The pile of sketchbooks
Why I use a Sketchbook
I started to draw very early in my life, like many toddlers out there I used to doddle in my bedroom walls with big crayons. In school I changed “medium” and used to doodle on my schoolbooks and notebooks, my mother, trying to avoid that, covered the book covers, so I could decorate them with my own drawings and collages, but soon she realized it wasn’t enough and gave me a proper sketchbook (thanks mom!). I used to draw things that were in my mind at that time, like the looks I wanted for myself and my dolls, I created characters too, little stories as comics, I drew about my vacations, my friends, my family, literally everything! I loved so much the freedom I had while doing that activity, I was in another world. The sketchbook was my safe place, where I could be myself and express all my feelings and thoughts. With time I noticed I had improved my skills, for example the notion of 3 dimensions. My parents are both engineers, as a kid I used to snoop around my mom’s projects and I end up learning by myself how to do a basic perspective, obviously I added this knowledge to my drawings and created a fantasy Hair Saloon for Jackeline, my Barbie, and a tree house for Robertinho, my plush monkey (my first clients?). And I kept using sketchbooks during my whole life. In my adulthood I use it as tool that helps me to relax and organize my thoughts. In my professional life as an Architect and artist it is nice to have one for studies, insights, to practice, to create. I have a bunch of them, separated by use: one for journaling, many for sketching, another one for notes, it’s something I can’t live without. “My sketchbook is a witness of what I am experiencing, scribbling things whenever they happen.”
My Sketchbooks’ collection
I have sketchbooks of various sizes, paper types, formats… so I can test different styles and materials. Here my collection and how I use them:
1) A5 collection:
This “collection” I use to practice different subjects: human figure, architectural details, botanical, objects... They are thinner, not so many pages (30 in total), the paper is 120g/qm, which is enough for pencil, ink and markers. I like to separate that way, so I can pick up each one when I need to “research” a specific subject, but nobody has to do that, it’s a bit overwhelming, I know. I draw freely and I’m not afraid to make mistakes, I will not show to anyone, it’s only to practice. I try pen thickness’, styles of hatching, lining, inking shapes… to brainstorm ideas too and to exercise my hand.
2) Squared 22.5X22.5cm:
“Yellow book” or “Pretty sketchbook”. In this one I try my best to create a beautiful and satisfying composition and achieve a good result with my line work. I use a Leuchtturm Sketchbook, with good thick pages (150g/qm). I buy this one every year to be my main sketchbook, it’s the one I show on social media. I have it in yellow, my favorite color! For 2022 I have also a “Yellow book” in A5 format.
3) Mini Sketchbooks A6:
I have a lot of these ones. I carry with me everywhere, the size is perfect for that, I put on my bag, or my pocket and ready to go. I take notes, doodle, scribble, I draw some things that I see very quickly, more like a mental note for later when I decide to create a full drawing, or simply to get rid of my thoughts, to doodle and clear my mind. It’s a freestyle sketchbook, the pages are thin, not fancy at all.
4) Bullet Journal A5:
This one is where I keep my monthly and weekly calendar, my to do list and daily logs. Where I write, take notes, sometimes I write down the dreams I had, how I’m feeling, etc. I have this one with dotted pages and black cover.
Ufff, well, now I realized I have a lot! Hum, I should search for a sponsorship…
“Mostly, drawings are things I make for myself - I do them in sketchbooks. They are mental experiments - private inner thoughts when I’m not sure what will come out. ”
Sketchbook for artists
Nowadays people share their sketchbooks on social media, and obviously they are amazing and aesthetically pleasing, but that’s not what you should worry about. A sketchbook is mainly a tool for artists, where you can practice, doesn’t have to be pretty at all! Every time you touch the paper doesn’t become an instant masterpiece, that’s what people don’t understand and feel frustrated about, It takes time to get a good result. Those perfectly crafted images are curated, I’m sure these artists have an “ugly sketchbook” they don’t show anyone. Remember that you only get better if you fail and practice, and your sketchbook is the right place for that. In the future you can go back and look at the whole process and see how much you improved, believe me, it’s very satisfying.
I do share my sketchbook online, but I have a special one for that (the “Yellow Book” I mentioned before). The other ones are personal, I don’t share with anyone, I don’t feel comfortable to do so, you can have that separation too if it encourages you to start drawing.
Looking on the internet I found a lot of information about how to properly use a sketchbook, there are some “rules” we should follow to use them “correctly”, and what I think they mean by that, is to use it in the best way possible to improve your artwork. Some of the rules I found are: 1) Use only one Sketchbook at a time, finish first before moving on 2) Don’t tear pages out of your sketchbook 3) Don’t cover up bad sketches… you can learn more about it on Lee Angold’s blog, where she goes deep in the Sketchbook rules: Lee Angol’s Blog.
“Sketchbooks and journals are the streetlamps that illuminate the artist’s journey”
Doesn’t really matter how you use your sketchbook, or if you are following the “right rules” (because I’m not either). But I agree that you must have one! Experiment, unlock your creativity, write your thoughts down, be free. I’m sure you going to find it useful.
