Sketchbooks

A sketchbook practice

For a long time I was intimidated by the idea of sketchbooks but they have become an important part of my art practice. A sketchbook is a place to practice, experiment, and let loose on those days when you just need to play. Once you get past the feeling that they have to be pretty they become a valuable resource studio resource. Some of my sketchbooks have themes, some are places to record ideas and make notes, some are where I use up the paint that’s left at the end of the day.

The rock sketchbook

When I briefly returned to academia I needed a project that would maintain my studio practice. The rock sketchbook was it. Each spread in this sketchbook is a response to an object picked up on my travels. Most of these objects are rocks – I just love their varied shapes, patterns and textures – and the images are mostly watercolour and ink. A little gouache found its way onto some pages.

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The big sketchbook

Big, square sketchbooks have become a constant part of my studio practice. These 30x30cm books have sturdy cartridge paper pages and the Coptic binding means they open completely flat. Because I hate to throw paper away, I have a large stash of failed prints, offcuts from bookmaking, paper used to lift excess paint and so on. I start each spread in these big books by gluing in pieces of this paper. This provides a starting point and I work back into the pages with paint, ink, coloured pencils and oil stick until I’m satisfied with the result. The things I learn have an impact on everything else I make.

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Using up the paint

You are probably getting the picture by now (pardon the pun!). I also hate to waste paint. Paint that is left on my brush or palette at the end of a painting session finds its way into the ‘using up the paint’ sketchbooks. These books are a place to play. I’m still figuring out how to translate the freedom of their pages into my larger paintings.

Click on the gallery images for larger versions.