I've been aware for some time now that my sketchbooks are getting a bit out of hand - I have loads of sketchbooks for different categories, like TV sketching or tram sketches, and now I can't find anything! They are nearly all unfinished but when I found this one, above, with only one sketch in it from 2009, it gave me an idea.
Since all these pages are empty, and probably would be for years (it's an inch thick, so has lots of pages!) why not see if I can fill them up with any random thing that inspires me? I'm going to allow myself any medium, any subject, any technique I want but most importantly, they need not be posted to my blogs and be of interest only to me (i.e., not what I think will please). It sounds simplistic in writing, but it's a little more than that, it's a place to be me.
The drawing that put me off this sketchbook originally was this one, an abortive attempt to draw a building. I'd even put it a few pages in in a vain attempt to not ruin the new book! Anyway, it felt like an appropriate place to put these three colourful leaves, above. They're a failed attempt at a postcard for the Postcard From my Walk exchange - as I do like them, I just didn't like the border I put around them so I cut them out of the page.
The first sketch - I had a couple of Jamie Oliver cookbooks open on the table as I'd been looking for a recipe. (I made 'Crispy and sticky chicken thighs with squashed new potatoes and tomatoes' - it's a fave!)
I was watching a Radiohead concert on TV and drew a mackerel from the book.
Then I thought it would be fun to repeat it and make a pattern. The book is too small to do it and the compositon not right, but it's an idea I've filed away to do again.
A portrait taken from another of his books. It's a combination of the look on his face and the fact that I think he is a visionary that inspired this. Plus, the background colour added a nice contrast to the colours in his skin! I didn't plan either of these, I just let them happen so who knows what will be on the next page!
11 comments:
Beautiful work, Felicity!! I'm a huge fan of Jamie Oliver. He's so passionate about what he does.
I think I need to challenge myself in the same way. Like you, I have numerous sketchbooks started for different subjects and now they sit around nowhere near completion. I like the idea of using a sketchbook like a journal where it's a simple day to day entry covering many topics in one book. The sketchbook then has a much better chance of being completed. :)
Thanks Serena! Yes, he's fearless too - I need some of that!
Love your drawings Felicity. You certainly have talent as an illustrator.
Sounds like it's the Spring for starting journals and not being too precious about pristine sketchbooks. That said, these drawings are so exquisite, Felicity I'd be proud to have any of them in MVBSK (my very best sketchbook!) Particularly love the fish but then I think the postcard leaves are gorgeous and I know about a dozen people probably wishing they'd received this postcard.
Liberating isn't it, allowing oneself a bit of slack.
Thanks Bridget!
Thanks Robyn. Yes, it is, must be something in the air! I hope I can stick with it!
Oh, I love how that book is evolving, Felicity! What great pieces, and I like your notion of just sort of experimenting and getting ideas for things you might do differently down the line. Really lovely!
Thanks very much Suzanne!
Nice work - I like your color combinations. Did you paint those leaves or are those real? Lovely page spread!
I really like the idea of just doing a sketchbook just for you. You might be surprised to see what comes up!
Thanks Anna - and lovely to hear from you! The leaves are painted but they've been cut out of a page. I was originally doing them as a postcard and added a border to them but it just ruined them! It was so awful but I wanted to keep the leaves somehow, so I just cut them out and kept them. I do actually have another book where I keep leaves I've collected though!
Very creative uses for sketchbooks! I love your work.
I'm looking forward to seeing what's next! I like that you are going to be very random in this. Love the Jamie Oliver drawing...he's an inspiration for sure.
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