“Sometimes the very best of all summer books is a blank notebook. Get one big enough, and you can practice sketching the lemon slice in your drink or the hot lifeguard on the beach or the vista down the hill from your cabin.”
The Sketch Book Isn’t Always Full.
I can’t remember the last time I was really with out some type of sketch book. Even when I was 8 or so I had a steno pad I drew in. I didn’t keep anything, I just gave the drawings away. I also would put them in envelopes and decorate them; give them as gifts. I had (still have) a thing for receiving mail. Receiving mail is like a surprise gift, hopefully… (“What’s in the Box!?!?!” Forgive my movie reference. I couldn’t resist.)
Dont think I don’t ever use my phone for notes and such, I do. I have 600 pictures and 100 types of notes and lists. I am just the type of artist that also needs to touch things: a pen, the paper, smear things with my fingers, rip some paper… It can’t be replaced.
Books, Books Everywhere.
I keep books kind of everywhere these days. In my purse I always have a book. In my car I have a book for notes and thoughts since I listen to audiobooks and music all of the time. They are all a combination of thought/idea books or word sketches (since I can totally make up my own things here) with sketches for work or design layouts. I have a book specifically for my community work. That was a gift. I keep ideas, meeting notes and such in it. I make my own books too but also buy books. I just bought 2.
Playing Favorites.
My favorite of all is to sketch on tracing paper. I overlay and combine previous sketches plus I love the way the paper sounds…all crinkly. Makes me feel like I’m doing something. It’s also nice to use in collages. It allows you to layer with transparency. I usually make it more transparent by adding an oil.
I just did these collage sketches last night, adding to a sketch book from college actually. I realized recently as I was going through it mining for ideas (best reason to keep a book) that I still had space in it. I do this type of sketching when I’m going through an artistic transition of some kind and need to work through it.
The first is a tiny canvas about 2 inches x 2 inches the rest are in my book. All components are recycled.
