I’m kicking off a brand new sketchbook (yes… very late in the year, but my Dad gave it to me and it was way too nice to leave sitting on the shelf). In this video I start by decorating the inside cover and then I fill a couple of page spreads to properly “open” the book—because if I’m going to start a fresh sketchbook, I want it to feel fun and inviting straight away. The star of the session is the newly launched Arrtx 60-colour Direct Liquid Ink Acrylic Marker set. This is the bigger upgrade from their older 36 set, and the big selling point is that they come primed and ready to go, with lovely brush nibs that make it easy to get both chunky colour blocks and more painterly strokes. I test them as I go, focusing on how the colours lay down, how satisfying they are to use for quick sketchbook painting, and how they feel for filling larger areas without a bunch of fuss. If you’re curious whether these “juicy” acrylic markers are worth it for sketchbook play, swatching, and colourful experiments, this is a really solid real-time first use.