I don’t keep a sketchbook… Or do I?
I love looking at drawings in sketchbooks. The rough gestures, the raw ideas, the immediate connection between thought and visual representation – all recorded without the tedious constraints of needing to stand on their own. They are hypnotizing. Mesmerizing. Fascinating. So today I was feeling bad because I haven’t kept a sketchbook since college. How can I be an artist and not have a sketchbook? In the past I have rationalized my neglect by pointing to the fact that I always have a camera with me. Why should I draw something when I can take a picture of it in a fraction of the time and record it more accurately? Today that excuse seemed especially flimsy. I need a sketchbook. I decided that I should buy a sketchpad or make one and carry it around with me everywhere I go. I will force myself to draw daily. I actually felt ashamed of myself for a little while. Then it hit me…
I carry a notepad with me almost everywhere I go and I write in it all the time. I am constantly filling it with thoughts, lists, and ideas. This is my sketchbook! I looked through the most recent pages of my notebook and although I rarely draw on the pages, I can clearly see the development from concept to a finished project. Isn’t that really the purpose of a sketchbook? You organize your thoughts. Outline ideas. Plan. Map. Explore. Build. Erase. Sketch.
So, yeah, I do have a sketchbook, sorta. Now that I think about it, it kinda makes sense in the context of my process as a designer. I usually have a pretty clear vision of the finished piece before I ever start constructing it. I don’t do many variations because I know generally what I need to convey and have already made a plan to execute it. The design is dictated by the message and the various components I am trying to organize. My designing happens by organizing the messages and deciding the best way to present the information. My sketchbook is where I make my battle plan. Is it any wonder that my sketchbook is filled with groups of words, arrows and lists instead of doodles, drawings and cartoons? We all have different methods and mentalities, and I wonder if that fingerprint can be seen in our sketchbooks. What does your sketchbook say about you?
