I have begun this year with the intent to use my sketchbooks more freely, without restrictions, to play. This comes from my feeling that my sketchbooks were becoming a bit stuck, in the usual approaches and subject matter. I am wanting to let go of expectations on these pages to allow for more possibilities.
The first thing I did was to abandon my handmade books for something less precious. I am also not limiting myself to any one book. I have let go of any self-imposed rules.
These little wash studies were done in a 9 x 12 Kilimanjaro watercolor sketchbook that I have had laying around with very little use. They were all done on one page, with very wet paper and a large round brush. Less control meant more room for play.
When it comes to thinking about what it is that I want to do, whether in a sketchbook or with more finished work, I am easily overwhelmed. I have more ideas than time. So being able to settle on one direction, method, theme, media, whatever, is often a struggle. Laure Ferlita of
Painted Thoughts Blog has an interesting discussion going on about this very issue of artists' struggle with
FOCUS. With FOCUS being the key word here, I believe that by letting go of my focus in one area, sketchbooks, I may actually arrive at more focus with my art work overall. Or not. Either way, it is always fun to just play.
