I have a collection of really nice sketchbooks. But I don’t use them. I have this phobia of the first page of any sketchbook, but especially a nice sketchbook. I don’t want that first page to suck. So I often skip the first page and start drawing on the second page.
I also don’t want to use my really nice sketchbooks in case my drawings suck. So I started using Moleskin sketchbooks more lately, since the paper isn’t that great, especially for pencil drawing and inking. The paper is thin and smooth, not the best for either graphite pencils or black ink markers.
But you know what? These very basic sketchbooks seem to be doing the trick because I’ve been drawing a lot lately. I filled up one sketchbook this summer, chock full of sketches that I really like. These clovers are the last drawing in that now-full sketchbook (actually on the second-to-last page – the last page has notes written on it).
And then I picked up a second sketchbook right away and did a drawing on the first page! Yay!
I know it may sound silly, but I think a lot of artists have issues like this with their sketchbooks. Some artists draw on loose sheets of paper because of the fear of messing up their nice sketchbooks. I fully support doing whatever works, if that means drawing on not-very-nice paper, as long as it keeps me drawing and illustrating, experimenting and creating.
Terri
