I've just been extravagant and bought myself this new sketchbook. Entitled 'One Sketch a Day - a Visual Journal', the blurb on the back reads as follows:
The pages of this keepsake sketchbook feature a space to draw any and anything that catches your eye each day trhoughout the year. As you fill the pages with sketches, you'll see the evolution and ryhthm of your thoughts and drawings. Whether you're an art student, a long-time sketcher, or the next great master, this journal will accompany you in your artistic journey, keeping a lasting record of your work and imagination that you can revisit any time.
Well reading this inspired me - admittedly the space for each drawing isn't large, but I suppose the book would have to be a great deal thicker if it was. But I tend to have a problem with beautiful sketchbooks - I've been given one or two over the years, and from time to time I pull them out and fondle them, admiring the purity and potential of their blank pages, and then put them away again. But this defeats the whole object - sketchbooks are meant to be filled, and I don't like to 'spoil' them - how ridiculous is that? I thought the 'discipline' of a sketch each day might spur me on - (of course because of that I have delayed starting it - but I WILL start it this week).
It's funny, in the deep and distant past, I always used to take my sketchbook with me a lot, but over the years I got out of the habit, and my sketching skills are now very rusty, which in turn makes me much more inhibited about drawing. I'm fine as long as I know I can re-do it easily and work on a drawing, but anything more spontaneous I struggle with. I'm trying to find the time therefore to doodle and sketch a little more spontaneously, and be less self-conscious about it all. I even optimistically took my sketchbook on holiday a few weeks ago. I say optimistically, because it didn't really work out. The kids weren't willing to let me get on with it, and I kept on seeing things I'd have loved to sketch and couldn't which was just frustrating. Taking a photo just isn't the same thing. Still I did start a visual doodled travel journal there for the first time - I'm still working on it, so all will be revealed when it's finished.
what a wonderful idea!! I want one of these sketchbooks now!!!
ReplyDeleteWell done to you for starting this. You do such a great job with your kids art adventures blog, that you most definitely deserve to have one documenting your own art journey - ah, you know my thoughts on this by now I'm sure ;)
I'm off with my kids, sister, partner on hols next week and she stated we should each have a sketchbook, should be interesting to see if anything gets into it, like you say.
I have also just joined the sketchbook project, see here: http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject - you might want to do it too.
If you ever want to do the experimental art e-course, I would love to have you on board :)
Look forward to seeing some of your sketches.
Amelia.x
Thanks Amelia, your blog is really inspirational and I may well sign up for one of your courses at some point - there's so much I want to experiment with. Having the time to do it all is the problem at the moment!
ReplyDeleteLovely sketchbook. I'm a bit like that with notebooks for writing - I like either Moleskine or Orla Kiely ones - and then I think they're too nice to spoil. My artist friend has dozens and dozens of sketchbooks around - in her bag, in her pocket, in her drawers. I don't know how she does it. Is it intimidating when you get it out and people start peering over your shoulder? I always feel a bit intimidated when I get my proper camera out.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing some sketches.
Yes, I used to be like that too with lots of sketchbooks on the go, but I lost the habit some time ago, and want to get it back. I do find it very intimidating when people peer over your shoulder, as they inevitably do, and it does put me off sketching in public, though again I used to do it a lot.
ReplyDelete