Sketchbooks and journals are probably the most rewarding inspiring part of my creative practice. Seeing, observing, being inquisitive, investigating and reflecting are all part of sketchbook keeping. I use variety of sketchbooks and journals as part of my creative journey. Sketchbooks are meant to be exploratory and investigative. They are not meant to be finished and precise pieces of art, rather experiential in nature, and focusing on the process of learning.
One of my favorite practices is using a small handmade journal for quick 2-3 min. gesture sketching, this is ultimately the best way to hone your observational and drawing skills, it is a first step in producing studies for a finished drawing and it is very energizing and fun (see purple daffodils below). For this sketchbook I use a colored pencil to capture simple impressions of objects. Another journal/sketchbook I keep is an art process sketchbook, where I try out new techniques, mix colors, do rough thumb nail sketches, etc. (bottom right). I also use a personal journal/sketchbook, which I call ethnobotanical sketchbook, where I draw plants and other natural objects, and write about the subjects and how they resonate with me, sometime I research the plant's edibility and medicinal use, or I might write about feelings or thoughts that the drawing of that plant inspires in me. I might write about the memory a plant or an animal brings forth. (bottom left) Another sketchbook I really enjoyed was a Traveling Sketchbook I participated in with Oregon Botanical Artists (top)- where 14 artists each started their own accordion sketchbook and mailed it to the next person on the list once a month. It took almost a year and a half to complete this project, and all artists ended up with beautiful gift of drawings and paintings by various artists to keep.
One of my favorite practices is using a small handmade journal for quick 2-3 min. gesture sketching, this is ultimately the best way to hone your observational and drawing skills, it is a first step in producing studies for a finished drawing and it is very energizing and fun (see purple daffodils below). For this sketchbook I use a colored pencil to capture simple impressions of objects. Another journal/sketchbook I keep is an art process sketchbook, where I try out new techniques, mix colors, do rough thumb nail sketches, etc. (bottom right). I also use a personal journal/sketchbook, which I call ethnobotanical sketchbook, where I draw plants and other natural objects, and write about the subjects and how they resonate with me, sometime I research the plant's edibility and medicinal use, or I might write about feelings or thoughts that the drawing of that plant inspires in me. I might write about the memory a plant or an animal brings forth. (bottom left) Another sketchbook I really enjoyed was a Traveling Sketchbook I participated in with Oregon Botanical Artists (top)- where 14 artists each started their own accordion sketchbook and mailed it to the next person on the list once a month. It took almost a year and a half to complete this project, and all artists ended up with beautiful gift of drawings and paintings by various artists to keep.
I use my sketchbooks interchangeably and often one supports the other. I also enjoy adding lettering and creative fonts to my personal journal, and sometimes a little personal reflections. As you can see above the page with butterflies and wildflowers I drew when I was in Poland over the summer, my mom's garden was abundant with butterflies and the wildflowers grow all around. It reminded me of the town where I grew up, and the fields I would roam as a child filled with wildflowers and butterflies.
The page below in my personal journal, was recorded over a weekend at Lake Quinault in Washington in October. I enjoyed experimenting with format of composition, lettering and recording glorious gifts of the forest. Next year I plan on continuing all my different sketchbook practice and maybe even tweaking them a bit. I plan on starting a sketchbook devoted to just recording wild berries, as studies for later drawings, and I plan on participating in two sketchbook exchanges (one with Oregon Botanical Artists and one with Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists) and also continue my personal journal, which this year will have a special focus. For each year of my life I will be creating a page of plants, animals, natural landscape that were meaningful to me at certain age, and continue to resonate now as well. I really enjoy the variety of approaches each sketchbook offers.
The page below in my personal journal, was recorded over a weekend at Lake Quinault in Washington in October. I enjoyed experimenting with format of composition, lettering and recording glorious gifts of the forest. Next year I plan on continuing all my different sketchbook practice and maybe even tweaking them a bit. I plan on starting a sketchbook devoted to just recording wild berries, as studies for later drawings, and I plan on participating in two sketchbook exchanges (one with Oregon Botanical Artists and one with Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists) and also continue my personal journal, which this year will have a special focus. For each year of my life I will be creating a page of plants, animals, natural landscape that were meaningful to me at certain age, and continue to resonate now as well. I really enjoy the variety of approaches each sketchbook offers.
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