Life With A Sketchbook

When I was first introduced to the idea of keeping a sketchbook  years ago in a college art class I was skeptical.  After much procrastination I started one just for the sake of passing the course.  Then I set it aside and kept painting. 

 

Several more years passed, and one day I wanted to make a field trip to a local nature preserve that happened to have both living and preserved plants and animals at the center.  Setting up to paint in that place was not practical so I took a sketchbook.  What fun I had!  What details I noted and remembered because of that sketching expedition!  I was hooked.

 

 

I now find myself drawing pine cones, shoes, characters directly from television during the show I am watching, cats, people, imaginary doodles, copies of masterpieces.  The list goes on.  I use pen, pencil, Sharpies, crayons, watercolor, charcoal.... 

 

I go through my old sketchbooks for ideas and to jolt my memory of things past.  They are all valuable.

 

Keeping a sketchbook allows freedom to ramble, day dream, flow, think, remember, grow. 

 

Everyone should keep a sketchbook..

 

 

 

 

All images copyright of Mona Vivar 2013.