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Monday, July 27, 2009

Sketchbooks


Journals and sketchbooks have been a part of my life for many years. Lately it seems that words have overcome the images. Writing about dreams or doing Morning Pages as inspired by Julia Cameron's, The Artists Way have been an off and on ritual in my life. I began sketchbooks as a way to collect ideas for my body of work. My art comes from a fairly non literal place so I often write to develop a more conscious understanding of what I am creating. I love making discoveries in this way. Sometimes meaning emerges through poetic writing.

I have an artist friend who makes books. Both of my current books have been made by her. When on holiday recently I spent some focused time with a book that has a colourful textured cover and Fabriano pages that accept watercolour. At the outset this book is more about colour and image than written word. Creating each page becomes a form of meditation that is different than journalling. The messages are simpler as visual language tells a different kind of story.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Notebook Drawings




I was just going through my son's reading journal from school and discovered these drawings. It was fun to scan them from the journal and see them as unique moments of creation. It is really easy to overlook someone's doodles. Doodles are great! They are an expression of your unique visual language! They deserve a closer look.