Daily sketchbooking
In the first of a new series Sarah Edmonds looks at the discipline of keeping a sketchbook and why it’s an important ritual
Sarah Edmonds looks at the discipline of keeping a sketchbook and why it’s an important ritual in the first of a new series about the artist’s practice
The past year has imposed a period of reflection of our lives and working practices as both humans and artists. You will likely have increased your output whilst being at home, with more time and possibly more commitment to drawing and painting than ever before.
Daily rituals have become pillars of our sanity, keeping us on an even keel, regulating long days at home either on our own or juggling family needs. At the time of writing, we are still in full lockdown with normal schedules in flux. The whole country is clinging on to a day-by-day existence, without the luxury of planning ahead and with no assurances for the future.
It therefore seems apt that, like my case study artist Kerry Phippen, we are exploring the daily ritual of sketchbooking. Kerry describes it as a marker in her day, a nonnegotiable activity that acts as a visual diary propelling her forwards: ‘the importance of just starting something and the discipline to show up with your materials and some paper. The sketchbooks I use are Seawhite, 939in. I like the square format, the paper is a strong white cartridge so will cope with different materials and is small enough to put in a rucksack.’
Whether you are a professional, amateur or new to drawing, there are many benefits of this daily regimen. On average it takes two months for a new behaviour to become automatic, so give yourself some time to enjoy the process and don’t give up too soon. After a while, it will become second nature and your drawing will improve exponentially. A focused activity such as drawing will absorb your thoughts and give you a break from the stresses of daily life.
If you are stuck in a rut or feel your artwork is stale, the process of regular drawing will allow you to explore themes that you may not have considered. Daily drawing also challenges the ‘blank canvas syndrome’ – a very real hurdle for many artists. Your own private pages allow unbridled experimentation, mark making and exploratory work without the fear of making mistakes or creating finished works. Freeing your mind of barriers and tapping into your subconscious is an important part of the creative process. In a recent BBC2 documentary following the life of Maggi Hambling, the artist offered an insight into the ink drawings she makes early each morning – they are led by her subconscious mind, her thoughts leading her hand wherever it wants to go, scrawling incoherent inky marks across her sketchbook. She insists that this process opens up her mind and guides her work.
By adding notes, feelings and dates to your drawings it will help you to look back and reflect as the months pass. The sense of achievement in filling a sketchbook and witnessing your techniques improve will buoy you up to keep going. As a highly personal document, your pile of sketchbooks will grow to become a treasured archive.