Sketchbook Sunday ...Learning to Love Sketching

'Drink Man'     ink and watercolor sketch

The basket was overflowing. I was amazed at the number of unfinished or unopened sketchbooks I had collected over the years. All with good intentions of starting a sketching habit. None ever finished and some never even opened. 

That had to change! I know the importance of improving drawing skills and having a regular sketching habit. Not only does it help with being a better draftsman it helps you become a more sensitive observer. Being able to see better in turn helps you make better paintings. I wanted to make a sketchbook commitment. I envied artists who had years of beautiful sketchbooks. But I just couldn't seem to keep a sketchbook going.

My very portable sketch kit

I think I discovered why. I wasn't making sketching fun. All I had was a sketchbook and a pencil or pen. There is nothing wrong with that of course but for me once I added in a few other supplies, a whole new world seemed to open up. Different pens and pencils and watercolor and ink and water soluble pencils and watercolor pencils....all of these tools added a new dimension of excitement to sketching.

I am proud to say I have one completed sketchbook and I am about to start my next one. Soon I will have a shelf full of them....all completed. That is my goal. To help keep me accountable I will dedicate Sunday's blog post to the art of the sketchbook. I will share my discoveries and latest sketches. Feel free to join me and start your own sketchbook. A whole new world is waiting for you!

Here are a few sketches from my recent Art Cruise. I used a few different black pens, watercolor. inktense pencils, watercolor pencils and water soluble graphite.