breaking in a new sketchbook

  1. Word lists

My first method for sketchbook-keeping is beginning with a word list or simple mind-map. Choose one word to begin with — this word can be something you focus on when creating, or it can be a word that has been rolling around in your head lately. It can be a new word you’ve learned, it can be your favorite word, a word that rolls off of the tongue nicely, it can be self-descriptive, it can describe your current mood or location, and so on.

The next step is to think of a synonym or another word you may associate with the first. The words should cascade, associating one to the next, in a way that makes sense to you. It is also okay if it doesn’t make sense just yet. Create a list of at least 10 words to associate with the first and keep this list in a convenient location of your sketchbook.

This list is going to be the guiding force of your sketchbook journey, be it necessary for your focus and commitment. It is almost like a theme for your sketchbook, except you are not limiting yourself to one particular topic. Instead, you’re creating a bank of words for you to expand on through visual imagery and thoughts. You’re allowed to forget about this list if it isn’t helpful for your progression as a sketchbook-keeper.

I want to remind you that no part of sketchbook-keeping should feel tedious. The word list is to help your practice become expansive, and it is not meant to be set in stone.

The most important part of your word list is that the words feel relevant to you now. This might be relative. Now can mean literally in this moment, it can also mean in your current phase of life, and a myriad of other ideas. That is for you to decide.

Another important point is that the list can continue to grow. You can add words to your list, or you might notice that your perceptions of the words you’ve written down may change.

My favorite personal example is with the word "rest.” Rest, to me at the time of beginning my sketchbook, meant restful. I thought about naps or sitting during a long walk. I was in school, so I was thinking about breaks in my schedule. As I revisited this word throughout the year, my idea of “rest” evolved into meaning “the rest,” or the remainder of something. I was able to create a whole body of work based on how this word evolved throughout my time with that particular sketchbook.

By creating a list of words that are relevant to your current flow of thought, you can then seek and form connections between what you draw, write about, research, or scribble. The list will function as a reference point to help you make meaning from your marks, or it may help you select an area of focus for the remaining sketchbook categories.

Coming next is 2. Observational drawing

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recording your surroundings

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introduction to sketchbook-keeping