Falling in Love with Sketchbooks Again and Again (and a New Class)

In the middle of winter when frost decorates the windows of my studio and I pull on another sweater, I’ll think back to summer days in my garden, cicadas singing, sketchbook on my lap.

Sketchbooks are an important part of my creative practice but I love them because they’re fun.

Sketchbooks are where I experiment. Where I play with art supplies. Where I can be messy and enjoy the process and the experience of creating, not worrying about the final product.

I have a note in my studio that says “Creativity is Self-Care.” Nowhere is this truer than within the pages of a sketchbook.

Earlier this summer I had to remind myself to find refuge in the joy of creativity. I grabbed some of the materials I’d been using while filming my new class and shook off a bad mood.

It felt amazing and although I knew this and although it’s what I’m teaching in my class, it seemed like a revelation.

The experience of sitting in the garden sketching tomatoes was a joy (so much so that I shared it in my beginning-of-the-month newsletter). And the page itself makes me so happy. It’s a reminder of that day.

But do you know what? I don’t remember why I was feeling frustrated and anxious and overwhelmed that day. Instead I remember the sunshine. I remember the butterflies and hummingbirds. And I remember the ripening tomatoes and the joyful colors of my pencils.

I’ve written about sketchbooks again and again. About how it took me a while to be comfortable working in them. About how they used to intimidate me and how I never worked in them. About how eventually I overcame my fears and fell in love with them (thanks in part to my collaboration with Dana Barbieri).

I keep coming back to sketchbooks.

In my own creative practice. And in my classes.

My new class is finally here:

I hope it will inspire you in your own creative practice. You can sign up here (not sure what Skillshare is or how it works? Read this blog post).

I would love to hear about your relationship with sketchbooks.

Do you keep a sketchbook?

If so, how do you like to use it? What are your favorite materials? What fills your pages? Do you have any stumbling blocks keeping you from creating?

If you don’t use a sketchbook, why not?

I’m thinking of a hosting a tour of reader sketchbooks (like my tour of reader gardens). Would you be interested in participating? Let me know and if there’s enough interest I’ll pull something together.

One last note, September is going to be a busy month for me, so I’m taking a break from my blog until October. See you then!