Too much of a good thing... sketchbook vs loose pages

May 26, 2012 | 1 Comment

  
Had two visits in two days to my favourite Tearoom. The first visit was quality time with myself (thinking and sketching time) and today with a friend.

Here are sketchbook pages from the 2 visits.

I have been doing a lot more sketching on loose paper lately… And I find it a challenge! Sketching on loose paper should in theory be less stressful than in a book…but for me it is harder. In my sketchbook is for me (as I never cut a page out) it is only ever for me. If I am not happy with the sketch I can add text, grids, collage, other elements to make it into a pleasing spread….or if a disaster I can cover it(but so I can still see it later) or temporarily tape pages together. Because it is in my book I am more likely to keep going with a sketch to make it ok.

When sketching on loose paper it is normally for a project or someone else and therefore there is pressure for it to be a ‘good’ one. If it doesn’t work (I often give up on a sketch too easily!), sure I could throw the page away but I want to keep and record every sketch I do as part of the journey, each is part of my life. I am thinking of getting a large A4 sketchbook to stick these ‘not good enough’ sketches in as a record and somewhere that I can write those all important notes to myself!

Lately, I have just been drawing on loose paper for the sake of it… And seeing what happens. I must say that I am REALLY enjoying working on A4 size! (I would love to use a A4 size sketchbook but the weight would be too much for me to carry daily!) I am finding that my sketchbook pages lately have been more sketchy as a result – they are more note taking sketches, while the A4 pages are more considered sketches

Anyway… Rambling away- hope making some sense….

Here are the A4 sketches done at T2…. 

1 Comment

  • I absolutely agree with ya there. I recently lost my old blog so I had to start new. While posting some old images I couldn't help but notice my sketches are so rough but when I do something seperate it's so defined.

    That said I'd say don't carry the a4 but make sure to sit out once or twice a week and go back and refine the sketch. I don't know just a thought, I'll have to try myself.

    Great work regardless, loved the read

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