While I love my art journal, I probably have been spending more time in my sketchbook lately, trying to capture ideas as they fly, doing relaxing doodles that will later become art fodder, or illustrating a verse or message. They most often are not finished, as you see above, but just capture the essence of an idea to pursue later.
I have spent a lot of time on this sheet of intricate doodles that I am gradually filling in with paint and marker. Then it will become decorative paper to use in my artwork. Fortunately, I find it a relaxing before bed activity!
These are concept drawings for a piece that I will hopefully be sharing soon!
Doodles like this aren’t much to look at, but there are a couple of new stencils coming up that were born of this sketchbook entry!
And sometimes it is just a place where I try out a new style…
Do you keep a sketchbook? What goes in it?
Anna Schulten
Those birds stacked on top of each other are adorable!! I love the colors you use! Out of curiosity, what kind of paper is in your sketchbook? Mine’s too thin and the water makes it wrinkle…
victoryrd
I use sketchbooks with mixed media paper. Thinner than watercolor, but still holds up to wet media. Canson and Strathmore both have nice ones.
Anna Schulten
Cool! Thanks!!
Laura (PA Pict)
I really like each of these pieces. I am especially drawn to the stack of birds and that page of doodles. I look forward to seeing how these sketchbook ideas might evolve.
In answer to your question, I do keep a sketchbook and an art journal. However, in the past year my sketchbook has become the domain of concepts and workings out for art I am selling rather than just trying out ideas. Whereas I used to try things out in my sketchbook, I am now just incorporating that in my art journal. I guess it is just the convenience.