Question (a silly one perhaps) but how do you hold your sketchbook as you draw? I noticed some of your sketches take up the whole surface of the paper. Do you use a stand and stool or do you improvise for each drawing?
Thank you Ben! You know what, I actually never paid attention to how I hold my sketchbook and didn't know to be honest hahaha! But I made a video about my sketchbooks a while ago, with a few shots in it where I'm drawing, so I could check.
Apparently, I switch a lot: I hold it on the top and sometimes on the bottom, but always put pressure on the centre. Here's the video so you can see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKTiuD7bXTw (if you go to 8:57 you see I hold it on the top).
I draw at a table when I'm in a cafe but I don't use stands or stools when I'm out and about.
Hope this helps :) Thanks for your interesting question!
Ok, officially bananas. I just stumbled across your newsletter, nodding along to your burnout post and seeing words I'd used recently pop up on the screen - so I checked out more of what you're up to - and sitting in my drafts for my next post is one about my sketchbook practice. About not using sketchbooks ever, until my 30s, and I use them in a near identical way as you describe. Right down to the word 'precious' in how I used to avoid / approach them.
I guess this is a long way to say, hello kindred creative.
Your notebooks are amazing!! I'm not very good at drawing and always a bit scared to try, but your works show me that the main thing is to try, not to be afraid and be creative!
I never used sketchbooks until 2020....I'm always nervous of creating stuff that might not be "usable" but it's so satisfying to create something that doesn't have to be "something". Love your landscapes and it's making me think I might need to have a landscape sketchbook :)
Totally know what you mean, I always felt everything I made needed instant purpose. I know realise that keeping sketchbooks isn't instant purpose, but long-run purpose. It feels more private and more for me, too.
So lovely to read! I tend to mess up (willingly) the first pages with sketches in all kinds of materials and styles, so that I don’t feel obligated to keep a certain style throughout te sketchbook. And keeps the ‘it has to be perfect’ voice out of my mind. Love the idea of testpages first as well. Definitely gonna keep that one in mind with the next book 😍
Sketchbooks have been a godsend to me over the past two years . Getting over that hump of creating something lovely on every page was a challenge -but trying new media gave me the excuse to make mistakes and celebrate . ! I think in this age of showing everything we make online it is liberating to make mistakes and grow with a sketchbook ..Or just make something different and feel good about the process ! I guess I was brought up to not "ruin ' hardcover books lol -but as I have several sketchbooks completed it feels great to finish and start a new one! Old mistakes look far better with time and reflection it seems..I have joined a local urban sketchers group and that has loosened me up too ! Thank you for this post ..To not show and keep sketchbooks for ourselves is a beautiful and freeing concept:-)
I agree, making mistakes is incredibly liberating. It helps to evolve your work and style. An urban sketchers group sounds wonderful. I bet you learn a lot from each other?
Indeed we do - I think there is an accountability to showing up to sketch together too . We grow our confidence and comfort level with showing our art to each other
It's so freeing to use a few spreads just to scribble. In the past I've soaked the first pages completely in watercolour (with loads of water), so that they got all wonky and even let loose from the spine.
Beautiful sketches, thanks for sharing!
Question (a silly one perhaps) but how do you hold your sketchbook as you draw? I noticed some of your sketches take up the whole surface of the paper. Do you use a stand and stool or do you improvise for each drawing?
Thank you Ben! You know what, I actually never paid attention to how I hold my sketchbook and didn't know to be honest hahaha! But I made a video about my sketchbooks a while ago, with a few shots in it where I'm drawing, so I could check.
Apparently, I switch a lot: I hold it on the top and sometimes on the bottom, but always put pressure on the centre. Here's the video so you can see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKTiuD7bXTw (if you go to 8:57 you see I hold it on the top).
I draw at a table when I'm in a cafe but I don't use stands or stools when I'm out and about.
Hope this helps :) Thanks for your interesting question!
Ahh that's awesome, thanks for sharing!
Ye, I find myself constantly switching positions when sketching outdoors too. I figure the lack of stability is good practice!
Not sketched much at cafes but makes sense to use the table. Aside from the stability, I assume it makes you more incognito too.
Looking forward to seeing more sketches 👋
Ok, officially bananas. I just stumbled across your newsletter, nodding along to your burnout post and seeing words I'd used recently pop up on the screen - so I checked out more of what you're up to - and sitting in my drafts for my next post is one about my sketchbook practice. About not using sketchbooks ever, until my 30s, and I use them in a near identical way as you describe. Right down to the word 'precious' in how I used to avoid / approach them.
I guess this is a long way to say, hello kindred creative.
I completely missed your comment, sorry! It's such a lovely comment, thank for your that.
Your notebooks are amazing!! I'm not very good at drawing and always a bit scared to try, but your works show me that the main thing is to try, not to be afraid and be creative!
I'm very happy you took that from my post :)
I never used sketchbooks until 2020....I'm always nervous of creating stuff that might not be "usable" but it's so satisfying to create something that doesn't have to be "something". Love your landscapes and it's making me think I might need to have a landscape sketchbook :)
Totally know what you mean, I always felt everything I made needed instant purpose. I know realise that keeping sketchbooks isn't instant purpose, but long-run purpose. It feels more private and more for me, too.
So lovely to read! I tend to mess up (willingly) the first pages with sketches in all kinds of materials and styles, so that I don’t feel obligated to keep a certain style throughout te sketchbook. And keeps the ‘it has to be perfect’ voice out of my mind. Love the idea of testpages first as well. Definitely gonna keep that one in mind with the next book 😍
Great idea to use all kinds of materials and styles. No restrictions for a sketchbook is good!
Sketchbooks have been a godsend to me over the past two years . Getting over that hump of creating something lovely on every page was a challenge -but trying new media gave me the excuse to make mistakes and celebrate . ! I think in this age of showing everything we make online it is liberating to make mistakes and grow with a sketchbook ..Or just make something different and feel good about the process ! I guess I was brought up to not "ruin ' hardcover books lol -but as I have several sketchbooks completed it feels great to finish and start a new one! Old mistakes look far better with time and reflection it seems..I have joined a local urban sketchers group and that has loosened me up too ! Thank you for this post ..To not show and keep sketchbooks for ourselves is a beautiful and freeing concept:-)
I agree, making mistakes is incredibly liberating. It helps to evolve your work and style. An urban sketchers group sounds wonderful. I bet you learn a lot from each other?
Indeed we do - I think there is an accountability to showing up to sketch together too . We grow our confidence and comfort level with showing our art to each other
That sounds so nice!
Lovely to peep inside these sketchbooks! And what a great idea to start by testing colours to get the ‘newness’ out of the way...
That's nice to hear, thanks Jane!
I love that idea of just making marks and testing on the first few pages. I always find it so hard to use that first page of a new book.
It's so freeing to use a few spreads just to scribble. In the past I've soaked the first pages completely in watercolour (with loads of water), so that they got all wonky and even let loose from the spine.
I love a Royal Talens too. I’ve been enjoying the bigger ones lately. Do you have a favorite size?
I have them in every size, also the A4-size but I tend to grab the A5-size the most, as it fits in my coat pockets: I take it anywhere :)
Oooh this post makes me so happy. Thank you for sharing these photos and thoughts. Delicious ❤️
That's lovely to hear, thanks A-D!
Ruining the first couple of pages always helps, hahaha!