I just received a lovely shipment, actually a pair of parcels, one from Kunst & Papier, the other from Carta Pura. The new products involve papers that beg to be sketched, doodled, and watercoloured upon—and touched, of course.

The Kunst & Papier sketchbooks remain a perennial favourite, so I’ve restocked the yellow in both small square & medium square. I’ve also added a portrait and landscape format, available with a warm grey or black linen spine. The landscape format is lovely company for a little stroll along the lakefront, or seascape, or cityscape. Or perhaps just escape.

One of these sketchbooks’ many attributes is that they open perfectly flat. The paper surface is toothy and wonderful to draw (or write) on with fountain pen, pencil, brush & ink.

Blooming below, I’ve used a quartet of mediums: the Aquash brush pen, the fine white brush pen (for the stamens), the black ink brush pen (for the flowing leaves, with delicate lines made with a white Lyra colour giant). A medley of mediums on a superb surface! They fill the bill, sing a song, summon happiness.

Another lovely addition to the Bari Zaki Studio repertoire of blank books is a new accordion notebook, perfectly compact at 4 x 6. There are 10 panels, including the interior covers, and therefore 8 panels on the other (exterior) side. The paper has a cold-press finish and is so sturdy at 300 gsm that I’m enjoying using my first one for painted paper collage. I’m already eager to begin a second one using just a brush pen.

More good things: I’ve added three new Carta Pura pads. Two of them actually proclaim Carta Pura on their covers. They are made of the same divine paper as the Deluxe Carta Pura envelopes.

And furthermore: If you have enjoyed using the 100% cotton Aquarello, a larger size is now in stock—9⅜ x 12¼—for larger pleasure(s).

Kunst & Papier Square Sketchbooks
Kunst & Papier A5 Sketchbooks
Carta Pura Pads
Aquarello Pads
Accordion Notebooks by Pentalic

Everything’s coming up paper, Bari