A Peek In My Sketchbook

Summer is almost here, which means it is time to start a new creative practice, even if just for a few months. I suggest getting a sketchbook and working in it daily, whether it be drawing, painting, writing and drawing, collage, you name it. There is something about a sketchbook that just works for so many, and so while I am still quite new at it, I will take the advice of those much more experienced in the realm of art and illustration. Last summer I devoted three weeks or so to painting and drawing in this sketchbook everyday, and I saw progress. I’ll admit once back to everyday life, I was not able to keep up sketchbook, but am looking forward to it once again. This time I’ve purchased some sketchbooks with thicker paper, so I’ll be able to paint in them without having to glue the pages together, and I even bought a sketchbook for landscape sketching that i hope to use on my summer travels, yippee!

For a glimpse at one entry that I did do after arriving home, take a peek here, and for another entry where I felt I’d at last found a groove, peek here. And for a peek at the whole spread of this entry, keep on reading!

I actually did this entry while on the airplane on or way home, as I’d been working in the sketchbook for 3 weeks it was the one thing I just wanted to keep doing. I did look at a photo for reference for the pitcher of roses, though the rest was just from my imagination. As it turns out, assuming there is no turbulence, drawing on the plane is actually quite enjoyable, despite a bit less room than normal. This sketch was made with a fine black permanent marker and then color was added with brush markers. Really simple, and no need for a pencil drawing first.

A sketchbook full of drawings is a great reference for your own work as well, can’t wait to have a pile of them to go through. Okay, at this point that may not happen, but one can always dream!
A close up of my loosely sketched roses.