There is a tool that is indispensible to all artists, and it is not fine paint or canvases. It is the humble sketchbook. Sketchbooks are friends to those who work in all media. It serves not only as a place for practice, but a place to exercise and record ideas.
Its ability to capture a moment of inspiration is one of its most wonderful qualities. Sketchbooks come in all sizes and so it is easy to keep one nearby, in a backpack or even the console of a car. This allows the artist to jot down an idea whenever it is fresh in their mind. I can’t count the times I have had a fleeting shred of inspiration only to not be able to recall it later. The chaos of our modern lives no doubt adds to this. But our sketchbooks when carried faithfully, allow us to keep ideas immortal and fresh.
Not all ideas are perfect at first conception, however. Here again our sketches come to our rescue. It is a wise idea to draw out several versions of a possible composition of a painting or a design for a product. In this way, the overall aesthetics can be tested before the artwork itself is created. This can help improve results as well as save materials and time. After all, it can be frustrating to be in the middle of a project only to realize certain elements are simply not working or too distracting to be kept. Keeping that in mind, preliminary sketches can be seen as “test runs” of a concept.
Lastly, a sketchbook serves as a learning tool. This is especially true for those who practice painting and drawing. Sketchbooks are places for us to practice our trade in a way that is simple and economical. On its pages we can hone our skills and learn how to render subjects we may not be familiar with. The saying “practice makes perfect” is a truthful one. A very common requirement in art classes is for an artist to do a certain amount of sketches from life per week in a sketchbook. This is an excellent way for an artist to “train their eye” so to speak, and is a simple tried and true way to improve drawing skills. Keeping all of this practice in one sketchbook also allows an artist to reflect back on earlier attempts and to see their improvement over time.
So when ordering art supplies, take care not to overlook one of the simplest tools available to an artist: the sketchbook.
Its ability to capture a moment of inspiration is one of its most wonderful qualities. Sketchbooks come in all sizes and so it is easy to keep one nearby, in a backpack or even the console of a car. This allows the artist to jot down an idea whenever it is fresh in their mind. I can’t count the times I have had a fleeting shred of inspiration only to not be able to recall it later. The chaos of our modern lives no doubt adds to this. But our sketchbooks when carried faithfully, allow us to keep ideas immortal and fresh.
Not all ideas are perfect at first conception, however. Here again our sketches come to our rescue. It is a wise idea to draw out several versions of a possible composition of a painting or a design for a product. In this way, the overall aesthetics can be tested before the artwork itself is created. This can help improve results as well as save materials and time. After all, it can be frustrating to be in the middle of a project only to realize certain elements are simply not working or too distracting to be kept. Keeping that in mind, preliminary sketches can be seen as “test runs” of a concept.
Lastly, a sketchbook serves as a learning tool. This is especially true for those who practice painting and drawing. Sketchbooks are places for us to practice our trade in a way that is simple and economical. On its pages we can hone our skills and learn how to render subjects we may not be familiar with. The saying “practice makes perfect” is a truthful one. A very common requirement in art classes is for an artist to do a certain amount of sketches from life per week in a sketchbook. This is an excellent way for an artist to “train their eye” so to speak, and is a simple tried and true way to improve drawing skills. Keeping all of this practice in one sketchbook also allows an artist to reflect back on earlier attempts and to see their improvement over time.
So when ordering art supplies, take care not to overlook one of the simplest tools available to an artist: the sketchbook.