Hey folks! I’ve been thinking a lot about sketchbooks lately, and wanted to make a resource post to put all my most asked questions & answers so far, all in one place.
Here’s a bunch of reasons why I love sketchbooks, how I use em, what they’re for (to me) and my favourite sketchbooks
+ If you’d like even more ideas to get you sketching outside, check out these two drawing challenges I’ve made:
- This one is a prompts guides of things to draw in nature
Although the challenges have seasonal titles, they’re of course good to do any time of year; give them a whirl any time you like, and I would LOVE to see sketches if you take part, simply tag me on instagram @OrlaStevens or use the hashtag #theoutdoorsketchbookcollective
How do I use sketchbooks, and what are they for?
My sketchbooks are messy places to test, play, write, experiment, and work through ideas.
I can never stick to one project or theme or idea per sketchbook, so you’ll find a whole mix of things in each book.
They are a research hub and library of ideas of marks, textures, colours and compositions to fall back on when I feel stuck. It’s like a glossary for my work.
I never really use them to directly spring into work; I’ll more use it as a visual reference, cherry picking a mark here, a colour there as I’m working on paintings.
I love doing in-person research and observation, so they tend to be the spaces to collect this rough note work into.
Most often you’ll find me working outside on loose leaf paper, and sticking it in sketchbooks later. I like the freedom loose leaf paper offers outside, and I like the process of organising drawings into categories, or pairing pages together to explore new combinations of materials, ideas etc.
My sketchbooks are spaces to connect words and images together; my paintings and painting process is increasingly tied to words, so it’s where I gather words to guide my work too.
I keep any development paintings to loose leaf papers, because I like the flexibility - more considered work feels confined when it’s stuck in a bound book to me. So this is why you’ll only find tests and notes in my sketchbooks.
What sketchbooks do I use?
I’m always up for trying new things, but these are the ones I’ve been using the last year or two, and am super happy with them:
Cloth-bound sketchbooks: https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-watercolour-sketchbooks
Square sketchbooks: https://www.boesner.at/sketch-color-projekt-skizzenbuch-20455
Paperback Pocket Outdoor Sketchbooks: https://www.hahnemuehle.com/en/artist-papers/sketch-drawing/sketch-books/p/Product/show/19/80.html
(Or I make these zine style sketchbooks for shorter day-walking trips, often using 120-160gsm cartridge paper: )
Why not hop straight into paintings?
I use sketchbooks most when I’m learning about a new place, topic, idea. I really like to research and understand the subject I’m focusing on, and I think drawing helps me to learn and really study the subject - before I go and ad lib / improvise in response to the subject matter. I like every mark, gesture, shape to have reference, purpose and meaning, and this sketchbook stage helps me form that association and intention.
Once a project has got going, I use my sketchbooks much less, and do hop into paintings or hop from painting to painting. I think the sketchbooks help me focus at the start, and give me confidence that I have a well of ideas to draw upon if I need them.
How do I know what to sketch, draw or paint in my sketchbooks?
My work often focuses on details and looking closely at landscape, so if I’m in doubt I simply zoom in to a rock or path or plant, and that gives me a starting point when I’m outdoors. I think finding some kind of personal angle or interest like this is really great, as you can always fall back on it.
I often make ideas dream lists of things I want to learn about in the world - right now it’s underwater habitats, and I’m using that as my drawing subject matter when I’m inside (as I don’t currently live by the sea - YET). I love a list, you can’t go wrong with an ideas bank!
In general I think breaking down subject matter to be really useful. In landscape, I’ll do cloud studies, water studies, rock studies, path studies etc - trying to simplify the landscape and capture the elements and qualities gives me endless ideas, as it’s always changing and growing.
I don’t know why, but I’m not (currently) interested in drawing other subjects. Nothing has captured my imagination like landscapes, and I haven’t tired in trying to capture these places and how they make me feel. I love looking at other artists who tackle a wide range of subjects, and am in total awe of how they can translate their voice across such a range of matters.
I think that’s all for now - If you’ve got any extra questions on sketchbooks, pop em below! As always, I’m so interested to learn how other people research & gather ideas to make art, and would love to hear how you approach your work 🍃
Wishing you some happy sketching sessions and time in nature this month,