I think that most people who are regular readers of my blog know that I am not a person who keeps a regular sketchbook. Oh, I have all kinds of little notebooks around. One is for longarm quilting ideas, one is for placemat and other project ideas and several are spread around for lists, ideas and reminders. But I've never considered keeping a real grown-up sketchbook like an artist.
Then I started following The Sketchbook Challenge blog and seeing some of the pages created by participants. I was intrigued.
In the last few weeks along came more motivation with Sue Bleiweiss' new book The Sketchbook Challenge. The book opens with a chapter on getting started. She has addressed EVERYTHING you need to know to start your own sketchbook. She discusses types of books, types of paper and every imaginable way to make marks in your book.
Even if you (or I) never take up the practice of keeping a sketchbook, this book is full of inspirational pages from a variety of artists.
The remaining chapters are prompts and each chapter shows how different artists approached the topic. In the "rhythm" chapter artists Jackie Bowcutt and Laura Cater-Woods shared how they approached the theme of "rhythm".
Every chapter also has a technique page and the techniques range from thread sketching, painting collage paper to making your own stamps.
The book is chock full of information and inspiration and is a valuable artist tool even if you don't choose to keep a sketchbook. Who knows, it might get some of us st start a sketchbook after all!
I have made some attempts at keeping a notebook of ideas, but somehow I end up scribbling on ramdon pieces of paper which end up all over the place!
Posted by: patty | July 20, 2012 at 10:06 AM
My copy came today and now I can't wait to sit down tonight and dive into it! Yay!
Posted by: Mary Anne | August 08, 2012 at 07:41 PM