Everday Sketchbooks Part 1: Exercise 1.1

 What is your relationship with your sketchbook?

 

Do you already keep a sketchbook?

I have about 7 (some new) but only 3 I have touched, and none are finished. I have had them 3 for years and only really use them if I don’t want to throw out odd pieces of paper with doodles or drawings on or I draw into if I get a spark of creativity or if I'm bored.

 

Is it an extension of you? Does it feel like a best friend?

 It isn't an extension of me I only really use it for again If a get the urge to sketch something or if I want to have a go at pastels because I used to love to do pastel drawings. I did in school do a project where each page of the sketchbook was in the theme of TV and Film and working alphabetically with the names of shows and such each page the medium I used also had to begin with that letter of the alphabet in order (eg - C- coffee, T- tissues or A for acrylic) and you could use anything. That sketchbook was like a part of me at the time cause of the effort and how detailed and interactive it was. Unfortunately, i never got to take it home but It is now being used for future years doing the same project as an example (I will put some pictures underneath but quality might not be that good cause the pictures are old)

 

Is it just a functional object that holds your ideas?

 I usually only use it when I get a burst of energy, I get quite impatient if I don't do something perfect, so I think that’s what puts me off using on hand. I do scribble random Ideas but often rip them out if I don’t like them or move on to the next page. Too be honest I’ve always used random pieces of paper or anything I find when doodling and then usually get thrown away if I don’t think they're worth keeping.

 

Are you scared of your sketchbook? 

 I'm a bit intimidated by the space on the page because I don’t like mistakes, and I'm not one for producing backgrounds so the blank page often annoys me but then I can’t be bothered filling the page so I cant really win.

 

Reading some of the OCA quotes about What is your relationship with your sketchbook?

 

I picked some of the ones I related to:

 I carry it with me so if I am at the quiet place where I can focus, I open it. I

am not a type who opens it on the table in [a] coffee shop and let everyone see what

I am doing. - Andreja Arunovic

 

A love hate relationship really. Once I am sketching in my sketch book I enjoy it, but

I don’t like the thought of using it. I am always in a rush to try and start out my piece

and I feel like my sketchbook is a waste of time. Although I know this isn’t the case

and I actually come up with more ideas or better ideas through using it. I think I

dislike my sketchbook when I am feeling lazy or if I am excited by a piece and I want

to start straight away. - Lola O’Shea

 

It is a tool... Not precious or special. It goes well with a cup of tea. - Dr M Whiting

 

On and off. I’m not very faithful. I want to be, but other stuff gets in the way, but I’m

getting comfortable with the position they hold in my practice. They’re part of a

wider ecology. - Bryan Eccleshal

 

Anyway, here are some drawings from 4 of my sketchbooks:

Sketchbook 1-

This first sketchbook I’ve had for years and I’m not even halfway through, because I don’t regularly use a sketchbook the purpose of mine are random bursts. My drawing is often influenced at things like what I’m watching at the time, music or music videos, random Ideas maybe even things I’ve seen in my dream or practice using new pens or pencils. This sketchbook is the most random as is at had many styles and different mediums and has no theme.

 

Second Sketchbook-

 

 This sketchbook I'd say Is from 2015 and I haven't touched it since. I’m pretty sure there’s only about 10 pages left because I must have ripped all the others out at some point. This book was me probably testing out my new coloured biros, I was also into superheroes and drawing eyes apparently at this time.

 

 

 

Sketchbook 3-

I’d say this Sketchbook is the most fun as its all the drawing and doodles I didn’t want to throw out, so I cut and stick them on pages making little fold outs and stuff. Most of the pages are full to which is exciting. There is many pages left in the book so I will probably continue with adding odd pieces of things I want to keep. I thought I’d put a video of my flicking through cause there’s fold out parts and stuff.

Sketchbook 4-

 

 The final sketchbook I'll be showing Is that one I did back in school with the Tv/Film theme in alphabetical order which I’m really proud of and is one of the best things I've ever created, and I am hoping to do something of similar detail and character as this one for this unit. These are some of my favourite pages.

For this page I used Coffee for C, made a Wonka bar pouch where you could pull out the ticket. Willy Wonka glasses you could also take off with a pull tab.

For the Doctor Who page the medium was Digital for D, I printed off all the digital drawings of the doctors I'd done. The Tardis on the left opened revealing 3 other digital drawings. In the middle I also made sonic screwdrivers and tied them on to the rings in the centre.

Edward Scissorhands was done using Eyeshadow and Eyeliner for E, as well as a few other bits like a digital drawing. The Edward in the middle of the page folded like a pop out when opening and closing the page. Finally, the little circle in the corner was either a little mirror made out of tinfoil or a clock.

For G I used green glitter although you can’t really see, I dream some little versions of some characters and tied them to the middle again. On the left I made a mini ancient book similar to the show with actual information inside hence the mini pocket with a magnifying glass that doesn't work but of course is there for affect. In the right corner because they’re police in the show I think I made a little reflective badge.

This page for Nanny McPhee had the least number of interactive features but it’s one of my favourites how its set out. The medium Was newspaper for N. The only little thing to note is the paper pig tied to the middle in relation to the film which had writing on the other side.

This was the best page I did I think, detail wise. Everyone I showed this was also one of their favourites. I used plasters for P. The picture outlines on the left some of them actually lift up to show writing. I think this is the most subtle page for fold out.

I remember I struggled with Q but then realised we had a load of quality street wrappers in red cause no one really liked the red ones, so while this was only stuck on bits of see-through paper the sound when touching it was crunchy and satisfying.

Another intensely detailed page was this Supernatural which I used salt, which watching the show is quite relevant. The figures on the left stood up, the angel wings lifted up, the symbols around the page were all raised and bumpy with salt. The FBI badge I made separate so you could actually pick it up and read it.

I used wool for W, the laser beam is wool and the letters in the text and there is a hidden flip out part with writing at the bottom.

My hopes starting my new sketchbook for the theme 'everyday' My aim is to have the same level of quality as the one above, I want to go all out but also leave room for less intense sketches/drawings/doodles as well as mistakes which when I do make I will work on top of and avoid ripping pages out unless I absolutely have too.

  ''In a sketchbook, make a visual or written response to your selections and answer the
question “What is your relationship with your sketchbook?”

 

 I made a little envelope with a visual representation around having a sketchbook, one side is not knowing what choice of sketchbook I should make and the other thing of the blank page looking huge because I have to fill it and I dont know what to fill it with. It can be quite intimidating for that reason.