Sketchbook Sketchings
“Sketching is the breath of art: it is the most refreshing of all the more impulsive forms of creative self-expression and, as such, it should be as free, and happy…”
“Sometimes the very best of all summer books is a blank notebook. Get one big enough, and you can practice sketching the lemon slice in your drink or the hot lifeguard on the beach or the vista down the hill from your cabin.”
The Sketch Book Isn’t Always Full.
I can’t remember the last time I was really with out some type of sketch book. Even when I was 8 or so I had a steno pad I drew in. I didn’t keep anything, I just gave the drawings away. I also would put them in envelopes and decorate them; give them as gifts. I had (still have) a thing for receiving mail. Receiving mail is like a surprise gift, hopefully… (“What’s in the Box!?!?!” Forgive my movie reference. I couldn’t resist.)
Dont think I don’t ever use my phone for notes and such, I do. I have 600 pictures and 100 types of notes and lists. I am just the type of artist that also needs to touch things: a pen, the paper, smear things with my fingers, rip some paper… It can’t be replaced.
Books, Books Everywhere.
I keep books kind of everywhere these days. In my purse I always have a book. In my car I have a book for notes and thoughts since I listen to audiobooks and music all of the time. They are all a combination of thought/idea books or word sketches (since I can totally make up my own things here) with sketches for work or design layouts. I have a book specifically for my community work. That was a gift. I keep ideas, meeting notes and such in it. I make my own books too but also buy books. I just bought 2.
Playing Favorites.
My favorite of all is to sketch on tracing paper. I overlay and combine previous sketches plus I love the way the paper sounds…all crinkly. Makes me feel like I’m doing something. It’s also nice to use in collages. It allows you to layer with transparency. I usually make it more transparent by adding an oil.
I just did these collage sketches last night, adding to a sketch book from college actually. I realized recently as I was going through it mining for ideas (best reason to keep a book) that I still had space in it. I do this type of sketching when I’m going through an artistic transition of some kind and need to work through it.
The first is a tiny canvas about 2 inches x 2 inches the rest are in my book. All components are recycled.
Let's Break The Wheel!! For Reals This Time.
What we can all do to break the wheel.
Photo Credit: Katie Awad
An Artist By Any Other Media.
Last summer after I finished up my last show, Play Play, I came across an announcement for another visual art show. It was a group show. Many people doing several different kinds of work were included. Group shows are always interesting at least for that reason alone. I was caught off guard when I saw they were charging a $10 entry fee. Ten dollars? Who pays to get into a visual arts show? There’s no performance right? I checked the announcement again and saw that there wasn’t. Even though I wasn’t planning to go, I was annoyed.
First I was annoyed at the audacity: Charge for a visual arts show ? Pffffffft!! (Imagine me doing this with a dramatic flick of my hand.) Then I was annoyed with myself: why shouldn’t a visual artist charge to see their work? Musicians do. Dancers do. In various places and spaces they even have tip jars present. Why shouldn’t a visual artist charge for the privilege of seeing their work? I commend these artists for not only banding together to show their work, but also asking to be compensated in a way that visual artists aren’t usually. I can admit when I”m wrong. I was.
Though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t necessarily their aim, but they should also be acknowledged for their efforts to break the wheel.
What’s This “Break the Wheel” Nonsense?
''Break the wheel” is a Game of Thrones reference. Though the show has ended there is still so much that has been learned from it! So good! But I digress. Just in case you’re not into GOT I will spare you a long synopsis of the show by saying the phrase is shorthand for changing a broken, ailing, and corrupt system that benefits only a few. Especially if it isn’t working really. I can definitely say that artists not being compensated for their work but still expected to do it for free and with a flourish is not even a real system at all. It’s not just artists that have to work to break the wheel but anyone who loves art and wants to support the artists who make it.
But It’s Not My Fault, Is It? Actually It Is.
The same society that teaches us that artists should be poor, that artists should be starving, and still have 5 jobs to cobble together an income is the same one that tells us there is no reason to compensate an artist for their work. More often than not we pay to see work in museums. I paid to get into individual shows when I attended Art Basel a couple years ago. Why shouldn’t gallery shows or any other type of show where you see work on the walls or sculpture in the room charge entry? I freely admit I had been brainwashed by the same system. I’d participated in the system that said I don’t need to get paid because I love my work. Shouldn’t we all love our work though (a topic for another day!)?
Though it’s scary, I’ve decided that I am changing the way I think about my work. It’s about to get a little crazy probably. But that’s ok right? We are breaking the wheel!!! I want you to join me for the ride.
I Want You, Yes YOU!
I LOVE MY WORK!!!! Sometimes it’s like being in love and I want to shout it from a rooftop. I want everyone to be a part of it. I want my own art tribe. I want to be able to talk to people about my work. Share what I’m up to! All of the facets of my work and know I’m sharing with my crew, people who care!
Patreon (a site that houses the space where you can support me directly) and creating an opportunity for fans of my work to become a member of my tribe is one way I am working to change things. Fans of my work who want to see me finally finish a project I’ve been working on for the past two years can support me directly and mark my progress on various projects. This is a part of me breaking the wheel. This could be the first step for a lot of us. Take a look at my page here. Become a member of my art tribe.
