The truth about sketchbooks.



Arctic warrior value sketch used as title page for sketchbook



   Long ago, I recall asking an established, professional artist /instructor about his sketchbook to which he replied something that left me with the impression that his technical proficiency was so great that he no longer needed to do sketches and studies but went right into "the work". His words hit me with a sadness at first that he no longer collected  (what I am now learning) the bound honesty of truth an artist constructs where they were allowed to play, experiment and make mistakes. At the time reaching a level of greatness where I would no longer need a sketchbook/crutch seemed an impossibility. I wondering how long I would have to practice until I could "fly without a net" like a real artist. Years later there was a guy I often painted beside who was much more advanced than I who also claimed he didn't keep a sketchbook. I was the only one I knew who sketched during lunch break, bus rides, coming home from the store, waiting for the dryer to time out ... anytime I wasn't working otherwise.  As my 60-70 hour work weeks began to wear me down I felt the "busy work" of sketches and studies were taking from being able to do significant art and in time I lost the joy and wonder.

  The truth is that there is no shame in continuing to keep a sketchbook.

Actually the better artists (I later learned) are the ones who continue preliminary drawings, value studies, comp studies, color testing, poster paintings... Regular drawing can be an artist's greatest asset and many people don't even realize it. This is true of poets, musicians, architects, chemists, actors, every day people who claim they don't have creative talent... sometimes people just need a place where they can go and empty the mind, unload ideas or appreciate life through observation.

   DaVinci is just one of the many great minds who knew the importance of sketchbooks and although 100s of years later we still study his drawings and writings, I believe that in his lifetime these sketchbooks provided a huge value in his own learning and growth process. I believe that sketchbooks (not always for drawing) are a good way for anybody to reconnect with the external equations of life as well as the internal mechanism of themselves. Peter Steinhart wrote a book called Undressed Art: Why we draw which explores some valid arguments for the support of drawing habits but until you have really embraced the process on a consist ant practice, it is difficult to appreciate the benefits not only in improving artistic skills but for becoming more deeply engaged in life.

"Arctic Warrior"  finished drawing 17x27 graphite on paper