April 2017 Roundup

Books

I spent much of my time last month reviewing art products, hence there were less books featured. The number of books that I'm going to feature in May is starting to pile up. From today onwards, I will be posting updates on books that I'll review on my Facebook page. So if you want to get a sneak peek at upcoming reviews, just follow my Facebook page.

1. Why is Art Full of Naked People?: And other vital questions about art
2. Print & Pattern: Nature by Bowie Style
3. Claire Wendling: Forget Me Not
4. On to the Next Dream by Paul Madonna
5. Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe
6. The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn
7. Gauguin: The Other World (Art Masters)
8. The Art of The Boss Baby
9. David Hockney: Current
10. Quick & Lively Urban Sketching by Klaus Meier-Pauken
11. The Art of Mass Effect: Andromeda
12. The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts

Art product reviews

In addition to the products reviewed below, I also want to help out a fellow artist and promote his new product called Viviva Colorsheets. The product is available on Indiegogo looking for funding. Check out the details on this Indiegogo page.

And The Perfect Sketchbook is back. Only 900 copies will be made this time and currently 843 are sold. If you want to own a copy, visit https://www.theperfectsketchbook.com/

1. Lenovo Yoga Book (Windows version)
2. Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen
3. Parblo Island A609 Graphics Tablet
4. XP-PEN Artist 16 Pen Digitizer Monitor
5. Daniel Smith Watercolors Primary & Secondary Sets
6. Mr Clean Magic Eraser vs Stained Watercolor Box (Review)
7. Best 4K monitors for Video Editing & Graphic Design & Photography
8. Reckless Deck (Character Design Idea Cards)
9. Rotring ArtPen Calligraphy Pen Set
10. Arkademie Archival Grade Sketchbooks (A Quick Look)

Youtube

I've just reached the milestone of 50,000 subscribers in April 2017 and it feels terrific! I'll write another post about this achievement soon.

1. Vietnam Roadside Stalls (Sketching timelapse)
2. Review: Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen (Best Budget Pen?)
3. Review: XP Pen Artist 16 Pen Digitizer Display
4. Book Review: Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
5. Review: Daniel Smith Primary & Secondary Watercolor Sets
6. Mr Clean Magic Eraser vs Stained Watercolour Box
7. My Current Colour Palette (Apr 2017)
8. Book Review: Archisketcher by Simone Ridyard
9. Artist Review: Lenovo Yoga Book Windows Version
10. Review: Reckless Deck (Character Design Idea Cards)
11. Review: TWSBI Vac 700 Fountain Pen with Vac 20A Ink Bottle
12. Sketching Masjid Malabar (mosque) (timelapse)
13. Daniel Smith Permanent Brown (PBr 25)
14. Arkademie Archival Grade Sketchbooks (A Quick Look)
15. Review: Dell U2917W Monitor (21:9 Aspect Ratio)
16. Book Review: Buildings of London by Roger Fitzgerald
17. Book Review: Colour and Line in Watercolour by Glen Scouller
18. Sketching HCMC Tutorials are out on Gumroad ~(˘▾˘~)
19. Saigon Opera House (timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #8)
20. City Hall of Ho Chi Minh City (timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #7)
21. Saigon Central Post Office (timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #6)
22. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon (timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #5)
23. Ben Thanh Market Sketch (Timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #4)
24. Tank at the Independence Palace (Timelapse) (Sketching HCMC #3)
25. Review: Parblo Pearl P10 Tablet Writing Board

Gumroad

In April, I've also released a new set of tutorials called the Sketching Ho Chi Minh City series. It's a collection of tutorials of me sketching various places of interest in Ho Chi Minh City. They aren't drawn on location though, but all the location drawing techniques that I use are featured.

If you want to pick up some sketching skills, and support me at the same time, visit https://gumroad.com/parkablogs

How to support Parkablogs

Here are three simple ways to support my blog.
1. Patreon
Patreon is a monthly subscription service where you can pledge a certain dollar amount to support the creator you like. My trip to Ho Chi Minh City two months ago, and the subsequent video tutorials I've created, were made possible because of Patreon. Your support motivates me to create more content.

2. Getting your stuff through affiliate links
I earn a small commission 4-5% for books through Amazon and Book Depository. So whenever you think of getting stuff from Amazon or Book Depository, you can click on any affiliate links on my blog before heading over. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps my blog immensely. This allows me to get items to feature.

3. Share my blog or Youtube channel
This does not require you to spend any money. If you find anything interesting on my blog or Youtube channel, just share a link with your artist friends. It's that simple.