Sketchbook Basics

Today I’m answering questions on my sketchbook! I get a lot of questions about my sketchbook and these are some of the most common ones. I’ll also talk about some of the misconceptions that people have around the sketchbook!

Why do you use a sketchbook?
I like to keep a sketchbook as part of my painting practice. It is not a substitute for larger paintings, but rather an enhancement to improving my larger work. The sketchbook allows me to keep painting even when I have limited time or energy. The best way to improve your paintings is to paint, paint, paint. Small paintings are a great way to keep painting if you aren’t able to get to the larger pieces. The constant repetition of painting will help improve your work!

Do you sell your sketchbook paintings?
I do not sell my sketchbook paintings. The sketchbook practice is for me to experiment and improve my skills. It is not designed or intended for selling work. I have many other paintings for sale, and that also tends to be larger work. I recently got the question, “But what if there is a sketchbook page that is so good, that you want to sell it?” And another one was along a similar line, “Why paint in a sketchbook if it’s just for yourself?” I think a lot of artists are focused on sales—which is important—but equally, if not more critical, is the creative process and becoming a better painter.

What sketchbook do you use?
I am both very particular about my painting materials, and at the same time, not particular at all. What I mean by that, is that I will paint with anything you put in front of me. I can use any materials, whether it’s student or artist grade, and create a good piece. Yet, if given a choice, I am pretty particular about what I like to use when I paint. I have used multiple sketchbooks ranging from inexpensive ones to pricier ones. All of them I have loved and used to create great work. Again—it’s not the paper —it’s the painter that makes the difference. Currently, I am painting in a Moleskine for my small sketchbook and a wire-bound mixed media pad for my larger sketchbook.

What paper do you use?
If you are painting in acrylics, then either 90lbs or 140lbs would work fine. If it’s a lower weight (90lbs), then I would recommend gessoing the paper first if you use a lot of paint and water. You can gesso the 140lb paper, although I don’t for the small sketchbook pages. As always, try and experiment. See what you like and what works for you!

Smaller paintings are so hard!
The sketchbook is somewhat deceptive. It looks easy, but it’s actually pretty difficult to make the paintings look good. If you’re working on a small space, every mark and layer gets a bit more attention. Therefore, all of the elements have to work together on a smaller scale. The best way to improve your sketchbook paintings is to keep painting them. The more you do, the better feel you will get for the smaller size paper.

What pencil do you use?
I use a regular drawing pencil. To be precise, I will use any pencil that you put in front of me! In fact, I often like to use unusual materials because it gives a different feel and texture to the piece. I have a lot of experience drawing and painting, so I’m also familiar with the different types of pencils. If you want a darker look, then use a softer pencil (e.g. 6B). There are other types of pencils and one is not better than the other!

More questions on my sketchbook? DM me on Instagram and I will feature some in upcoming posts!

Finding Space

I’ve been interested in this idea of finding space in both my paintings and my life. I recently started an art journal because I wanted a sketchbook that was larger where I could be more free and expressive. I was looking back at the pages in my art journal, and I wrote the word “space” on the first painting. It wasn’t something that I was aware of at the time, but obviously the thought was in the back of my mind. I have been craving this feeling of more space in my work.

The idea of having space in my paintings is one that I have explored before, and one that has recently resurfaced for me again. My paintings tend to be busy—like me—since paintings are a reflection of who we are inside. I like to keep your eye moving throughout the piece. I naturally lean towards painting more active pieces that keep you engaged. Busy or active paintings need a resting space for the eye to settle. In order to balance the busy spaces, there has to be a quiet space. It’s a place for your eye to rest. In my paintings, I have quiet spaces that emerge to create this balance.

I have noticed that in the art journal, I have been able to find more open spaces in my work. I love this idea of paintings that are more free flowing and open to possibilities. My art journal has allowed me this opportunity to paint more expressive marks and expansive passages. I am enjoying the larger size of the art journal, and I think the larger substrate has enabled more space in my work. That said, I did this beautiful expansive piece in my small sketchbook (pictured above) with these earthy tones that has a beautiful sense of space. It reminds me of a landscape. The painting has an openness to the composition, passages for your eye to travel, and a few bold marks to energize the piece. It is simple and spacious.

In addition to finding space in my paintings, I have also been exploring the idea of space in my life. In particular, I have been focusing on the body and mind. I practice yoga everyday to create space in my body. The postures help to open up areas such as your hips and shoulders. The poses require both strength and flexibility which are necessary create this openness. I have also been practicing finding space in my mind. I meditate every morning for fifteen minutes. This simple practice helps to open and create more space in your thoughts.

Painting is both a physical and mental practice, so aligning your body and mind is very important! I have found that allowing for more space in both my body and mind helps to center myself when I go to paint. The time that I spend preparing to paint is just as important as the time I spend painting. We often think that we need to just paint—and we do—but we also need to be in the right alignment to do our best work.

My Art Journal

I love my sketchbook, but I was longing for a change. I wanted something that was more freeing and more filled with feelings. I imagined something that was expressive, bold, sensitive and playful all at the same time. I had this idea of smothering paint on the pages, pasting down collage pieces, and covering the paper with my favorite marks. Something that was experimental, fun and joyful. A place where I could dive deep into each page and get lost in the process. Welcome to my art journal!

My art journal, while similar to my sketchbook, has one main characteristic that is different. The main difference is that my art journal is larger than my sketchbook. This may seem trivial, but it is actually quite important! One of my goals with the art journal was to be more free and expressive. There are several ways to loosen up in your work, and substrate can be one of them. I chose to work in a spiral-bound pad that is 14x17”. This larger size gives me more room to play, more space to dream, and more freedom to express myself. I like the idea of this larger surface that still bound together so it retains the feeling of a sketchbook.

I recently received the question, “How do you loosen up with your work”? As I mentioned, working on a larger surface can be one way to get looser with your paintings. The second way to loosen up is to use different tools. Using larger brushes and also brushes with longer handles can help you achieve broader areas and less defined marks. The large brushes force you away from the small, detailed work. The long handle brushes, if you hold them at the end, allow you less control over the marks. Both substrate and tools can be effective ways of achieving more freedom with your paintings.

I have done several pages in my art journal so far. I am absolutely loving them! They are loose, free and expressive. I have also been playing around with the idea of writing words on each page as they come to mind. Sometimes it’s sentences etched into the paint, and sometimes it’s just one word boldly stated on the page. Other times the words are hidden beneath the layers like secrets. And sometimes there are no words at all because the painting speaks for itself.

I look forward to sharing my art journal pages with you on my Instagram!