Sketchbook 6-1-11

Being the 1st of the month, no better time than now to set forth on a goal of mine...drawing/scribbling/recording everyday something in my sketchbook. There are so many times I'm out somewhere and wished I had my sketchbook with me to record observations from life. It could be a light or shadow pattern, a challenging architectural element, or design in a tree. Lately with my plein air painting I put a lot of pressure on myself to nail one each time but it doesn't happen that way. With quick sketches, paper is cheaper than linen panels and more portable than lugging my painting gear everywhere so I won't feel the pressure to knock out a dynamite painting each time I set out. Also, with sketching everyday, your painting skills can only improve plus drawing is quicker and can be more direct. I like the idea of using a ball-point pen for these as well. If I'm out with just a pen I don't have to worry about breaking a pencil tip or needing to sharpen one. I also think that with a pen, it will give me a more spontaneous confident mark since one, it's darker. Two, it's not erasable. If anything, sketching is frickin' therapeutic just like lifting heavy weights is for me. Always having a sketchbook on hand reminds me of my grandpa. He didn't draw or exhibit any type of artistic ability that I knew of but he was an avid reader. Everywhere he went he had his western novel with to plop down and read at a park bench or at a seat at the mall while my grandma shopped around (always losing his glasses and then blaming my grandma!).