I don’t know if you are like me, but I have a ton of sketchbooks.
And the drawings in them are not pretty. They are scribbles and full of arrows and lines and half-baked thoughts. Artists with pretty drawings in their sketchbooks amaze me. They must be the same kind of people who have homes so perfect they could be in a magazine.
Not me.
This past weekend I grabbed an old sketchbook and headed out to do some sketching with some other artists. When I was flipping through the pages I realized there were thoughts and ideas for paintings that I had forgotten about. Some things I didn’t even remember writing down. What the heck is this? Maybe this one? Ah… but this one still has merit… Obviously I was excited about them at one point, but no follow through, so they died a quiet death on a shelf.
But there were a few that hit me like an old friend and I found myself nodding along as I flipped through the pages and wondering if I could pick up the thread of a potential narrative again. I even ran into the initial sketches for the “Underwater” painting I recently finished. (See below) That’s fun too. To see the initial tiny thumbnails and see how the final images compare. Below you can see some of the original thumbnails for “War,” Abundance,” “Goldfish,” “Indigent” and the initial feel of the kintsugi “Love” panel. I write a lot. I think with a pencil. And sometimes there are things worth pursuing.
Anyway, I have a bunch of new work in progess right now. All a bit scattered. Some in oil, some in pastel, and some designs in sketchbooks where I have no idea what to do with them or where they could go. But over the weekend I planned out some new boards to fit some old frames. I tried to listen very hard to what my intuition was whispering to me. When I feel that slight euphoria in my gut (you know what I mean) I know it will be ok and the ideas will eventually take shape in paint.
Wish me luck.
Thank you for showing these. I thought I was “slacking” because my sketchbooks actually contain a whole lot of notes and just a few actual sketches of bare minimum lines and shapes and perhaps one or two actual drawings.
Isnt it funny how we artists can always feel like we are not doing things right? No matter what we do. I have learned the hard way to follow what works for me. There are no art police. Best wishes.
‘No art police’…perfect!!
My sketchbooks are eclectic musings, doodled and thoughts. My issue is that I start a fresh blank sketchbook but i sometimes never finish using up all the pages. Some are finished and filled with variations of one theme. When a concept sticks in your craw it is relentless.
Those beautifully illustrated sketch books on instagram intimidate me. But inspire also😩😳
I never finish mine either. Who cares? I can never fnid the one Im looking for either. oh well. Instagram is filled with things that are not reality. Sketchbooks too.
“There are no art police”–I love that! When our hearts tell us that something is beautiful, moving or there’s a story to be told, we should follow. Thanks, Christine!
sure! 😊
Thank you for sharing. Often times people post their beautiful sketch books on line, and I think mine sure aren’t that nice. I have good and bad drawings jumbled together. The drawings show progress and set backs. I will take a tip from you and go through my old sketch books to see what I can discover.
😊
I seldom have used a sketch book, as a sketch book. I bought a case of copy paper, Thousands of little ideas, loose in boxes. Most never to be seen again. Some used and followed through. Some ended up as graphite drawings and never forward, (sold more of those than pastels.) But, a few have helped solve a block and allowed a thought/idea to go forward to fruition. A very few times those are something I would share, Anyway, although not bound, I consider those boxes my “sketchbooks”. I go through them when it gets cold and the stove needs started, most become fire starters. Now what do I do with those nice storebought, and handmade gifts (sketchbooks)? I keep small paintings and drawings with some descriptions of where and when they were painted, Most are mine, some are not. Memories, Ah well, life goes on. Isn’t it wonderful, that it does! Thank you for posting.
Wonderful post! <3
I love going through old sketch books. It's like a diary of sorts. Takes you back to the time and place you were drawing that sketch and how you "were" at that time. Maybe not what you were thinking, but that sense of you that you have of yourself at different times in your life.
My sketchbook consists of 9″x12″ watercolor paper torn out of the pad and folded in 1/2. I can then paint on 1 of 4 surfaces by taping the sheet to a foam core board. I have the freedom to use the whole surface, and the freedom of expression. Once I am finished with all 4 surfaces, I put them together with previous projects to form my sketchbook. And the experiments are usually pretty messy. I use the sketchbook to test out composition and color. I explore different iterations of an idea. When I am stuck on a representational painting, I free form abstracts for a break. I also admire anyone with neat sketchbooks, but I am a messy and serendipitous painter!
Love it!