Sketching, sketchbook look inside, drawing ideas.

Sketchbook Tour - A Look Inside my Sketchbook

Artist have different ways to create art on an ongoing basis. Some artists work on their art every day, sketching ideas all the time, and feel like something is missing if they haven't put something down on paper daily.

Others work on a project by project basis, and each project may have many time-consuming steps. This is how I work, whether creating art that will appear on products, or writing and designing a book. Project ideas often tend to come to me as finished products. I can visualize the end result from the beginning. However, there are usually many steps between where I start and actually seeing the final product.

From time to time, if I want to relax and allow creative juices to flow, I'll use one of my sketchbooks to make quick drawings, write notes, develop ideas, or test colours. In face, my sketchbooks tend to look more like art journals since I write as much as I draw or paint.

I thought you might enjoy a little tour through one of my sketchbooks. This big black, hard-cover sketchbook is one you can pick up at any art store or online.

While it isn't ideal for travelling, it's great for sketching, drawing, and planning in one place. Having said that, the first time I used it, I was on the ferry from British Columbia's (Canada) mainland going to Vancouver Island where the capital, Victoria, is located.

I had decided to try my hand at doing random sketches of the scenery, the vessel, people on the voyage, and anything else that caught my eye.

TIP: If you're sketching or drawing in a public place, people are bound to be curious, especially if they catch you using them for a subject. You may have folks peering over your shoulder while trying to remain unobtrusive, or blatantly snooping. If you want to be left alone, try to find somewhere you can draw with some privacy.

When drawing people, or any living thing, you have to work fast before they move.

In the sketch here (above right) the man was either reading or snoozing. I drew this in a couple of minutes as you can see by the jotted lines. Clearly, I was impressed with his voluminous eyebrows, too.

When you have a large page, you have the freedom to sketch in different sizes, or use the page for multiple small drawings. Below is an example of creating lots of small studies on a page. Please keep in mind that these are quick sketches to practice seeing, and not finished drawings. When I draw designs for painting, the drawing is much more detailed, refined, and accurate.

If you have a little more time, use an entire page to draw a scene. Worried about what to draw? Anything around you can constitute a scene worth using to practice. They goal is to have fun, not to create a masterpiece every time. In fact, you'll discover more to see and learn more techniques that work if you allow yourself to make a bad drawing to start with.

From my dining room on a rainy day. You can sketch anything.

Sketchbooks are highly versatile, especially if you're not too stuck on having lines to write on. After all, what difference does it make if your writing isn't exactly square with a page?

Lots of my sketchbook pages feature thoughts, ideas, or quotes that I've come across. I record them so that I won't forget, and so that I can be reminded of what my life as an artist and writer is really like. As with many things in life, creating frequently results in failures. You have to be willing to ruin acres of paper, or multiple sketchbooks. It's definitely worth it.

This sketch (left) is a case in point. It wouldn't win any prizes, but that wasn't my goal. Still, it tells a story.

I was sitting at my dining room table looking out at the rain after eating breakfast. It's winter or early spring. You can tell because the tree has no leaves. It has been raining for a while. Look at the size of the puddle in the lane.

I obviously had cereal and juice for breakfast as the milk carton is on the left and a large pitcher that I bought several years ago in Switzerland is on the right. I can also place the time of the drawing. Not long after we moved into our house, I replace the drapes with blinds so we could get in more light on days like this.

When it comes to journalling, there is more than one way to do it. Drawing a quick picture can bring back memories, or describe a scene from your life.

Wise words to keep you humble and growing.

Not everything in my sketchbook is serious, or even particularly artistic. A sketchbook is personal, like a diary, and you should include anything you want in it.  Here are a few examples of goofy doodles I've done while letting my mind run off in different directions.

Creativity is my life. And yours too.

When you're creative, it will be your life, no matter what you do for a day job. You will see life in creative ways and notice things that others may not.

Accept and enjoy your creativity. Get a sketchbook and explore the fun.

Watercolor sketching helps develop technique.

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My dog, chewing on a piece of rawhide.

This is a brief look at a few pages of one of my sketchbooks. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter using the form below for more creative ideas, inspiration, and fun surprises.

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The Letter Box is an entire year of letters, each illustrated with watercolours and with delightful photos, and written with readers in mind.

"If you ever need a break on a terrible winter day, as I sure did, lose yourself in this absolutely beautiful book. It is so encouraging, uplifting, clever and inspirational, with Wendy's gorgeous artwork and pictures on every page. I spent a lovely day or so escaping life for this beautiful place! Now all I need is to get it for all my friends! It is absolutely wonderful!
SJ Schroeder

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