Pages From My Sketchbooks

Any artist worth their salt

earns their bones filling a gazillion sketchbooks with doodles

I made these when I was in my bookmaking phase.

Delacroix's Le Voyage au Maroc sketchbooks are one of the best sources. When you're considering starting a sketchbook.
It's both a diary + sketchbook, drawn and written daily records of his Moroccan travels.
 

I've always treasured this picture of J.M.W.Turner's leather bound sketchbook. Many of his sketches can be seen in the Tate's Turnercollection in London, where Turner donated much of his artwork. Closer at hand is the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, CT. You can actually touch a Turner sketchbook!

Make an appointment first

A Turner-esque page from my sketchbook

Multi-doodles done in Poppi, Tuscany

I love to put down blobs of color and then create a little scene on top

Sketchbooks provide the chance to make quick summaries of what you see. Like a quick camera snapshot.
Spontaneous notation is what it's all about.
Often sketches are more personal, more interesting than the final finished painting.

More color blobs + grape picker doodles

Chateau doodles.
The thing about sketchbooks is they are private.
You can be as casual and messy and experimental as you like.
No ones going to see what you do...
Well almost no one.
 

Some of the sketchbook paraphrenalia you can "collect" in the name of sketching! There are endless art supplies out there waiting to tempt you, and every bit as luscious as any patisserie shop offering.

more SKETCHBOOK posts:

More Candy Stores

Daffodil Sketchbook

My Venice Moleskine

Wine Tools...

Carnets de Couleur

Moleskine à Table

Moleskine de Voyage #3
Carnets de Voyage #2
Carnets de Voyage

My Bologna