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Unlike many artists, whose sketchbooks are perfect compositions from beginning to end, mine is a collection of torn pages, half-finished sketches, lists, food wrappers, kitchen sinks, etc. It is me...complete with idiosyncrasies. I try to cultivate this same sketchbook freedom in my students, encouraging them not be afraid to mess up in their sketchbooks as it is all part of the process of learning and growing as a designer. Going along with this, I strongly recommend that they not rip out pages and if they mess up really, really bad -- as in, if i have to look at this screwed-up drawing one more time I may pull my hair out kind of way -- they should simply put a big sticker over the mistake. It works every time!
While I maintain this freedom in my sketchbook, I've ascribed to a slightly different philosophy on this blog...only posting drawings I'm proud of and very little miscellaneous information (i.e. kitchen sinks). While I like the "purity" this brings...it's not exactly a full expression of me or my sketchbook.
This is all to say that I'm thinking about switching things up a bit, including other tidbits outside of sketches. I'm not sure where it will lead, but I figure it is worth a shot.
11 comments:
oooo. Sounds exciting. I would pay money to get to hold your sketchbooks and flip through them...
:)
Hi Sue, was wondering if youll ever have an on line class on this sketcbook for wveryday. I read about all these classes and dont have the means to go to them. But I think I would love to take a class also,
Thank you your work is wonderful as always
I agree...sounds exciting! Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve...er, um...sketchbook.
I can't think of anything I'd love more than to be able to catch a glimpse of the other parts of your sketchbooks... !
I was just talking to my friend Georgia about this, but on my blogs. I have reverie for everything pretty and neat and interesting, but then I have The Bitchy Deli for when I'm crabby or feeling like ranting, etc. I haven't been posting to the latter recently, but she suggested I keep it to let things like that spill over into it.
It's very cool that you're bringing more of a mix to your blog. Can't wait to see it all!
I liked what you wrote, I firmly believe accidents and mistakes are the starting point of finding new paths and perspectives, I have been teaching for the last 8 years and my sketchbooks are the message, see if you have some time to have a look www.driftingalongthesea.blogspot.com
hey, this sounds great, AND i just had a blast of inspiration in that sometime we should definitely talk about sketchbooks, and teaching students about them, and who knows what else...but it's a real teaching interest of mine.
I love your idea of putting stickers over "mistakes". And I think your sketchbook sounds like a wonderful life-journal rather than just a sketchbook.
I'm chuckling over the "Hello. My name is Suzanne's sketchbook" sticker!
This is all great advice! I have started a Visioning Book that includes all sorts of "messes". It is very freeing!
Lisa
Your brave. I couldn't do it. And, if I ever post anything I don't like too much I usually end up deleting it a few days later. Which I guess is the blogging equivalent to tearing the pages out!
My sketchbooks are similar. I don't have different sketchbooks for different things, I just have the one. I work from front to back without skipping around and it has everything in it; lists, notes, sketches, thoughts. I also write the date on the page when I start using the sketchbook for that day. I love working like this because I love the archive of it all. I can see what I was thinking years ago and the projects I was working on. I can see how much of a better artist I am now and see all the goals I've reached. It's a great record to have.
Anyway, thanks for sharing, I love hearing how other artist use their sketchbooks.
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