill in the sketch above and as you can see below,  it bled through to the other side... it did not migrate to another page though.

All in all, though this is a fun sketchbook and I am hoping that it will continue to serve me well. I look forward to using it as my daily sketch journal. I am also taking a Creative Lettering course in Sketchbook Skool, so I am looking forward to using it as I finish that and as I take the Urban sketching Kourse! 

A Tale of Three Pens - Fude that is.

I was supposed to write about my SketchWallet but I really haven't used it enough yet, to really weigh in on. So I am having a little bit of an obsession lately with Fude Nibs. I blame it all on Parka Blogs  for their great review and discussion about it here. One thing to keep in mind on my reviews, especially specialty nibs like this is that I am left handed, so some of these specialty nibs don't quite work as intended or quite as well for left handed...yet still I press on!!!

I purchased the Sailor Fude DE Mannen Fountain Pen - it was the starter pen that every on recommended to start with. It is very inexpensive, but I found it to stutter and splatter ink. It just does not seem to have very good flow.  It was fun to play with and the lines it makes, so I thought maybe another different type of pen. It does have a bit of flex but still, meh... it is what you would expect form ANY $10 fountain pen.

Then I bought this bad boy.... The Duke 551 aka Confucius Compound Art Fountain Pen. This is one heck of a heft pen!  The first thing my partner said when she went to try it was, 'Wow! This is a heavy pen!'.  IT comes in this fancy box with a bamboo mat thing of which I have no idea what to do with, but is interesting. The box I think may come into use for other things though.  This lays down a really thick line, much bolder and wider than the other two and the flow seems to be pretty good so far. It lays a DRAMATIC line. It is also a little scratchy of a nib. It is available on Amazon for about $60 including the box, etc. or cheaper on Ebay without the box if you prefer.

Then finally is this delicate little flower, the Duke 209. I really enjoy this one, it feels good in your hand. Nice weight and not too heavy and just the right thickness for my grip and hands. I don't like smooth slick metal grip sections though, especially for lengthy writing, but this is not something I would write a long document with anyway.

It is a much more 'delicate' nib, it is sturdy and a good nib, but it is not as bold and brutish as The Duke 551. It almost could be used as an everyday writing pen in terms of the lines it uses.  It flows very well and so far I have not any issues and because of its size and weight - I see it as more of something I could carry in my everyday travel sketch kit. It is available for about $13 from Amazon.

So there you have it! We are flying to Oklahoma this week, so hopefully I will put the sketchwallet to some use and have something to report on it next week!

New Loves

So sometimes picking between my art supplies is like asking someone which child is their favorite. And sometime it is just a matter of the latest thing you receive is your favorite until said item FAILS you. Two things I will consider below.

This is my new obsessions that I am trying to find ways to use it!  It is the Duke 551 aka Confucious Compound Art Fountain pen with the Fude nib. Inspired by Parka Blogs review. I have a Sailor Fude DE Mannen Fountain pen, but it has not been a great performer....so I bought this at Amazon and came in a box and some bamboo thing, that I am not sure what to do with, but it is a slick looking box.

I have to say this is ONE heavy pen. That is the first thing that my partner said when she picked it up. I am getting used to the feel and flow of it. I do find that when I use it on 'toothy' paper like watercolor paper it gets a bit skippy, but overall it has been a fun to play with, I am not sure that it would really be a part of my everyday carry sketch kit, but it will be fun to get used to.
I purchased it on Amazon, but you can also get it on ebay without the box for a little cheaper.

The next thing I received this week was the Rosemary and Company watercolor brushes. I have been wanting these and debating purchasing these for sometime, ever since I found Liz Steel and took her foundations course.

I thought that a) if you had my beginner skills sets it would not make a difference and b) how much of a difference could a brush be from the cheap one I bought at Michaels - REALLY?! Well I have to say, wow!  My first lay down of the pigment, was so smooth and wonderful. I used the same watercolor sketchbook by Stillman and Birn Alpha serires softcover I had been using all along so it was an apples to apples comparison. I am not really sure how to describe it, except the pigment just moved so much smoother acroos the page AND I might add the bristles didn't come out in my painting!

I purchased the:

Series 772 standard handle length 1/2" and 1/4" Sable Blend Dagger
R2 Pocket Pure Kolinsky Sable Pointed size 8

I am looking forward to many years ahead with these beauties.

Coming up next...... SketchWallet.

New Directions

So I am taking this blog in a new direction - something that focuses on my other true love - pens, paper and drawing, sketching, typography and watercolors and all things of art that I love. I just feel that is where this blog wants to go and the world I want to connect with right now.

I am of course still lifting and you can follow my lifting log here at Lift.net and it is also permanently linked in the column to the right side.  There is just so much more that I want to talk about, explore and learn about here. So away we go.......

We just came back from or Baltic Sea Cruise and so the sculpture to the side is from Copenhagen and I just really love it!

Below is the drawing of sketch kit I took with me and I am not sure what part of my brain thought I could actually have a 4 year old on daily excursions AND actually have time to leisurely draw and sketch....what was I THINKING?

I did have time in the evenings and off hours to review photos and put together sketches and so here are some....

It was really fun to revisit and explore these places post tour. I used a Global Art 8" x 8" and I really liked it, it was a little toothy for my fountain pen and everyday sketching but I love square format sketchbooks and it handled the watercolor beautifully!

Get Er Done

EVENT TRAINING - SATURDAY didn't go quite as planned due to availability of equipment, and amount of time available so I focused on time and speed. I wore my running shoes with more cushioning because I always had a lot of foot pain for days afterward and I think that the cushioning really helped. No after effects.

1. Dumbbell press -
10 x 20 each arm
10 x 30 each arm
5 x 45 each arm
5 x 50# right arm only wrist wraps added
5 x 55# right arm only wrist wraps added

2. farmers - 

3 rounds @ 50' at 95# with 3-5 min. Rest

4. Yoke -  3 x 50' 

@ 370#

Speed yoke....up to 50' in less than :15 

Did yoke at 300# then up to 370# still under :15

Week of 7/22/2013:

MONDAY:

1-Press Medley Practice - 3 x 3 at 70-75% of your implements. Do each implement 3x and then go to the next one or 3x the medley in a row.
Did these with fat grips - no axle.
WU: 3 x bar
        3 x 65#
        3 x 85#
        3 x 3 - 95# 1 C&P then press the other two reps - alternated Oly. Bar and log. Wrist wraps worn.

Superset:
3a-Neutral Grip Chinups-If you're good at Chinups do 5 x 6-8 reps and add some weight, if you're not good at chin-ups do 5x5-6reps and use band assistance if needed, if you REALLY suck at chinups and can't do 4-5 with a band, then do 5x12-15 Lat Pulldowns
5 x 6, grey band, last set the last 2 reps were pretty sloppy

3b-Band Pullaparts or Band Face Pulls-5x20
Red band

4-Overhead Dicks Press-4x10.
Used ex curl bar as it is only 35# and wanted to last all 4 reps.

SUPER SUPERSET: 

decided to stay at manageable weights so I could add a set rather than 2 sets at higher weights.
5a-DB Curls-3x15
25#
5b-DB Shrugs-3x15
45#
5c-DB Lateral Raises-2-3x15-20
10#
5d-Band Tricep Pushdowns-2-3x15-20
Orange

6-Dead Bugs and Supine Leg Raises-3x10 of each - Done at home

WEDNESDAY:

WU:
200 Meter Run
10 box jumps @ 20"
10 KBS @ 30#

1-Deadlift (suit and straps)- up to heavy 3
WU: 10 x 135#
5 x 205#
3 x 255#
3 x 275# (with belt) hip started acted weird like it was gonna pop out of socket and it was tweaks thru the rest of workout.
1 x 305# - PR - belt and wrist straps

2-Back Squat-60/70/80%x3 knee wraps
WU: 5 x bar
5 x 65
5 x 95
3 x 125
3 x 140
3 x 160 - not sure these squats are as deep as the others

3-Front Box Squat - 60% AMRAP - knee wraps
10 x 85

5-Weighted Planks-3x45 sec-1 min, this will be based on your ability.
45,30, 45 not weighted other than my lil' ole body

FRIDAY:

Had an upset stomach so I wasn't sure how this workout would go -  overall -  pretty well. 

 

1-Seated Military Press-3x12 reps.

45#, 55#, 60#

2-Closegrip Bench-55/65/75%x8+.
WU: 10 x 60#
10 x 75#
10 x 85#
9 x 100#

4a-Chest Supported Rows (Machine or Dumbbells)-5x10-12
10 @ 25#, 4 x 12 @ 35#

4b-Band Pullaparts or Band Facepulls-5x20
Red band

5a-Skullcrushers-4x10
10 @ 35#(bar), 10 @ 40#, 2 x 10 @ 45#
5b-DB 90/90s-4x15
15#

6a-DB Reverse Curls to DB Curls-2xFailure each, go to 1 less than failure at reverse then flip hands and right into bicep curls
11/20 curls @ 15#, 15/20 @ 15# 
6b-Band Pullaparts or Band Facepulls-2x20
Orange

Week of 7/29/2013

MONDAY:

1-Axle (From Rack)-Up to Heavy 3, 

Used fat grips and elbow sleeves

WU: 10 x bar

8 x 65#

6 x 75#

5 x 85#

3 x 95#- added wrist wraps

3 x 115#(pr for 3 rep)

then 75% of your contest weight x60 seconds-clean once and press away

Used log! Wrist wraps and elbow sleeves - 7 reps at 95# which is more than 75% of my max...but pretty close

SUPERSET:

2a-Neutral Grip Chinups-If you're good at Chinups do 5x5-6 reps and add some weight, if you're not good at chin-ups do 5x7-9 reps and use band assistance if needed,

5 x 7 with grey band

3b-Band Pullaparts or Band Face Pulls-5x20, note the A and B, that means superset.
Red band

4-Overhead Dicks Press-4x8
Used the ez curl bar as it is 35#

SUPER SUPERSET:
5a-DB Curls-2-3x10-12
3 x 12 @ 25#
5b-DB Shrugs-2-3x10-12
3 x 12 @ 50#
5c-DB Lateral Raises-2-3x10-12
3 x 12 @ 10#
5d-Band Tricep Pushdowns-2-3x10-12
3 x 12 @ orange band

6-Dead Bugs and Supine Leg Raises-3x15 of each

Done at home

TUESDAY:Time limited so Did 1 x 10 of :40 eliptical and alternated with 10 decline sit ups and 10 hanging leg raises. Then 1 x 2 of bike and 10 air squats and 5 burpees.

WEDNESDAY : 

done at home afterwork

1-Seated Military Press-3x12 reps. This is meant to be BB Military btw 

I really hurt my left tricep at work earlier so this was sadly cut short. I was supposed to get to 60# working sets, but was a no go

12 x 45#

5 x 55# and done

2-Closegrip Bench-60%x10, 70%x8, 80%x5+

could not even get to this set.

DONE AT GSA GYM AT LUNCH

4a-Chest Supported Rows (Machine or Dumbbells)-5x8-10

10 x 35#

4 x 10  @ 40#

4b-Band Pullaparts or Band Facepulls-5x20

blue green tubes

5a-Skullcrushers-4x8

8 x 20#

3 x 4 @ 25#

5b-DB 90/90s-4x15

4 x 15 @ 15#

6a-DB Reverse Curls to DB Curls-2xFailure each, go to 1 less than failure at reverse then flip hands and right into bicep curls

DB reverse @ 20#, DB curls @ 25#

6b-Band Pullaparts or Band Facepulls-2x20

Red handle

THURSDAY:

Mobility and stretching 

2 x 10 reps of bike @ 40 seconds then 10 reps of leg extension @ 70# - probably not one of my better ideas

3 x 10 reverse hyper

FRIDAY:

5 mile bike ride pulling a 30# boy! 

SATURDAY:

Ok, I jumped out in a crazy move since I missed yesterday's workout due to company all day...and I added some event training.

1-Car Deads-50/60/70%x8+, these percentages are a guideline. If you are actually using a car, either change weight, handle length or pick height as an adjustment of percentages. 

I did the ghetto setup that Kalle Beck recommended and it worked great. I didn't really know what percentages to use,so I started at a different weights to try them out...here's what I got.

10 x45 each hand, 60# @ 9x, 70# @ 9x...really struggled with my grip on lest set, kept having to reset.

2-3 Count Pause Front Squat-55/65/75%x5

Forgot this was a front squat...doh! So first warmups were done as BS, I knew they felt light....that was my clue...used knee sleeves 

WU: 5 x bar(BS)

5 x 65#(BS)

5 x 80#

5 x 95#

5 x 110# added back wrap...no Belt though

3-4" Block Pull-3x30 sec at 60%

3 x 30 sec reps @ 185#

4-60 second stone over 40" bar

10 reps with 93#

5- 16# medicine ball over 10' height.

16# @ 30 sec., 18# @ 34 sec.

NAS training - Bring it!

So this week, I began in earnest my training for NAS. I have decided not to compete in open nationals, but I will be competing in the Masters Nationals. I think that since I am so new to the sport and I am no where NEAR the weights they are doing in the HW women's category, but I take inspiration from folks like Maya Winters and Kim Zimmerman, who set a high bar for me to aspire to and compete with(someday). So I am training with the Juggernaut Nationals Training team to get my system primed. So this is this weeks training and it was awesome. It is so much more high volume than I am used to, but I think that is a good thing!

MONDAY:

1-Axle Clean and Press (Clean Once)-5x8 at 60-75%, go by feel here, different people will have different abilities in this range, NO MISSED REPS-That goes for everything, Don't miss, just shut it down a rep early if you need to. (70#)
WU:  8 x bar 
Fat grips: 8 x 55# (elbow sleeves)
                 8 x 65#
                 5 x 8 @ 70# - last set used wrist wraps

2-Axle from Rack-60%xRest Pause, do the rest pause as...1-2 shy of failure, rack it and rest 20-30 seconds, 1-2 shy of failure, rack it and rest 20-30 seconds, max reps-finish on a good rep. (70#)

Fat grips: 4 x  4@ 70# (elbow sleeves and wrist wraps) paused 2 secs at lockout

Superset:
3a-Neutral Grip Chinups-If you're good at Chinups do 5x8-10 reps and add some weight, if you're not good at chin-ups do 5x4-5 reps and use band assistance if needed, if you REALLY suck at chinups and can't do 4-5 with a band, then do 5x12-15 Lat Pulldowns

5 x 4 - gray band

3b-Band Pullaparts or Band Face Pulls-5x20, note the A and B, that means superset.
5 x 20 - first set purple, then switched to red to finish up the sets

4-Overhead Dicks Press-4x10
2 x 10 - just too much time, had to cut something short

Super - Superset:

5a-DB Curls-2x 15
20#, 25# - started too light

5b-DB Shrugs-2 x 15
40#, 45# - started too light

5c-DB Lateral Raises- 2 x 15
10#, 10# 

5d-Band Tricep Pushdowns-2 x 15
Orange#, orange# 

6-Dead Bugs and Supine Leg Raises-3x10 of each
Did these at home while watching tv

TUESDAY:

1-Foam Roll/LAX Ball/Supple Leoparding, just take 15-30 minutes and roll all your parts out.

2-Tempo Activity-2x6 reps. It is critical that you stay within the 60-75% effort range.
Did 2 x 6 of :40 rows and alternated with 10 pushups, 10 setups,  10 air squats in between.

WEDNESDAY:(rotated Friday and Wednesday's workout due to gym availability and time)

These were done at home in the evening after work

1-Seated Military Press-3x12 reps, weight will vary so I'm not assigning %s, just challenge yourself but as with everything, no missed reps.
Bar, 55#,55#(8rep failure)

2-Closegrip Bench-50/60/70%x10+, take the 70% set past 10 if you feel good(65#, 75#, 90#)
65#,  75#, 95# - couldn't get 10+ on this one

Done at lunch at GSA gym

Superset:
4a-Chest Supported Rows (Machine or Dumbbells)-5x12
20#, 25#, 30#, 35#, 35#

4b-Band Pullaparts 5x20
Blue green tube

Superset:
5a-Skullcrushers-4x10
15#,20#, 20#,20#

5b-DB 90/90s-4x15
10#, 15#, 15#, 15#

Superset:
6a-DB Reverse Curls to DB Curls-2xFailure each, go to 1 less than failure at reverse then flip hands and right into bicep curls
8@20#, 8@20#

6b-Band Facepulls-2x20
Red handled tubes

7-Dead Bugs and Supine Leg Raises-3x10 of each

THURSDAY : same as Tuesday
alternated ladder drills with inverse setups and DU's and hanging leg raises as core needed more work,  while also working my 'light on my feet'  need.

FRIDAY:

Done at my basement gym. Did some mobility in preparation for the front squat - mainly on wrists and triceps, then hip openers then time on the rower for Warm-up.

1-Deadlift (no belt ideally and no straps)-15x1 at 60%, taking less than 30 seconds rest b/t sets

WU: 5 x 135#, 185# -15 x 1 no more than 30 secs

2-3 Count Pause Front Squat (no belt ideally, you can use a SSB here if you have access to one)-55/65/75%x5

Did these with knee sleeves, my knees are such crap, I rarely DON'T use sleeves.

(Like a dork forgot a warmup set...so focused on trying to makes sure i get it in the hole for 3 SECONDS!) 5 x 75#, 5 x 90#, 5 x 105#
3-Snatch Grip Deadlift from 4" Blocks (bar elevated, wear straps)-2x15 at 60%

Used paving stones to elevate the weights. These really sucked and struggled with the straps, I thought they were going to sever my left hand - 3 x 185#

5-Weighted Planks-3x30 sec-1 min, this will be based on your ability.

Didn't do this weighted...but I stuck it out all 3 rounds for the full time!

Planning the Work and Working the Plan!!

So I saw someone else offer this up and I think I concur....so on a weekly basis I shall sort out my programming for the week....with travel, kid care, work etc. I have been rather hit and miss on training. This can be no more...this is my plan...this is my week...so it is written, so it shall be! I think this will help a great deal in staying on target.