I know that one of the biggest challenges people often experience when beginning a new sketchbook or art journal is taking the first step. I get it; it’s hard not to look at a book of blank pages without feeling a certain amount of trepidation about how it’s going to materialize.
John, detail ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, Graphite on paper Many of our life drawing models come with props or costumes. John was leaning on a baseball bat in this pose, which explains the tilt of his body.
In order to get around that fear, I’ve found it helpful to take the perspective that each new page in my daily sketchbook is just another opportunity for pressure-free learning. There’s no point in worrying about the inevitable drawings you won’t want anyone to see, or how unlikely it is that it will end up as a polished product from start to finish. That isn’t the point.
Steady ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, approx. 10 x 8 inches, Graphite on paper
It’s much richer to have a sketchbook that is a true mirror of my day-to-day reality (successes and struggles alike), recording the things that, to some, may seem so ordinary they don’t merit a second glance, but which, for whatever reason, caught my eye in the moment and hold onto that meaning when I look back over those drawings later.
Bongo Hands ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, approx. 15 x 9 inches, Graphite on paper
With that in mind, I loved reading about John Muir Laws on Austin Kleon’s blog this week. Laws is a nature journalist and the illustrator of a comprehensive field guide to the wildlife of the Sierra Nevada. He is enthusiastic about sketchbook journaling and promotes it as a way of being more attuned to the beauty that surrounds us and as a weapon against the ennui of familiarity. It’s a strategy that has merit regardless of whether you’re trying to capture a scenic vista or your breakfast dishes.
“We live in a world of beauty and wonder. Train your mind to see deeply and with intentional curiosity, and the world will open before you. Keeping a journal of observations, questions, and reflections will enrich your experiences and develop gratitude, reverence, and the skills of a naturalist. The goal of nature journaling is not to create a portfolio of pretty pictures but to develop a tool to help you see, wonder, and remember your experiences.” ~John Muir Laws
Mermaid ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, 18 x 24 inches, Graphite on paper I regret that the model’s facial expression looks so dour here – as she was decidedly not so. Sometimes, just the slightest change of line can affect the whole expression, but unfortunately I didn’t see the need to adjust until after I’d gotten home. As I mentioned in last week’s post, a bit of time and distance can make a huge difference in assessment. She was wearing the most beautiful mermaid costume that she had sewn herself, covered in green sequins. With the flowers in her hair, she was a force!
Laws suggests a three-pronged approach to have in the back of your mind as you tackle your sketchbook/journal. He is a naturalist, so his purview is wildlife and flora, but his principles apply no matter what you choose to draw. They also serve as a reminder that there is a greater significance to drawing regularly than solely capturing a likeness:
Awareness: “I see…”: You notice something, draw a picture of it, make notes about it.
Creativity: “It reminds me of…”: You consciously seek out analogies to what you’ve seen and make notes about those.
Curiosity: “I wonder…” You ask questions or create hypotheses about what you’ve seen.
Additionally, he recommends that each page contain three different types of notes: drawings, words (descriptions), and numbers (measurements). I think this is an especially smart framework to lean on if you’re having trouble getting into a rhythm with a new sketchbook.
Nefertiti ©2018 Elizabeth Fram, 24 x 18 inches, Graphite on paper This model doesn’t shy from dressing up either, although she didn’t have time in preparing for this session. Still, I couldn’t help but think of regal Nefertiti as I drew her silhouette, her dreadlocks enclosed in a beautiful head wrap.
Take a swing through Laws’ website –he has a page filled with free online lectures, classes, and step-by-step lessons. I’m not a naturalist sketcher, but the I got a lot out of his talk about his drawing process and practice while knitting by the fire a couple of evenings ago.
❖
Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already upon us! With that in mind, I’d like to just take a moment to thank each and every one of you who make the time in your busy lives to check in with me here, whether faithfully each week or just sporadically. Your support, interest, and comments (both public and private) are the meat of the conversation I was seeking when starting Eye of the Needle, and are what keep me coming back week after week.
May you have a lovely holiday!