Thoughts on Keeping a Sketchbook

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I recently completed a self-imposed 30-day sketchbook spread challenge that really pushed me creatively over the course of a month (you can check out the fruits of my labors here).  I gained a little bit of insight along the way, and drew from my experience as a sketchbook-keeper for well over a decade.  Here are some of my thoughts on keeping a sketchbook, whether you are an artist or a human being in general:

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• Sketchbooks are for EVERYONE: You don’t have to identify as an “artist” or even call yourself “a creative person” in order to keep a sketchbook.  Have you ever had an idea?  Have you ever seen something beautiful that you wanted to capture in some way?  I thought so.  Guess what?  You’re creative.  It’s in all of us, end of story.
• Let go of the idea that your sketchbook is a “precious” object: Learning to let go of my work as something “precious” was one of the most liberating lessons I received in grad school.  I’m free to sell it, trash it, rework it, paint over it.. rather than being a slave to it. I was less afraid to take risks.  I grew as an artist.  Also, if I hadn’t learned this lesson, I’d be a stage 4 hoarder right about now.
• Think of your sketchbook as a place to experiment: Your sketchbook is YOURS.  No one ever has to see it.  You don’t ever have to post on social media or on your website.  You don’t have to show your mom.  So don’t be afraid to treat the pages as a testing ground.  Work out potential color schemes to find what looks good.  Try out new styles.  Mimic the work of artists you admire.  Practice.  When you’re trying something new, there is no such thing as a failure.  That said...
• ...don’t just draw: Drawing is easy to do when you’re on the go, as it’s a relatively clean way of working, but test out other mediums.  Paint with gouache or watercolor.  Collage.  Tape in random interesting & relatively flat things you find on your ramblings.  Write.  Make lists. Take notes.  Do research.  Don’t like what you just made? Skip a page and come back to it.  Still hate it?  Collage over it.  Work the hell out of your sketchbook.
• Be forgiving: It can be hard to get started.  An entire book full of blank pages can be really intimidating.  Especially if it’s leather-bound/embossed or otherwise superfancy.  I always get nondescript black moleskine sketchbooks because other than being hardy, they’re simple, unassuming and don’t demand greatness from me.  Sometimes, to just go ahead and set the bar really low, I open up to the first page and write SHIT really big across the spread.  It can only get better from there.  Just remember that making art is a process.  The doing is what’s important, not the result.
• Sketchbook = physical Pinterest board: Use your sketchbook as a place to collect, store & catalogue the things that inspire you.  Clip out beautiful photos from magazines.  Cut strips of gorgeous textiles and collage them across a spread.  Print out and glue in examples of art that you love.  Test paints for your living room wall.  Organize according to theme: have a spread full of photos of stained glass.  Or try and organize photos, drawings and patterns according to mood.  
• Visit your local library or bookstore: There is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration in a number of books directed at sketchbooks and the creative process in general.  Here are a few that are pretty rad:

• Work in it often: It’s important to keep that creative channel open, no matter what you do for a day job.  We all have creativity within us, begging to be released.  If I go for extended periods of time without doing creative work, I usually end up back with my therapist.  Making art is just plain GOOD FOR YOU.  So keep your sketchbook near you (+ a pen or pencil) so you can work in it as the mood strikes.
• When you’re finished, don’t throw it away: Jesus, don’t throw it away.  Even if it’s embarrassing as HELL, just tuck it away somewhere safe.  I know this goes against what I said about “preciousness” but I think of the sketchbook as a record of growth.  It’s fun to look back on what you were thinking about, where you were, what you did, who you were way back when.  I had a manic purgefest about 8 years ago that resulted in the trashing of my sketchbooks dating all the way back to high school.  I really regret that.

Additionally, there are some great resources online to help you get started on your sketch-journey.

• Emmy Award-winning artist Gary Panter gives some great tips here: http://unbored.net/gary-panters-drawing-tips/
• Bad-ass artist/designer Lisa Congdon has a great four-part video series on sketchbook explorations, where she walks you though really specific directed techniques for getting super-cool effects. Highly recommend.  Offered through Creative Bug: http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/sketchbook-explorations

HAPPY SKETCHING!