1) 4 Ways to Use a Sketchbook
Words I like: The Art of Sketchbooking is all about maintaining a sketchbook by observing, reflecting, practicing and playing – to improve ones skills and create new possibilities for art that hasn’t been made yet.
What’s the point of using a sketchbook?
In my opinion, there are 4 uses:
1. Observe – the world around you and record it in your own way for reference.
2. Reflect – On thoughts, ideas and events that has happened through drawing & writing.
3. Practice – A place to specifically practice your weak points in order to get better.
4. Play – To combine all that you’ve done previously to create something new, or at least explore the possibilities of new drawings, in a way that hasn’t been done before.
These are the 4 Uses of a sketchbook – and these are the 4 ways to use em’ as well…
1. Observe stuff around you – things, people, environments and draw them.
2. Reflect on your thoughts, memories and ideas through drawing and making notes.
3. Practice something specific – like faces or hands – to get good at them.
4. Finally, play by creating new things – thumbnails for new drawings, rough versions of final art and the like.
2) Da Vinci's Sketchbook
Leonardo DaVinci (the man who made Monalisa) – is a fantastic example of a sketchbookist. ✍️
– He maintained detailed sketchbooks and journals throughout his life, which included drawings from life, dissecting things he was interested in, ideas for his inventions along with studies for his painting.
– These sketchbooks were not meant to be his masterpiece – but rather a place to observe, study, think and play.
3) Challenge to Try Out
✏️ Fill One Page in your sketchbook with one of these things:
• A page filled with studies on ONE thing (ex: hands, fish, characters)
• Notes and doodles about a random past event.
• A Page of things from your room.
• A Playful Doodle.
Favourite Quote of the Week
“The painter who draws merely by practice and by eye, without any reason, is like a mirror which copies everything placed in front of it without being conscious of their existence.”
— Leonardo da Vinci
(Meaning: Don’t just copy—understand!)
That’s it.
I’ll see you again next week 🙂
Best,
Kesh.
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