My Sketchbook

Laying Female Nude

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012



I have always had a sketchbook. I don't really remember a time in my life when I didn't have one. I think the first 'real' sketchbook I received when I was about 9. Well I think it was my 9th birthday when my parents gave me a pink hard plastic briefcase full of 'real' art supplies. There was nothing with Crayola on it. There were 'real' brushes, a 'real' pencil set, 'real' paint, 'real' artist paper, and a 'real' sketchbook. Before that I had little notepads that I jotted down drawings and ideas or practiced my writing skills. I started keeping a sketchbook long before I had any titled art classes.
Recently, I have been reading the 'Ramona' series of books by Beverly Cleary to my young children. I remember reading them myself as a child. No wonder I loved them and felt liked I connected to the Ramona character. I was not boisterous and I never got in trouble at school but I did feel the same passion for art as Ramona did. I loved her commitment to originality and self expression. Like Ramona I was fortunate to have parents that encouraged my need for self expression and made sure I could seize every creative opportunity that came my way.
I have filled so many sketchbooks over the years that I have lost count of how many I have. I have also gone through a variety of types and sizes over the years. I am greatful to my parents for funding and providing me with so many sketchbooks. I don't know how I would live without a sketchbook. I would probably write on various pieces of paper and staple them together. I have in the past been without a sketchbook and then find any scrap of paper, napkin, kleenex, or anything that I can draw on and later attach it into my sketchbook.
Now I work in three sketchbooks. I have a small sketchbook that fits into all my bags easily (the drawings shown here are from this small sketchbook). The small one I take with me everywhere, it holds all my random ideas, quick sketches, names of artists I need to look up. It also documents inspiring experiences I have had that fuel my work. I have a medium sized bound sketchbook that I take with me when I know I will have time to draw. I take it on vacations, pull it out to study various still lives, I take it when I know I may have a chance to do at least 5 drawings. Then I have a large, higher quality paper sketchpad of paper that I can easily remove the sheets from. I use this for longer model sessions, extended drawings, softer pencils, or preliminary sketches for large paintings.
I have been teaching and painting so much that I have found, when looking back, that I started putting more notes in my sketchbook than actual sketches. This summer has been full of family and kids so while I am working on a commissioned piece (that I can't share yet as it's a surprise for the client's spouse), I can share this little project I've been working on. I have been making time to sketch. I have been trying to draw more often to exercise my skills of seeing. I have been looking at other artists drawings and copying them in order to learn from them.

(Included are images of drawings of myself and my significant other -the cheap models, the rest are studies I drew of artwork done by other artists - Daniel Graves, Steven Assael, Juliette Sristides, Pierre-Paul Prud'hon.)

Self Portrait

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012

Portrait of Wes

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012

Female Seated Nude

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012

Water Glass

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012

Self Portrait

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012

Standing Female Nude

Sketchbook graphite drawing

Summer 2012