I have never been much of a sketchbook keeper, despite my intentions, until the last year or two. Two classes I have taken got me going: an online art history class where I used my sketchbook for notes and Susan Abbott's online travel sketchbook class which really freed me up. (And which I look forward to taking again.) Now I approach my sketchbook without any of the fear of expectations that I usually approach a painting with--and it's fantastic!
Yesterday afternoon I swatched my watercolor pencils, then took a bike ride and did these thumbnails leaning on my bike. Not earth shattering, but it's something on a day when I otherwise would have done nothing.
In the evening I leafed through this sketchbook, which is the one I took to Susan Abbott's workshop in Vermont last fall. Some not bad sketches, good notes, and great memories.
4 comments:
Oh, we are told to keep working on our sketchbooks but there is a mindset to me that it has to be something on a trip, short travel, etc. for some reason - as if I can’t just carry a small sketchbook with me. Yours shows how important it can be in learning and growing and yet…I have several and don’t take them except on vacation! I think I’ve only sketched on site one time and that was many years ago…wonder what the mental barrier is for me?
It was the same for me, Rhonda: I only "sketched" as a prelude to painting; like only the painting was a worthwhile endeavor.
I don't pull out my sketchbook on a daily basis, but I do find myself turning to it more.
I think realizing no one else ever has to see anything in it was helpful; also practicing contour and gesture drawing in it.
I really think Susan's class got me going! She's not offering it right now, but next time she does, I'll probably take it again.
Love, love, love sketchbooks! I love looking at other peoples even more. The gulls are wonderful, so expressive. I seem to have quite a few books on the go at the moment - I tend to keep one for each group of works jotting down ideas and keeping the experiments in - I do think it has a lot to do with having a not so good memory though for me - I want to make sure I don't forget where I'm at.
Thank you Lisa. I do love flying birds!
I have several sketchbooks going too ... I really need to get into the habit of writing down ideas etc!
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