I realized something in the last six months or so; I rarely ever take out a physical sketchbook anymore. More often than not I am doodling on my phone or iPad. But why is that? Why not get a physical sketchbook and doodle whatever comes to mind? If I am not getting my ideas down in their ugly messy form, how can I create something new?
Someone on Mastodon recently suggested that I check out a book called If Found… Please Return to Elise Gravel.
With no other information then it sounded right up my alley, I immediately requested the book from my library, because you never know. Once I received the book I must say it is definitely right up my alley and it completely got me thinking about art and who we create it for in this day and age.
The book opened with the knowledge that the artist was essentially sharing their notebook with the audience (the cherry picked best pieces, but still). Notebook pages that were worked on during the evening hours when the kiddos are asleep and no other real work would ever get done, at least not in my home. It was a fun book that allowed me to dive into the mind of another creative person and I highly recommend you check it out. It helps that I enjoyed the artists style and sense of humor as well.
That said, It brought me back to my initial nagging feeling of why don’t I doodle anymore? When I was younger I rarely didn’t have my sketchbook with me. I was always either doodling or reading, and had the appropriate book to match. So what changed? Why don’t I get out a book much anymore and doodle? I wish I had the answer but I think that because my day revolves around design, illustration and my children that I can find it hard to put more time into the fun brain stimulating doodles.
We need to make time for these things though because they help us to improve our skills, and for someone like me who would love to do nothing but illustrate children’s books; that is an important thing to make time for. It helps us artists and illustrators develop our craft and grow in our creativity.
I am going to finish this week’s dive into the inner workings of my brain with a call to action, (for you my reader as well as myself). Carry a physical sketchbook around with you (or notebook, it really doesn’t matter), and when you feel the inclination to scroll mindlessly try to doodle or write something instead. Hopefully, we will all get more creative as a result. Drawing on a physical medium without the endless undo’s and easy restarts really can force your creativity to grow in new ways. I am not one to tell artists how to find time to create. There are plenty of artists with different systems for what you should do, be it 10 minutes a day, first thing in the morning, or any other number of ways an artist “should” be creative. I think you should find a time and way that art works for you and stick with it.
My biggest suggestion is one that I do not think any artist will disagree with which is that a daily practice helps you improve and your creativity to grow. It makes us all better artists when we find time every day to work and create. Maybe for you that time is first thing in the morning or maybe it is when you have five minutes between kids activities, the important thing is that you find that time wherever you can, and do your best to embrace the messiness that a notebook provides.
Finally here is a photo out of my sketchbook. I think this series needs more of these and will plan on including my sketchbook photo in all its messy glory going forward.
Till next time keep failing creatively, and see you next week with some good news.
Thank you so much for joining me on my journey.
Would you like to have this delivered to your inbox every week?
If you’re not already I would love it for you to subscribe.
Remember that supporting me with follows or donations funds my creative practice … But honestly follows are great, I try not to hide things behind a paywall
I want you to know I bought this book today after reading this. I love your posts and enjoyed your art + writing! Man, substack is a breath of fresh air
This is so encouraging- especially seeing your own sketchbook pages! A good reminder that even my messiest pages are an important creative routine ❤️