Monday, October 10, 2011

Sketchbooks

I've been off work with some sort of awful sickness the past three days. Sitting in bed watching cartoons has even become boring.

I tried to do some drawing this morning but couldn't decide which sketchbook to do it in. I thought it was time i actually counted how many sketchbooks I'm currently drawing in.



Too many. Way too many. The problem is i always have this dream ideal of how a sketchbook will turn out but then i draw something ugly in it and move on to something new. Or I assign too specific a role to a book, like my life drawing book (the big one at the bottom). I haven't been to life drawing in six months!

This doesn't include any of the mostly finished books I have put away. I remember when i visited my parents a while back and decided to clean out the bookshelves i'd left full there, i must have thrown away 20 or more books of drawings.

Anyway, top to bottom:

1) Little moleskine, previously my work sketchbook, which has been usurped by...

2) Softcover book with multi-coloured pages. Stays in my back pocket. Drawing and writing and lists of the first 150 pokemon (this is the game i play with myself at work when i am bored)

3) A6 Hardcover book with really nice 200gsm off-white paper. Was for "what i wore today" drawings but it only has three in it so far.

4) A5 book with bright white cartridge paper, for comics and zine drawings.

5) Older square sketchbook i took away with me last year. It has some kind of depressing things in it so i guess it is mostly retired.

6) This book was supposed to be for exhibition & painting planning. It is what i draw in at cafes.

7) This one is for illustration jobs / plans. Although it has kind of become just an every day drawing book.

8) As previously mentioned, life drawing book.


(these are all resting on a cushion from Evie Kemp )

EDIT: This was written really poorly because i had a fever.

6 comments:

Tori said...

I'm exactly the same! So many half started books that haven't had a drawing in it for years. Perfectionism can really ruin a great sketchbook! Glad to know that even pros like you have this problem :)

Andi B. Goode said...

I used to do the same thing with sketchbooks when I actually used to draw. I think I always wanted it to end up looking like Enid's sketchbook in Ghost World but that never happened.
-Andi x

Inge said...

I used to be really good at naming the first 150 Pokemon, but I think I wouldn't be any good at it anymore. So it's a good thing you have a book to practice in.

Devon said...

A Pro! Whatevs, Tori, I am no pro.

Andi - Enid's sketchbook, EXACTLY. Maybe i just need to draw Steve Buscemi more?

Inge - I can get up to 137. Which i am pretty happy with, but my 12 year old self would not be impressed with.

Sydney said...

i have a sketchbook and desire to turn it into one amazing sketchbook with lovely sketches but i have no idea what to draw in it! such a shame! :(((

sydsense.blogspot.com

Alana Kate. said...

Hahaha I do this exactly. I have a book of favourite lyrics or quote, with 3 pages filled :|

I'm such a control freak and need to have specific books for specific drawings too.

I love your work, such an amazing style.