Keeping a sketchbook - creativity between book covers
Everybody can use a sketchbook to honor and develop own creativity. Keeping a visual diary does not only help you to enjoy your life more, changes may even go much further than that. A sketchbook is a personal creative resource and often develops into a place to re-create yourself. Learn here more about the pleasures a sketchbook can give.
Recently I had a book on young illustrators in Switzerland in hands and there was an interesting introduction to the obligatory scetchbook for students: Everything may go into a sketchbook which will develop into kind of collection of things that you find, ideas and thoughts not only visual impressions. It is for exercise and experiment, it will contain traces of success and failure and finally will turn in to place where you can grow as person and professional.
This lens contains a lot of pictures taken from my own sketchbooks to illustrate the potential that sketchbook have. Also there are many links to sketchbooks of artist famous and less famous, but also to contemporary artist and the lively sketchbook scene on the internet.
For a long time sketchbooks have only been noticed by a specialist audience in the artworld which got access to those precious resources mostly only after the death of the creator. Excerpts of sketchbooks might have been published in print media, but mostly only at the price of damaging or destroying the sketchbooks. Some sketchbooks might have been shown on exhibitions as "artistic accessoires".
With the new media and the possibility of publishing entire sketchbooks at low cost and without destroying the sketchbooks things have changed. More and more sketchbooks become available to a wide public.
Meantime there are fantastic resources on the net. Today you can browse through the travel sketchbooks of famous artists like William Turner sitting comfortably at your desk at home.
At the same time thousands of contemporary sketchbooks of living artists and amateurs are spread out on the internet. Keeping and publishing a sketchbook gets more and more popular. A perfect example is the emergence of the Urban Sketchers a Meta-Blog of sketchers all over the world.
The internet is the driving force behind the global sketchbook movement. The times when sketchbooks were kept private are definitely over. The electronic media once again transform artistic practise in short time.
Recently I had a book on young illustrators in Switzerland in hands and there was an interesting introduction to the obligatory scetchbook for students: Everything may go into a sketchbook which will develop into kind of collection of things that you find, ideas and thoughts not only visual impressions. It is for exercise and experiment, it will contain traces of success and failure and finally will turn in to place where you can grow as person and professional.
This lens contains a lot of pictures taken from my own sketchbooks to illustrate the potential that sketchbook have. Also there are many links to sketchbooks of artist famous and less famous, but also to contemporary artist and the lively sketchbook scene on the internet.
For a long time sketchbooks have only been noticed by a specialist audience in the artworld which got access to those precious resources mostly only after the death of the creator. Excerpts of sketchbooks might have been published in print media, but mostly only at the price of damaging or destroying the sketchbooks. Some sketchbooks might have been shown on exhibitions as "artistic accessoires".
With the new media and the possibility of publishing entire sketchbooks at low cost and without destroying the sketchbooks things have changed. More and more sketchbooks become available to a wide public.
Meantime there are fantastic resources on the net. Today you can browse through the travel sketchbooks of famous artists like William Turner sitting comfortably at your desk at home.
At the same time thousands of contemporary sketchbooks of living artists and amateurs are spread out on the internet. Keeping and publishing a sketchbook gets more and more popular. A perfect example is the emergence of the Urban Sketchers a Meta-Blog of sketchers all over the world.
The internet is the driving force behind the global sketchbook movement. The times when sketchbooks were kept private are definitely over. The electronic media once again transform artistic practise in short time.
Contents at a Glance
- What is the fuzz with artist sketchbooks ?
- Why keep a sketchbook ? It is worthwhile and you do not need to have artistic ambitions (yet)
- What are the benefits of keeping a sketchbook ?
What is the fuzz with artist sketchbooks ?
Artists sketchbooks are personal, private belongings which were not supposed to be seens by the public. Sketchbooks represent a protected private sphere which seems to make them the more attractive not only for curious people.
The sketchbooks of famous artist have delivered important background information on the process of making artwork and the development of artists.
But genuine sketchbooks do NOT contain pieces of art but notes and ideas around possible artwork. Also sketchbooks contain privat notes which are not suitable for the public at all. The particular value of sketchbooks is in their "commentary" to published artwork. Giving conclusions about time frame, development of ideas and influences as well as mere biographical data. Sketchbooks are important documents for art history.
These sketchbook pages show some of my own exercises merely done to train drawing skills.
The sketchbooks of famous artist have delivered important background information on the process of making artwork and the development of artists.
But genuine sketchbooks do NOT contain pieces of art but notes and ideas around possible artwork. Also sketchbooks contain privat notes which are not suitable for the public at all. The particular value of sketchbooks is in their "commentary" to published artwork. Giving conclusions about time frame, development of ideas and influences as well as mere biographical data. Sketchbooks are important documents for art history.
These sketchbook pages show some of my own exercises merely done to train drawing skills.
Why keep a sketchbook ? It is worthwhile and you do not need to have artistic ambitions (yet)
What can be done with a sketchbook ?
There is a very nice, little book by Francis DK Ching with the title "Sketches from Japan."It contains numerous architectural studies made during a brief stay in Japan.
In the preface Frank Ching names three reasons why it is worth to record (travel) impressions in drawings rather than with a camera.
1st: There is no special equipment needed, the eye, a fountain pen and a sketchbook is enough to note anytime and anywhere thoughts, observation and memories. There is no set form, ultimately it is a very personal thing.
2nd: If our experiences are put down in drawings we connect to our environment and give it more attention. Images and events have been perceived and processed by our senses before they hit the pages of a sketchbook. This requires a selection and filtering, we can not draw everything we see. The gathering, selecting and describing of what we see leaves an almost indelible impression of a place or an event.
3rd: We can not just only draw or note what we see. We can also use drawing as a method to gain insights and perhaps even to find inspiration. Drawing stimulates the mind, stimulates thinking and can make aspects visible which are hidden for the naked eye.
We can think about the history,the making of something,of how the parts fit together and we may even try to describe noises and smells as well.
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Here is my (certainly incomplete) list of purposes for sketchbooks and the way I use them:
1.Drawing and painting studies as exercise to learn and to develop skills and to train your perception.
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2.Quick sketches,compositional and color studies.
A sketch to preserve a scenery with notes about colors to be used in other media later.
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3.Drawing and sketching diaries in various forms.
From a happy holiday diary to the serious fight against an illness, sketchbooks prove a to be powerful tool. Especially in hard times the change from little nothings to big somethings can be experienced and those diaries will be of great personal value.
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4.Thematic sketchbooks dedicated to certain projects or content.
The possibilities to explore certain subjects from your home and garden to people,animals, architecture and travel are limitless.
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5.Container for ideas and future projects,
notes about the artistic process and other thoughts on work.
- Interviews with urban sketchers on their blog
- There is a great series on the Urban sketchers blog called "Meet the correspondents". See and read why and how people keep their sketchbbooks. There are many things that sketchers have in common,but each of them has a very individual and personal approach.
Very inspiring !! - Utrecht Learning Center - The Artist's Sketchbook
- The sketchbook is something every artist should keep close at hand....
- ART VIEW; Where Little Nothings Turn Into Big Somethings - New York Times
- Interesting article on the function of sketchbooks by John Russell,NYT 1991
- Featured artists on Urban Sketchers
- I had to add this one. These are interviews with outstanding members of Urban sketchers like :
Fifth-grader John Woolley, 10, sketches beyond his years or
Ami Plasse, sketching on the NYC subway to name only two of them - How to Unleash Your Creativity: Scientific American
- Experts discuss tips and tricks to let loose your inner ingenuity
- Sketchbook exhibit draws an intimate portrait of the artists -- and their work - The Boston Globe
- Like its subjects, exhibit makes its mark
Artists' sketchbooks offer up much more than just the drawings inside
By Cate McQuaid, Globe Correspondent | August 23, 2006 - Diahn_Ott: Get That Sketchbook Out and USE it!! (1 of 4)
- A great 4 page article about the pleasure to keep a sketchbook
What are the benefits of keeping a sketchbook ?
Make more of your time and recreate
Keeping a sketchbook is not only a nice hobby or a pleasing pursuit.Live changes when you keep a sketchbook diary. Do not expect less. It might take some time until you notice it, but it will happen.Especially sketching outdoors from life has a strong influence on body and mind.
It starts with simple physical effects. Getting out for a walk, moving around and getting exposed to light is very healthy especially also in winter.
Be prepared that you will see things you haven´t noticed before at all and you will see your known surroundings from a different point of view. Observing and drawing will trigger new interests in those things nature has made and those made by humans.
Also a kind of visual programming will start as drawing is not a one way action of putting something down on paper. The process is in two directions, seeing and moving your hand accordingly will change your mind.
Drawing sessions in combination with walking are a great way to get a clear and calm mind and to get your creative forces into work. I reckognized this only after a couple of years how many ideas I developed during a walk after a relaxing drawing session.
60- 90 minutes walking with 45 minutes drawing in between is my favorite creativity and recreation techique. Once you do this exercise regularly you do not want to miss it anymore. Recreation of the mind and creativity always go together well.
Drawing gets the right side of the brain into work and relaxes the intellectual left side of the brain. Even after very busy working days it takes me only a few minutes to get into the relaxing flow of drawing and to calm down the busy mind.
I gain as much recreation on a Sunday morning tour between 8.00 and 12.00 am as I used to get on a full weekend holiday. In other words if you have the chance for regulary exercises once or twice a week your life quality will be improved a lot.
A Forest diary - Making notes in a big sketchbook
This sketchbook project is dedicated to the forests and as always these "projects" somehow take their own way. (more images on my blog under category Forest diary - keeping a nature sketchbook. I have started to use colors again and have great fun making simple notes of colors I see using guache sets.
Instead of looking hard and concentrating on form I try to put down the colors I see in little squares. These notes have their own charme and even develop a decorative quality. Below there is a poster that shows a color study of a dead trunk in spring time. On the right side there are my notes about the colors and where I did see them (in German).
I use a big sketchbook with a page size of in A3-format. The paper is relatively thin an I was in doubt whether the book would withstand the hard outdoor conditions in combination with watercolors and/or guache. It seems the producer "Hahnemühle" has given the paper a special treatment. The Guache dries relatively quickly and the paper does not dissolve. I suppose they have used some kind of wetstrenght agent for the paper, which has a bit funny surface. The advantage is that I can take a big size format with low weight on my out door walks.
Once or twice a week I go out into our forests sit down for an hour or two and write down what I hear and see making visual and written notes. This sketchbook is not that much about art more about encounter and discovery. Since this sketching project has become a source for joy and recreation. Here you can visit all places of my sketchbook journey in google maps.
Instead of looking hard and concentrating on form I try to put down the colors I see in little squares. These notes have their own charme and even develop a decorative quality. Below there is a poster that shows a color study of a dead trunk in spring time. On the right side there are my notes about the colors and where I did see them (in German).
colors of a dead trunk by editionha
Browse other posters on www.Zazzle.com
View more Dead Posters
I use a big sketchbook with a page size of in A3-format. The paper is relatively thin an I was in doubt whether the book would withstand the hard outdoor conditions in combination with watercolors and/or guache. It seems the producer "Hahnemühle" has given the paper a special treatment. The Guache dries relatively quickly and the paper does not dissolve. I suppose they have used some kind of wetstrenght agent for the paper, which has a bit funny surface. The advantage is that I can take a big size format with low weight on my out door walks.
Once or twice a week I go out into our forests sit down for an hour or two and write down what I hear and see making visual and written notes. This sketchbook is not that much about art more about encounter and discovery. Since this sketching project has become a source for joy and recreation. Here you can visit all places of my sketchbook journey in google maps.
Hokusai animated sketchbook - a must see
The old man crazy with drawing
Tony White ~ "Hokusai - An Animated Sketchbook"
This was my first ever... and still my favorite... short animated film! I created it in my spare time while I was still a director/animator at the Richard Williams Studio in London during the late 1970's. I actually started the film after we had completed 'A Christmas Carol', when I was Richard Williams' own personal assistant at the time. 'Carol' went on to win the first of Dick's three Oscars. When my own 'Hokusai' film won a British Academy Award I moved on to set-up the 'Animus Productions' animation studio... a creative entity I led for a further 20 award-winning years. The film itself was inspired by the wonderful sketchbooks of Hokusai. When I saw them I realized that this artist was indeed a true animator at heart... he just didn't have the knowledge or the technology to be one in his lifetime. I therefore sought to bring his drawings to life for him, as homage to his genius.
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curated content from YouTube
SPECIAL BOOK TIP - Graphic 10
Graphic 10 - issue solely on diaries, notebooks and sketchbooks
Graphic 10 2nd print (Graphic Magazine)
Graphic 10 is a superb publication by Magma books
On more than 200 pages there are 28 interviews with young illustrators how they live and work with their sketchbooks.
The interviews are short,on the point and witty.
The book takes the viewer (most of the content 90% are images,reproductions of sketchbooks)on a journey through the life of young professionals and how they see their jobs and the world. For each of them the function of a sketchbook is different. There is an abundance of great sketches,drawings and illustrations in the making and other example works.
The cover is by one my favorite illustrators David Foldvari.
The book is completed by two cool essays written by the notorious Stefan Sagmeister and Dr. Stephen Bury.
This is a source of inspiration and motivation ! Go and get your copy :).
Amazon Price: $22.80 (as of 12/18/2009) 
Sketchbooks of famous artists
- Monet Sketchbooks
- Monet Sketchbooks: From the Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris. Developed by the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, USA.
- Tate Collection | Turner Collection | Sketchbooks
- William Turner Collection - Tate Britain
Turner's sketchbooks have been divided into different decades. Sketchbooks from 1780 to 1840 many volumes to see. - Painters - Turner Films - Sketching Techniques
- Turner sketched in situ avidly to gather accurate, objective information for his paintings. Here is a film that demonstrates Turners methods
- George Grosz sketchbook
- George Grosz American (born Germany), 1893-1959
Sketchbook: Manhattan Skyline and Mice, 1950-51 - The Essence of Line - Sketchbook
- Sketchbooks & Albums French drawings from Ingres to Degas
- UnderCover Artists' Sketchbooks
- Exhibtion of artist sketchbooks from the Fogg Art museum:
Edward Burne-Jones,Benjamin Champney,Henri-Edmond Cross,Jacques-Louis David
Paul Feeley,Jean-Honoré Fragonard,Sanford Gifford,George Grosz,Frederic Leighton,John Singer Sargent - MoMA: Georges Seurat - The Drawings
- George Seurat Sketchbooks at MOMA.org
- Archives of American Art - Sketchbooks
- The Smithsonian Archives of American Art - agreat collection of historical sketchbooks to see
My favorite sketchbook links
- Craig Atkinson UK based Artist + Illustrator for hire. www.craigatkinson.co.uk art and ilustration.
- CRAIG ATKINSON - Sketchbooks
also on FLICKR - Pete Scully - Sketchbooks
- British sketcher touring the world
- BLANC SUR BLANC
- Sketchbooks of Emmanuel Gaille, photographer
- Nina Johansson
- Sketchbooks by Swedish artist Nina Johansson
- Kurt D. Hollomon - Graphic Craftsman
- Selfmade big funky sketchbooks by Kurt D. Hollomon
- Dominique Goblet : sketchbooks
- Dominique Goblet : is a Belgian artist and author. Dominique has published a number of unique comic books. My favorite is Souvenir d'une journée parfaite
I was lucky enough to see some of the very inventive pencil drawings on an exhibition some time ago. - Archives of American Art: Sketchbooks: Curators' Choice
- Smithsonian Archives of American Art Sketchbooks: Curators' Choice
- One mile from home
- A one year sketchbook diary by Julie Oakley,Uk
- Sylt sketchbook by Ingo Kühl
- 64 pages sketchbook by Ingo Kühl, seascapes and beaches
pdf document.
Really great color sketches - Jodi Green :: art work : sketchbooks
- Artist Jodi Green :"On March 9, 2007 I abandoned my Moleskine sketchbook, chopped up and bound a bunch of old reject prints ... a must see
- Sguardi su Napoli. Trenta taccuini di viaggio
- This is an interesting book project by a group of Illustrators aboout the city of Napoli. The book is presented on issu a free platform to convert word documents and others into the look of a book.
- www.foddering.co.uk--> online sketch books, online sketchbooks, fine artist sketch book
- Great skezchbooks by Robert Foddering:
Online artist sketch books: with references and photos of the art works that developed from the sketch books. - Land Sketch - Guache sketches by Nathan Fowkes
- Well....this is the Uebersketcher ! Nothing more to say
- Flickr: Stef Kardos' Photostream
- Stef Kardos is a great professional creative who does amazing sketches.
Read an interview with Stef Kardos on the urban sketchers blog - Joseph Lapostolle : Carnets de dessins
- Great sketchbook blog mainly with portraits, people
- James Jean - sketchbooks
- There are really great sketchbooks on this website with stunning drawings,highly skilled.
- David Sparshott Illustration
- I was pointed to david Sparshott by the "OK-Great Weblog David has great sketchbooks and has opened them for us on the web. I recommend a visit.
- Sketching in Nature - A blog by artists working on the spot
- Sketching in nature is in a way the pendant to the urban sketchers. This blog covers everything non-urban like rural landscapes, botanical subjects and animals.
- Graphics - Rebecca Shenfeld
- Rebecca Shenfeld is a young remarkable artist, she creates handmade graphics and computer graphics.
I love her black and white sketchbook works. - Ea's Artlog
- This blog is located in Danmark and it is 100% sketchbook diary
- Flyingpictures - Joint sketchbook project of seven artists all over the world
- Seven artists joint together in a sketchbook project. Don´t miss the slide show of the finished books..
The group eventually became seven artists on three continents united by Lindsay Olson. The project journals,( unfortunately not the participants), will be united for a display at the Oak Park Public Library,Oak Park, IL . - Laurelines
- Drawings, paintings, and a few sidelines-. A great weblog by Laura Murphy Frankstone, an artist living in North Carolina.
Laura has an extensive collection of sketches on her weblog including terrific travel sketches from Britanny and other places.
The sketchbook as creative tool - drafts of a landscape
a case study - From sketch to monotype print
Til today sketchbooks are used as a tool to play or experiment with visual ideas. The idea might start from a life sketch or come from imagination, but then it is tranformed changed and played out in variations in a sketchbook.
The sketch above was the starting point for further explorations in a sketchbook and eventually ended in a monontype print. The main task was to transform the horizontal sketch into a vertical scenery.
The sketch above was the starting point for further explorations in a sketchbook and eventually ended in a monontype print. The main task was to transform the horizontal sketch into a vertical scenery.
Sketchbooks for the sketchbook junkies
Unique sketchbooks by Crown Point Press, San Francisco
This is a first sketch in water colors on the very nice water color paper in those handmade sketchbooks by Crown Point Press,San Francisco !
The paper is rather thick and it keepf flat also when a lot of water is used.
- NEW! Handbound Sketchbook
- From the webshop of Crown point press:
"NEW! Handbound Sketchbook
Handbound sketchbooks made with recycled rag paper from the Crown Point Studio. Each sketchbook is one-of-a-kind. Let us select one for you! A perfect treat for yourself or a friend. Approximately 5 x 8 inches."
I received my order today. Two sketchbooks books, lumbacked (glue binding), with 20 pages of very thick,heavy paper stock in various very nice qualities.
The best : The covers are made from trial prints and I could identify mine immediately. One was taken from a print by Nathan Oliveira it´s the elbow from the print "Rocker 2007" and the second is definitely a piece of a print by Jockum Nordström called "Back to the land" which suit me to a TEE
Most popular - the travel sketchbook
Sketches of Bruges
Steenhouwersdijk
Steenhouwersdijk
Stevinplein
Published sketchbooks
What happens when a sketchbook is published
By publishing a sketchbook, as it is done today quite often in a kind of open diary, the private character of the sketchbook is lost. It has become something different. What is difference ?
Published sketchbooks are censored in one or the other way by the artist. Instead of a laboratory or a place for free experimentation a sketchbook with publication in mind puts constraints on the artist to produce something that can be shown. The sketchbook content drifts towards more elaborate work, similar or close to artwork instead of intimate notes.
Typical for this development are illustrated travel sketchbooks, which have become very popular recently in can be seen in many bookshops. Professional illustrators have published various series of travel sketchbooks with illustrations that imitate the character of sketchbooks.
In order to match the taste of a broad audience the character of the illustrations has to be appealing and therefore is moving into more or less stereotype forms of prettyness.
The availability of so many sketchbook drawings online invites for imitation. The culture of the sketchbook (images or drawings) is exposed to global forces of leveling as any other image culture.
However there is an increasing stream of very interesting sketchbooks published by people who just draw for their own fun. Their way to see the world is very personal and original.
The urban sketchers weblog is a great place to get an impression how creative sketchbooks can be used independent from the level of drawing skill or professional background .
Published sketchbooks are censored in one or the other way by the artist. Instead of a laboratory or a place for free experimentation a sketchbook with publication in mind puts constraints on the artist to produce something that can be shown. The sketchbook content drifts towards more elaborate work, similar or close to artwork instead of intimate notes.
Typical for this development are illustrated travel sketchbooks, which have become very popular recently in can be seen in many bookshops. Professional illustrators have published various series of travel sketchbooks with illustrations that imitate the character of sketchbooks.
In order to match the taste of a broad audience the character of the illustrations has to be appealing and therefore is moving into more or less stereotype forms of prettyness.
The availability of so many sketchbook drawings online invites for imitation. The culture of the sketchbook (images or drawings) is exposed to global forces of leveling as any other image culture.
However there is an increasing stream of very interesting sketchbooks published by people who just draw for their own fun. Their way to see the world is very personal and original.
The urban sketchers weblog is a great place to get an impression how creative sketchbooks can be used independent from the level of drawing skill or professional background .
Pretty sketchbooks on Amazon
Travel sketches from Provence
These sketches were made 2009 on a trip to Provence. I use a " minimal set" of Sketchbook 5X7 ,pen and small Schmincke watercolor set.
Sketchbooks on FLICKR
- Flickr: Sketchbook
- Sketchbook Pool on Flickr with more than 4000 members
- Debbie's Sketchbook - a set on Flickr
- Sketchbookset by illustrator Debbie Ridpath
- Sketchbook Stuff - a set on Flickr
- Sketchbooks by Diana Köhne ,illustrator
How to draw and sketch landscapes and trees - more lenses
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Efficient drawing tips for landscape drawing
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Eight efficient drawing tips how to improve your landscape drawing skills efficiently and fast.Everybody who can write her/his own name on a piece of paper can achieve a high level of drawing skills. Landscape drawing can be learned and it gives so m...
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How to draw coniferous trees
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This is an introduction how coniferous trees could be drawn from life. The very unknown MPM, Monotype printmaker Martin explains how he tries to draw conifers with a pen. There are no rules in drawing, everybody has her/his very own way to draw. No a...
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How to draw a pine tree
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Ten typical features of pine trees are explained and shown in a big size image of a pine tree drawing study. Learn about drawing a realistic looking pine tree. See more examples, get inspiration for own drawings here. If you were looking for botanica...
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How to draw a tree - tree drawing
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How to draw a tree - Find a collection of tree drawings and explanations how they have been done. Get inspired by famous and less famous, but very impressive contemporary and historic examples of tree drawings and have a look at online drawing tutori...
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How to draw deciduous trees
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This is an introduction to drawing decidous trees from life. MPM, Monotype printmaker Martin explains how he draws decidous trees with a pen and with charcoal. There are no rules in drawing,everybody can develop a very own way to draw a tree. No acad...
A Watercolor sketch in a sketchbook by William Turner
Sketchbooks today
Expanded possibilities for everybody
Keeping a sketchbook diary and showing it on the internet has become very popular (see the moleskine success). The possibility to share ones diary easy via Internet (Filckr, blogging etc.) seems to contribute to this movement. A new type of sketchbook has evolved : The sketchbook as a personal showcase!
Hardly any artist or illustrators website comes now without a link to some sort of sketchbook. The sketchbook has become a means to promote the creative capabilties in the public.
Apart from artist sketchbooks there is an increasing number of sketchbooks published by more or less ambitious amateurs who use a sketchbook to record their every day life,their surroundings and other things of their individual interest.
In fact many of them are part of a drawing/sketching movement, may be best represented for example by the "BIG DRAW" a global drawing campaign for everybody.
Drawing and sketching is a rewarding activity for everybody and one of the positive aspects of the new media is that they help enormously to spread the news and motivate people to do their own thing.
Sketchbooks often contain completely different subjects close together. I used the landscape sketch for monotype prints.
Hardly any artist or illustrators website comes now without a link to some sort of sketchbook. The sketchbook has become a means to promote the creative capabilties in the public.
Apart from artist sketchbooks there is an increasing number of sketchbooks published by more or less ambitious amateurs who use a sketchbook to record their every day life,their surroundings and other things of their individual interest.
In fact many of them are part of a drawing/sketching movement, may be best represented for example by the "BIG DRAW" a global drawing campaign for everybody.
Drawing and sketching is a rewarding activity for everybody and one of the positive aspects of the new media is that they help enormously to spread the news and motivate people to do their own thing.
Sketchbooks often contain completely different subjects close together. I used the landscape sketch for monotype prints.
Sketchbooks and sketching connects people all over the world
People who use their sketchbooks in the public usually have many encounters with interested people. In this link list I want to collect blog posts which are about sketching and meeting with other people.
- Urban Sketchers: Wednesday in Yeniköy
- This is a great blog post by Szaza on Urban sketchers blog. She likes to sketch in cafes in Istanbul and describes her encounters with people and their reactions.
Sketchbooks on Blurb
- Sketchbook | By John Fitzsimmons | Category: Fine Art | Blurb
- Book title: Sketchbook, By: John Fitzsimmons, Category: Fine Art, Book Description: Sketches and other projects leading up to "Bottle Girl" , includes "With Quiet Eyes" at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, and "Post Moderen Reliquary,ha,ha,ha" At Armory Square in Syracuse NY.
- Drawings: From Life and Death | By Ivan Kaplow | Category: Fine Art | Blurb
- Book title: Drawings: From Life and Death, Subtitle: turn of the century figurative drawings by Ivan Kaplow, By: Ivan Kaplow, Category: Fine Art, Book Description: a compilation of figurative drawings done at the turn of the century., art book, figure drawing, life drawing, fine art, anatomical draw
- Trefonides Sketchbooks | By Steven Trefonides | Category: Fine Art | Blurb
- Book title: Trefonides Sketchbooks, Subtitle: Paris and Brussels, 1986, By: Steven Trefonides, Category: Fine Art, Book Description: This is the first volume of what I hope will be a series of reproductions of the sketchbooks that my father, Steve Trefonides, has produced throughout his career. This
- Close To Home | By Anita Davies | Category: Fine Art | Blurb
- Book title: Close To Home, Subtitle: A plein air sketch project in watercolour and ink, By: Anita Davies, Category: Fine Art, Book Description: In May 2008 Anita Davies began a plein air art project that would take her sketching through her own village of Doddington and it's two neighbours..
- Sketches by Rob.... 2008 | By Rob Carey | Category: Arts & Photography | Blurb
- Book title: Sketches by Rob.... 2008, Subtitle: Selected images from my sketchbooks., Rob Carey is member of the urban sketchers. He does amazing watercolors
- Seven by Seven | By Sketches by Jerry Waese | Blurb
- Seven by Seven: Sketches by Jerry Waese,
Jerry is member od the urban sketchers and his favorite medium are oil pastels or oil crayons.
Don`t miss to visit his FLICKR Album . Sketches by Jerry Waese on FLickr
How professionals use a sketchbook
- An Illustrator's Life For Me!: Visual Brainstorming
- Lynne Chapman a british illustrator in Sheffield opens her sketchbook and explains how she uses it to get started with a new illustration project.
Sketchbooks shown on video - Moleskine exhibition
A selection from the DETOUR - Moleskine project
See many more sketchbook videos on you tube on the canal of Moleskineart together with interviews of artists and illustrators.
curated content from YouTube
Anne Vagt, Illustrator Artist, shows her sketchbooks
Anne Vagt is an innovative illustrator living and working currently in Hamburg. She has a great website too: Anne Vagt
Sketchbook blogs
- Mattias Inks
- Sketchbook blog by Mattias Adolfsson, Freelance Illustrator living in Sweden
- les calepins de lapin
- A French sketchbook blog
- Wandern und Zeichnen - unterwegs mit dem Skizzenbuch
- My own blog (German) about walking and drawing
- a janela de Alberti
- A sketchbook blog from Lisbon,Portugal
lot´s of ships and nice cars - A sketch in time
- Cathy Gatland - Johannesburg, South Africa
Sketching, watercolours, oil painting, sketch and travel journals, a hotchpotch of what's on my right brain right now. Welcome! - Travels with a Sketchbook in.......by Katherine Tyrell
- Travels with a Sketchbook in.......
When I travel, I sketch. When I sketch on my travels I record it here. Plus information about the history and facilities of places I visit and lots of related links for those who want to know more.
Artists sketchbooks as collectors and gallery prey !
What is the market value of a sketchbook ?
Sad enough Goldmark Gallery,London, has decided to destroy the sketchbook(s) of one of the most important british artists printmaker, Graham Sutherland. They sell single pages from Graham Sutherland's Pembrokeshire sketchbooks . Thus they can create a business of several hundredthousands pounds.
Link to Graham Sutherland sketchbook page
Color study in pastels in one of my sketchbooks
Link to Graham Sutherland sketchbook page
Color study in pastels in one of my sketchbooks
Special book tip - sketchbooks of young graphic designers and illustrators
Graphic 10 2nd print (Graphic Magazine)
This issue of graphic is dedicated solely to sketchbooks, their role and use in the life of artists and illustrators today.
The book contains a structured interview with 25 artists. For each feature there is one page interview and 3 pages images of sketchbook work. At the end there are another two essays by well known design cracks like Sagmeister and Bury revealing some of the pain being an illustrator today.
I pick up this book regularly for inspiration and simply for the fun to look at those sketches.
Amazon Price: $22.80 (as of 12/18/2009)
What might we expect from published (artist) sketchbooks today ?
What consequences might be drawn ?
The tendency to show only "sketches" that are worthwhile to be shown in public has a strong influence as mentioned already. In many cases sketchbooks contain no sketches, but more or less elaborate works detailed drawings or color studies.
I made my own experience with this phenomenon when I worked on a series of sketches originally not intended for display,but as studies for a series of monotype prints on the urban landscape.
During the project the sketchbook gained importance not only as indispensable basis for printmaking, but also as independent work. Whereas it was possible to develop variations of monotype prints, each with different expression, from the same sketch, the sketch itself retained its uniqueness and seemed to gain value with each print derived from it as irreplaceable source. Furthermore all memories of location, weather, encounters with people and emotions of the draughtsman seemed to be attached to these drawings and loaded them with inspiration.
Read more about this experience on a separate lens at:Drawing the urban landscape
There is a big potential in published sketchbooks as soon as the traditional private function is put a side and a different perspective is taken. The artist still might have private sketchbooks as well, but the published ones might develop into another form of art related to artist books.
At present I have two sketchbooks in progress which cannot be seen as genuine sketchbooks rather than as "drawing books" as they were popular also in the 18th century. These books contain collections of drawings dedicated to certain themes.
In September I started a book with india ink drawings. The title of this book is "excursions into landscape relics" and it shows landscape fragments that seem to be untouched by our modern times.
Click on image to see the gallery of drawings.
Another book project develops slowly. It is an old exhibition catalog that I use as drawing book, drawing trees and landscape fragments in india ink into it. I use the text and image fields as drawing areas. The underlying texts and images mostly on modern conceptual art create a tension or friction with my landscape drawings.
I would expect that the popular use, the publication and communication of sketchbooks will create forces that will move sketchbooks into a highly developed and unique form of art. New types of sketchbooks will occur and expand the traditional uses.
Working with sketchbooks is a slow image technique and it serves the trend to slow down against the insane accelaration of all processes and life activities. Working with a sketchbook-diary will get more popular and gain importance outside of the artworld.
What are the consequences ? Use more sketchbooks to expand the limits of imagination and create something new.
I made my own experience with this phenomenon when I worked on a series of sketches originally not intended for display,but as studies for a series of monotype prints on the urban landscape.
During the project the sketchbook gained importance not only as indispensable basis for printmaking, but also as independent work. Whereas it was possible to develop variations of monotype prints, each with different expression, from the same sketch, the sketch itself retained its uniqueness and seemed to gain value with each print derived from it as irreplaceable source. Furthermore all memories of location, weather, encounters with people and emotions of the draughtsman seemed to be attached to these drawings and loaded them with inspiration.
Read more about this experience on a separate lens at:Drawing the urban landscape
There is a big potential in published sketchbooks as soon as the traditional private function is put a side and a different perspective is taken. The artist still might have private sketchbooks as well, but the published ones might develop into another form of art related to artist books.
At present I have two sketchbooks in progress which cannot be seen as genuine sketchbooks rather than as "drawing books" as they were popular also in the 18th century. These books contain collections of drawings dedicated to certain themes.
In September I started a book with india ink drawings. The title of this book is "excursions into landscape relics" and it shows landscape fragments that seem to be untouched by our modern times.
Click on image to see the gallery of drawings.
Another book project develops slowly. It is an old exhibition catalog that I use as drawing book, drawing trees and landscape fragments in india ink into it. I use the text and image fields as drawing areas. The underlying texts and images mostly on modern conceptual art create a tension or friction with my landscape drawings.
I would expect that the popular use, the publication and communication of sketchbooks will create forces that will move sketchbooks into a highly developed and unique form of art. New types of sketchbooks will occur and expand the traditional uses.
Working with sketchbooks is a slow image technique and it serves the trend to slow down against the insane accelaration of all processes and life activities. Working with a sketchbook-diary will get more popular and gain importance outside of the artworld.
What are the consequences ? Use more sketchbooks to expand the limits of imagination and create something new.
Sketches from Japan by Francis DK Ching
This little red book is probably one of the most influentual ones about architectural drawing and sketching. The author kept a drawing diary during a short stay in Japan.
The introduction essay is a good read on drawing from life as an exercise for the mind.
More information on the author on Wikipedia and on University week showing award winner Francis Ching at work.
The introduction essay is a good read on drawing from life as an exercise for the mind.
More information on the author on Wikipedia and on University week showing award winner Francis Ching at work.
Sketchbooks on Youtube by Enrique Flores
These are great examples of travel sketchbooks
curated content from YouTube
Create your own sketchbooks
When making monotype prints it happens regularaly that an attempt does not work out as wanted. I cut and assembled a number of old monotype prints to a sketchbook simply bound with book screws. Old monotype prints make a wonderful background for oil pastel drawings.
Empty page - old monotype print
Special Tip - learn how to bind your own sketchbook from Lindsay Olson
A lesson in coptic stitch !
- Non-Linear-Arts: Sketchbook Nerd
- Artist Lindsay lson shows her favorite sketchbooks and provides a link to her tutorial how to make your own sketchbook with a sturdy coptic stitch
Sketchbooks sites - with further links
- Urban sketchers blog
- Blog of sketchers worldwide
- LINKS to ARTISTS' SKETCHBOOKS ONLINE
- Artists' Sketchbooks Online was created in 1998 by Scattergood-Moore, a professional artist & art educator...
Great sketchbook link collection - Travels with a sketchbook - Resources for Artists
- This lens provides resources for people who like looking at travel sketchbooks and people who'd like to keep a travel sketchbook but need a few tips first.When I travel, I sketch. When I sketch on my travels I record it in on my blog Travels with a Sketchbook in...... Plus I provide 1) information a
- Drawing and Sketching - Resources for Artists
- This lens is about drawing and sketching. It shares information about drawing and sketching - materials, drawing communities and forums, instruction books and other resources which support the development of drawings and sketches. New links are being added added on a regular basis. If you like this
- Russell Stutler's Sketchbook Home
- Russell Stutler, Russ Stutler, sketchbook, pen and wash, brush and ink sketches
- Sketchbooks-A Nice Place for Artists | Sketchbooks
- Sketchbook artists and their online sketch books. Other resources including: Bookmark links of other sketch art sites - the Masters, Illustrators, Film, Storyboards, Comics, Sketching Groups and more., Sketchbook artists and their online sketches. Free Membership to start your online Sketchbook here
- Sketchbooks adventures
- Sketchbook adventures is a website on sketchbooks run by the artist Carol McQuaid. Her introductions says it all:
"This site is all about giving you the tools and the inspiration to go out and create your own sketchbook adventures. You can order the book "On Keeping A Watercolour Sketchbook Journal" and link to some good sites to pick up materials. Flip through my sketchbooks or follow a link to some great sites for inspiration. Find out where I'm sketching at the moment by following my blog, "Sketchalina's Wanderings". You can also find out about upcoming workshops and Sketchbook Adventures you can join in on. Happy Sketching!"
How to keep a sketchbook
- How to Start and Keep a Sketchbook: Learn to Use a Sketchbook Like the Masters
- Keeping a sketchbook is the best way to help your skills grow as an artist.
- How to Keep a Sketchbook - BateMania
- Some ideas on Batemania
- How to Keep A Sketchbook - Ideas for Getting Your Sketchbook Started
- Keeping a sketchbook is something most artists do. A sketchbook fills various functions, and you'll find your own way of using it. But where do you start, when you bring home that beautiful sketchbook with crisp, empty white pages. How do you fill them? Try some of these creative ideas for getting y
- How to Keep a Life Drawing Sketchbook | eHow.com
- How to Keep a Life Drawing Sketchbook. Are you an artist who wants to start drawing more from real life? It's easy when it becomes a habit. This article will teach you how to keep a sketchbook for life drawing. Wherever you are at, whoever...
Traveling sketchbook or journals
Traveling sketchbooks and collaborative journals are a fascinating way to connect people. This is a link list of those projects I have heard or read about.
- Flyingpictures Project
- Flyingpictures Project : Seven intrepid handmade sketchbooks, collecting pictures as they wing their way around the world
- 1000 journals - Journals
- The 1000 Journals Project is an ongoing collaborative experiment attempting to follow 1000 journals throughout their travels. The goal is to provide a method for interaction and shared creativity among friends and strangers.
- the traveling sketchbook - Provo Highschool -Utah
- the Traveling Sketchbook Project at provo high school - 1125 North University Ave,Provo, UT 84604
- Moleskine Exchange
- A group of people/artists collaborating on Moleskine sketchbooks
Sketchbook reprints and facsimile prints
Martha's Vineyard and Other Places: My Third Sketchbook from the Summer of 1982 (Abrams Facsimile Reproduction Sketchbook Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
List Price: $130.00
Used Price: $39.94
Wayne Thiebaud: Sketchbook (An Abrams Facsimile Reproduction Sketchbook)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
List Price: $85.00
Used Price: $149.95
John Constable's Sketch-books of 1813 and 1814 (Facsimile no. 2)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
List Price:
Used Price:
Picasso's Sketchbook : A Limited Edition In Facsimile
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
List Price:
Used Price:
The Seven Sketchbooks of Vincent Van Gogh: A Facsimile Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
List Price:
Used Price: $30.00
Edition Handdruck Sketchbooks online
- Public Sketchbooks by Edition Handdruck
- my public picasa web albums
- Village Views
- These are sketches from an exhibition project in 2007. I sketched local landscapes at Freudenstein-Hohenklingen. You can get an idea of the landscape from a second project called "A year in the vineyard" which took place in same landscape at Weblog- a year in the vine yard
Welcome Sketchers
I appreciate feedback to this lens from fellow sketchers and other interested people.
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- EditionH EditionH Nov 7, 2009 @ 1:43 am | in reply to AnnRadley
- Hi Ann, thank you very much for visiting my lens and your friendly comment
I want to recommend your excellent, motivating lens on drawing :
Ann Radley - "Don`t tell me you can´t draw as straight line" . Check it out via Ann's lensmaster profile.
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- AnnRadley AnnRadley Dec 2, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
- HI! I've just updated my JoyofDrawing lens (the one you mentioned) And I'm rolling this fantastic lens onto it!
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- AnnRadley AnnRadley Nov 6, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
- This lens is rich with inspiring material, thoughts, and sketches. I agree with you about the transformative power of drawing and sketching. It changes what you see and sometimes it is like a whole new world opens up. I'm just starting to explore your other lens also - tips for landscape drawing. I have not been drawing outdoors for some time, and I think your lens will inspire me to get back to it. Thanks!
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- EditionH EditionH Nov 5, 2009 @ 12:59 am | in reply to Laura
- Hello Laura,
thank you for your visit and encouraging comment. I had admired some of your wonderful Brittany sketches on Urban Sketchers blog already. It is fascinating to see how the old, crafted handwork of sketching on site or in the atelier fits into the new most modern media times.
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- Laura Laura Nov 3, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
- I am so impressed with this lens and with your own work. I have bookmarked you and am looking forward to seeing what you do in the future.
All the best,
Laura
http://www.laurelines.typepad.com
Drawing and walking - my weblog about being creative with a sketchbook
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