Potter Style, known for their interesting journals and quirky books related to games and literature, present their latest: Q&A a Day for Creatives, a four-year journal of a sketch-a-day with short bits of inspiration. Here’s how it’s laid out: Every page follows the solar calendar and contains an inspirational text and four 3.75”x3.75” (roughly) squares with “20_ _” in the bottom-left corner of each square. The idea is that one may begin anywhere in the calendar (say, the day you buy it), jot down the rest of the year in the first square (“2015”), read the text (September 15 reads, “What if you had to wear a disguise today? Picture it here.”), sketch whatever comes to mind, and repeat for four years, each year seeing those previous while sketching in the next square. (If you’re as curious as I am, you’ll quickly find that there is a page for February 29 with four squares. I say just fill them all in on that special day!) It’s certainly a neat idea to break up your day with a fresh idea and sketch to keep the brain going and seeing how one changes through the years. I like the idea, and I’m interested in seeing what comes from continued use.

With all that in mind, I’m a little disappointed in the paper used in this book intended for creative sketching. Crayons and colored pencil may do well, and graphite is fine on most paper but often smudges onto the opposite page. Any liquids (e.g., water color, pen & ink, etc.) should be avoided since the paper is too thin. Even using a normal felt or ballpoint pen is going to show through the other side if it doesn’t outright bleed through. So, keep this in mind if you’re looking for something to really have fun with. I’m probably going to stick with a simple, gel ink, ballpoint pen throughout.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.