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Learning How to Sketch, Sketchbooks, Journals and Personal Pages
Learning how to sketch is fun. Whenever I look through old sketchbooks I see two things: A chronological record of how far I have already traveled and a highly personal record of places, people, and captured moments in time.
My sketchbooks also contain thoughts, ideas, rough outlines of illustrations (which don't always get made!), notes and even shopping lists. My mind is right there, on the page. And if I'm ever stuck for ideas my sketch books - around 30 so far - are full of them. Sketching is also about conveying ideas:
Builder Bill
talks about how drawing and sketching have not only been a tremendous pleasure, they have also helped him to communicate ideas and work out problems.
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. I began learning to draw by sketching. Sitting in cafes, my back against the wall so no one could look over my shoulder. I was very embarrassed by some of my early sketches: I struggled with proportions and perspective. Some of my people looked more like characters out of Star Wars than anything human, but I was addicted. I still am. Learn how to sketch and you will be too.
Not Just Sketching Though...Sketchbooks are not just for sketching though. They are personal books, each as individual as the artist who created them. Some are messy: bulging with collages and collected ephemera - even textiles. Others are pristine - full of neat, tidy sketches and precise notes. And some combine both.
You may even decide to keep more than one - reserving one for sketching and another for experimentation.
Because it is so personal - and because you are using it as a place to learn how to sketch and draw you may choose not to share it with anyone. This is your choice - if someone asks to look at your book and you don't want to show them tell them it's a journal (it is, after all) and very personal.
Find the Right BookOne which pleases you. Probably not too expensive - at least not at first, whilst you are learning how to sketch. If you feel you can only do 'good' sketches and drawings in it, you will likely never use it. It's important you feel free to do things badly and mess it up. Also bear in mind that once you are hooked you'll go through sketchbooks very quickly. In a couple of hours sketching I can go through 15 or 20 pages.Of course you can also make your own sketchbooks - I'll be showing you how in future lessons. Paper is of course the other consideration. A good all round choice would be a medium or smooth cartridge paper, about 150gsm/90lbs in weight. If you plan to use only or mainly pens to sketch with then opt for smoother paper as textured paper will create drag. If you plan to use mostly dry media, try something with a little more texture. It will probably take a little time to find the book and paper you like best. Finally: Something to draw with! I always advise using pens. This makes some students balk a little - not being able to rub out mistakes can scare people. We don't want others to see all those 'wrong lines' we made. But when you are sketching you are working differently - often faster than drawing. If you stopped to erase lines you did not like, your subject would be gone when you looked up. Think of learning how to sketch as playtime - you are allowed to make mistakes - positively encouraged in fact because what you first saw as a mistake, can look like a vein of gold the next time you look at it. Drawing with a pen focuses the mind too. Your concentration tends to be much better when you cannot erase or make changes. And often, lines that at first seem a mistake end up adding movement and life to the finished sketch. So I strongly encourage you to learn how to sketch by using a ballpoint pen, a fountain pen or one of the many different technical pens available. you can read more about recommended art and drawing supplies in the
Art Supplies
pages.
From Sketching To...Once you are familiar with the basics discussed in How to Sketch, have a look at the other links for ways to develop how you use your sketchbook. And don't forget to get your FREE copy of Creative Sketchbooks and Journals - my thank you to you for subscribing to my e-zine.
From mixing media to drawing without looking at the page there are so many ways to really get most out of your sketchbook. And all of them will help you to learn to sketch. Feeling stuck for something to draw? In need of a little inspiration? Subscribe to my e-zine, Continuous Line - every issue includes suggestions for subjects to draw and ways to get your inspiration flowing again. Plus, you'll receive a free copy of my e-booklet Creative Sketchbooks and Journals as my thank you to you for subscribing. Where would you like to go now?Back to the top of the How to sketch page To the Learn to Sketch page Back to the Home page
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All of them though, become journals as well as sketchbooks - records of your life good days and bad. What you do in yours and how you do it will reflect who you are, your likes and dislikes and the media you like to use.
