State of the Journal

Journal pages are perfect for a bit of ‘social sketching’: chatting, testing and taking notes all get recorded as an experience. Through this spread, I’m testing different color palettes, discussing pigments and mixes, drinking my coffee and drawing patrons.

After that first spread, I did this one, an unfinished one. And though the words are missing, this is enough for me to remember what was discussed and some color mixes I want to try  and pigments I might swap out in my palette.

More social journaling and pen-testing. In my notes: pens I tried, books that were recommended. And coffee. I love Chromatic’s Keynote blend and bought some to take home for my Life Drawing group to enjoy.

Sketching in a group again, this one at the South Bay Sketchers meetup that happens once a month. If you live in the Bay Area join us for our next one by signing up at Meetup.

Some pages, like the two above, are done in one sitting. But many, like this one below are done through my day. I start with the apples and get halfway through painting them when I need to break to do other stuff. But the journal and my sketchkit remain on my breakfast table, and I come back, add my cup of chai that I drink after my kids are off to school and before I start my workday. The apples get finished later in the day. And that evening, my son comes home from school and makes it to a corner of the spread. I love going back and reading all the random writings on the page: things he tells me about China and about starlings…

At some point that evening, I call the spread done.

That’s how it goes for most journal pages for me. How does your daily sketch practice usually go? Is there an assigned time for it? Or do you just fit it in when you can? How often do you end up sketching this way?