I understood the main purpose of this exercise was to think through the whole process of having a sketchbook, and what your relationship with your sketchbook would be , before heading off to find your ‘perfect’ sketchbook.
What will I use my sketchbook for?
I have always had various sketchbooks around the house, not necessarily for sketches, and also not to use as a diary. (Keeping a diary is something I’ve tried for years but never really got into.) No, I’ve kept sketchbooks and notepads for jotting down ideas, sayings and endless to-do lists. I have different books for different reasons; one for day trips, one for holidays, one for day to day and so forth. Keeping a sketchbook purely for sketches is something new to me, and I wonder if I would keep to drawings only, as I’m always writing down ideas. I was glad to see a lot of artists add notes to their sketches in the various sketchbooks I started researching for the research task 1.1.
For this particular question in the exercise we were asked to think about size, paper types and thickness when deciding on a sketchbook to use.
- I like the idea of a smaller A5 size sketch book, this is something that I can easily carry around with me wherever I go.
- I prefer thicker pages; I often use sharpies and darker hand writing pens as well as brush pens. These often show through a thinner type paper. Starting with this course I would like to add watercolour to my sketchbooks too, which would mean I would definitely need a thicker more suitable paper.
- There was the suggestion to use different types of paper in one sketchbook, especially when making your own sketchbook. This is something I havent tried yet, but definitely like the idea of. I have included the different type papers I had available at home when making my first sketchbook.
- I am also in love with the idea of using old news papers and magazines as paper to draw over. This is something I used in painting before and it just gives the painting/drawing a different vibe.
- I normally don’t like lined or graphed paper. It makes me feel restricted. I prefer the ‘freedom’, even for just writing notes, I feel when using a plain paper.
- The idea of using an app on a digital device is a very novel idea, its futuristic and definitely ‘green’, and coming from an IT background, I feel I should be drawn more to it. But, alas, I am not. I want paper and I want a pen. It feels natural.
More things to ponder about:
- Do I get intimated by blank pages of an expensive sketchbook? No, I am usually very excited to get started, but often want it to be perfect.
- Do I need something on the page already, ie lined? No, I want a blank canvas. Although I like the idea of watercolour markings.
- I usually work large and can fill a page very quickly.
- I definitely prefer a heavy weight paper to be used with sharpies, liquid pens and watercolour.
- I always want to be a creature of habit and are endlessly trying to bring routine into my life. But it never happens. The only reason I would have sketchbooks that look the same is because I would’ve bought them in packs of three.
- I don’t like hardback books and preferably would not like a spiral bound book. (I would be too tempted to tear a page out)
- My sketchbook will, in this case, be used for my studies and to develop my drawing skills. And to get into the habit of catching everyday life in a notebook and not on the phone, where it gets lost in-between hundreds of photos taken daily.
- The question about sharing my notebook publicly or keeping it private is something I am not sure about yet. I understand that with this course I will need to share it and there will be pages that I might not be proud of, that is something I will deal with then.
I have created my own sketchbooks – a ‘Foldy’ /’Mini Zine’ and a sewn sketchbook. (Sewing is another hobby) . (Obviously these are still empty at this stage)
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