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Monthly Archives: September 2025
Dixon Ticonderoga UCreate — a Decent Little Sketchbook!
I’ve used UCreate sketchbooks manufactured by Dixon Ticonderoga a couple of times before in recent years, and I have just finished off my third. They are affordably priced and are readily available at Target and Walmart. The quality of the … Continue reading
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Posted in Doodle Tuesday, Illustration, It Came From the Sketchbook, Sketch
Tagged 6x9 sketchbook, 8.5x11 sketchbook, affordable sketchbooks, analog, Artist tools, big box art supplies, budget sketching, Canson sketchbook, Cartoon, cartoons, Dixon Ticonderoga, Fabriano sketchbook, fountain pen sketching, horror, humor, Illustration, Joe Williams, pen and ink drawings, Pen+Gear Sketch Diary, Sailor Fude de Mannen, Sketch, sketchbook, Sketchbook review, Target art supplies, UCreate sketchbook, USA, Walmart art supplies
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Blueberry Loaf Cake
Summer is coming to a close (although it was it was 80º here today), so I’m trying to squeeze in a few more summer fruit recipes before making the switch to apples, pears, and stone fruit. This blueberry loaf is … Continue reading
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Godspeed Scooter
His name was Rick, but he was known as Scooter when I worked with him at a restaurant named Frog in the 80s. He got the moniker because he ran circles around everyone on staff. Funny, but I don’t think … Continue reading
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Posted in News, Philadelphia
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Caturday
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Terrible Movie, Great Soundtrack: The Unlikely Brilliance of Casino Royale’s Music
Back in the day, I stumbled across a song that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It was on WPEN, a Philadelphia “easy listening” station that’s long gone, catering to the Geritol set with its smooth, unhip vibes. I’d heard … Continue reading
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Posted in Blast from the Past, Curious Clutter, Stuff Joe Likes
Tagged 1960s, adult contemporary, Burt Bacharach, Casino Royale, concept album, Dusty Springfield, easy listening, Frank Zappa, Herb Alpert, James Bond, Philadelphia, physical media, pop music, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, soundtrack, South Street, spoof, The Look of Love, Tower Records, WPEN
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The Frugal Review • The Pen+Gear Sketch Diary
When my wife and co-host of this fabulous site, Tina, calls about a cheap sketchbook she’s found at a big box store, I’ve learned not to question her. I just say, “Buy it!” She’s got a knack for spotting art … Continue reading
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Posted in Doodle Tuesday, Illustration, It Came From the Sketchbook, News, Pixels Versus Pigment, Sketch, Stuff Joe Likes, Technique
Tagged Affordable art, Art on a budget, art supplies, Artist tools, Budget sketchbook, cheap art supplies, Creative supplies, doodle, drawing, Drawing paper, Frugal art, illustrated story, Joe Williams, mechanical pencil, monster, Non-Repro Blue, Paper quality, pen and ink, Pen+Gear Sketch Diary, Pencil sketching, Sailor Fude de Mannen, Sketch, sketchbook, Sketchbook review, Sketching, Teenage Beast, Walmart art supplies
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Pineapple Bread
Taking stock of what was in my pantry cabinets, I came across a can of crushed pineapple that for the life of me, I can’t remember why I bought it. It may have been on sale, or I may have … Continue reading
