My continuing sketchbook saga

I have a confession to make: I’m sick of my current sketchbook—the Crescent Rendr.

This sketchbook, which I’m more than half way through, is too big even though I thought I wanted a larger sketchbook after the last smaller one, and the paper is unsatisfying. It might be good for Copic markers—alcohol ink doesn’t bleed through the paper which is amazing (and the reason I bought it) —but it’s not so great for anything else.

Watercolor and gouache smear rather than soak into the fibers, and I just don’t like the feel of it on my hand. It feels kind of coarse--but it actually has no texture.

And…yes, I admit it, my disillusion with the current one might also have something to do with the allure of a newer and better one currently waiting for me on the shelf. It holds all the shimmering possibilities of just the right size and feel.

If you keep sketchbooks, you understand.

There’s just nothing like the possibility of a new blank sketchbook. Maybe this time it will be the perfect one: perfect size, layout, binding and paper…

Especially the paper.

So why don’t I just stop working in the Rendr and start in on the new one?

Well, for two reasons.

First, I do tend to lose interest about half way through, but there’s only one thing I hate more than a sketchbook I no longer love—and that’s a sketchbook on my shelf that is only half filled.

In the past I kept multiple sketchbooks—one for travel, one for urban sketching, one for journaling, one for art journaling, one for practice…so I could have different kinds of sketchbooks for different purposes. But that kind of made me crazy—always looking for different books, figuring out what to take where, what book I felt like working in.

And it took forever to fill any one of them. So many empty sketchbooks waiting to be filled.

I decided not too long ago to work in just ONE sketchbook for all the art things, which I fill in random order according to purpose (and I also keep one Everything Journal for planning, journaling and notes, but that’s different).

Now that it’s just one book at a time, I promised myself that I would finish each book before moving on to the next.

The second reason I’m not giving up on the Rendr until its complete is because I know better.

I know that there is no perfect sketchbook

Especially for different purposes. But that doesn’t mean I won’t keep looking and falling in love with the next best sketchbook—where’s the fun in that?

I’m not going to make the mistake of believing the new model will solve all my art problems.

And it’s not like I’m unhappy with the work I’m doing in the current sketchbook. Progress is happening and I’m overall pleased with the contents.

So I’ll just keep going—

With more abstracts like these:

With more urban sketching:

An illustrated life page or two now and then…

There’s so many ways to fill a sketchbook.

And the truth is—it’s really not about the sketchbook itself much at all.

What I’ve learned in the first thirty—ICAD 2022

First 30 index cards for ICAD

I’ve been busy in June making index card art for the Index Card A Day Challenge (ICAD) hosted by Tammy Garcia of Daisy Yellow Art. The challenge runs for 61 days—June and July—and I’ve been sharing cards daily on Instagram—but this is a good midway point to stop and reflect a moment.

Here are the first 30 cards, close up and more orderly than the above photo:

I decided to join the challenge at the last minute on June 1. Tammy has been running this challenge for twelve years now, every June and July, and I did complete it probably about 10 years ago when I was just starting my art journey. But I haven’t participated since.

I’m super glad I decided to take the plunge this year!

With ICAD, I’ve learned the value of being less critical and more open—and I think my creative compass has been recalibrated.

You see, this is quick art on index cards that has to be completed every day. I want to spend as little time as possible on it (20 minutes being a goal I sometimes hit, but up to one hour is more often the reality). I have other things to do! So I have to work fast and loose.

As an artist I usually work slowly. Sometimes that’s good because I give myself the time I need, but the truth is I fight perfectionism. I am highly self-critical.

So for this challenge I am forcing myself to “just go with” an idea or a piece in progress that doesn’t seem to work. And there’s been a big payoff. Sometimes, on any day, I’m not happy with the art. And that’s when I get to practice less self-criticism and remind myself tomorrow is another day.

But sometimes—often—I’m surprised and even delighted. What feels like “bad” and “mistake” turns out to be fun or interesting—and I get ideas for more finalized work later.

AND, as I step back here and look at the work as a whole—I’m pleased. Individual flaws matter less. Whaddya know?

I’m sure I will take this lesson in perfectionism into my art practice going forward.

I’m also enjoying doing the challenge with other people. Every day I check out other participants’ art on Instagram at #dyicad2022 (I’m forever grateful to Tammy for pointing out the “Recents” table” when you look at a hashtag screen).

I’m loving how others approach the daily prompts and the challenge and I’ve found other artists whose work I admire to follow.

I also get ideas (but I never check out what others do for a prompt until I have completed mine for the day—personal rule I recommend to avoid even subconscious copying).

ONE of those ideas is a new approach for the final 31 days of the challenge.

Like several other ICAD artists, I’m going to work to a theme. I plan to also still use the prompts, but I’m going to make ICAD in July an opportunity to explore a new-to-me kind of art/art style that is more abstract and shape-driven.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see my day to day progress. Otherwise, Stay tuned here at the end of the month for the what happens next!

OH—and BTW—it’s not too late for YOU to join the challenge too!

One month is a great timeframe! You can go to the Daisy Yellow ICAD 2022 page for details and lists of weekly prompts (if you want to use prompts), but basically all you really need is a stack of index cards and a few art implements of choice (paper and glue? pen and ink? pencil? crayons? Thread and fabric? WHATEVER!).

Fill an index card a day in any way and post it on your instagram account with the hashtag: #dyicad2022 so others doing the challenge can see what you’re doing. THAT’S ALL!

Cheers!