The Art Guide staff celebrated another ‘travel milestone’ in their journey across southwest United States to New Mexico when they visited the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, just north of Santa Fe. They were surprised to discover a large variety of very delicate O’Keefe sketches and insightful drawings that inspired her work, and often led to finished oil paintings. Encouraged by the experience, our travel crew considers in this article the value of sketchbook journaling in their own daily routines.
-
- There are moments in life that are like pivots around which your existence turns – small intuitive flashes, when you know you have done something correct for a change, when you think you are on the right track. I watched a pale dawn streak the cliffs with Day-glo and realised this was one of them. It was a moment of pure, uncomplicated confidence – and lasted about 10 seconds” Robyn Davidson, ‘Tracks’
Sketch journaling is a casual but regular gathering of ideas with less intent than that of thumbnail drawings prepared for a larger canvas. Images are often accompanied by personal notes in an autobiographical way, however the drawings are for enjoyment and often without purpose. The more interesting sketches, if not a personal challenge, is to exaggerate specific details to gain insight without the need for text description. Journaling is a casual hobby and can easily be done during a break in the day, coffee at a cafe, hike, waiting room, train ride or simply sitting in your backyard.
If you’ve thought that journaling just isn’t right for your busy schedule, read on to learn about its ease and benefits, then see if it speaks to you. The materials are simple; a sketchbook, app, or combination of both. Here are some planning ideas:
- Consider the right sketch option, a portable small notebook or app.
- Experiment with the best time of week to spend a few minutes alone to reflect and draw.
- Start simple with a single sentence and few drawn lines, then stop!
- For reference keep to a basic template with headings, dates and image locations.
- Explore different styles of drawing and writing techniques.
- Avoid erasing or any corrections – be imperfect.
For reference in sketching busy or large spaces, reduce a vast scene of options to one composition, which is not always easy. Our team’s recommendation is to keep design and materials simple. Purchasing a variety of modern-day art equipment is costly and often ignored. Rely on the basics to avoid distractions and enhance your focus in the moment.
-
- “Everything that is painted directly and on the spot has always a strength, a power, a vivacity of touch which one cannot recover in the studio… three strokes of a brush in front of nature are worth more than two days of work at the easel.” Eugene Boudin, notes
When sketching, the Art Guide travel crew recommends organizing scenery into a few brief line movements to isolate key elements. At this early stage, it helps to plan a perspective and layout. Gathering visual cues will also benefit your written text. Do hesitate and do stop to draw, but then move on. Your sketches are ideas without commitment or mental critique, yet it’s fun to consider a range of directional pencil/pen marks to show grassy wheat fields vs water or a jagged rock face. This collection of images and text are note keeping and best if not held too precious, as your next insight could be lost due to previous overspent details.
In time, journaling can become a welcomed reflection that offers the benefits of; a quiet stress-free moment, reference place for ideas and a judgement-free confidence builder. Our team’s research also found that journaling can help to boost visual awareness, focus on goals and easily inspire creative thought.
Wishing Art Guide readers happy journaling this summer vacation!
