5 PURPOSES OF A SKETCHBOOK
Do you have to be an artist to have a sketchbook? Absolutely not!
Most of the reasons an artist uses a sketchbook are applicable to anyone. Here are 5 purposes to your sketchbook.
PRACTICE
repeated effort, proficient exercises, habitual execution
do an exhaustive study of some subject matter, try new mediums, see if you can draw something, experiment, develop skills, make mistakes, challenge yourself,
PERSONALITY character, qualities & behavior, style
visual reflections of your character, qualities and behavoir, record of you and your progress, your dreams, fears,
POINT OF VIEW personal opinion, attitude, appraisal or judgements
life, living, world inside and outside of your head, write text, shows development of ideas
POSSIBILITIES ideas that don't seem feasible, items that may not exist yet, imaginings that haven't taken place yet, information that hasn't been thought yet
imagination, fantasy, experiment, explore ideas,
example - Leonardo diVinci's drawings of machines and new ideas PURSUIT quest and conquest of what's engaging, searching and securing inclinations, there are no rules
it's personal passion on paper
HOW TO USE A SKETCHBOOK
• take it with you everywhere
• use a page a day • don't be inhibited in what you record, WHAT A SKETCHBOOK MIGHT CONTAIN
• sketches
• cartoons • drawing from observation • rough drafts • found objects • clippings • textiles • pen and ink • colored pencil GET CREATIVE • GET A SKETCHBOOK
1 Comment
GENREzhahn-ruh; Fr. zhahn-r A distinct kind or type of artwork A similar feature creating a unifying category A particular class of artistic pursuit by one or more artists Groupings can be divided by form, content, technique, style, geographic, time shannon christensen 8'x8' shannon christensen CONTENT figures children flowers fruit marine shannon christensen shannon christensen shannon christensen GEOGRAPHIC south american europe russian chinese american shannon christensen TIME early christian great depression civil war western gothic These are just some of the art genres to give you an idea.
If buying art is something you've wanted to do but didn't know how then this blog series - The 10 Steps of an Emerging Art Collector - is for you. The process is bitesized (a small but wise course of action) so it will develop growth without the growing pains. There are also other benefits that developing an art attitude help that have to do with a baboon, but I digress, that is for another post. In the art world there is a term "emerging artist". It refers to someone who is in the early stages of their career or someone who has caught the eye of an art critic or gallery owner but hasn't yet established a solid reputation as an artist. Logically, it would seem that by definition an "emerging art collector" is someone in the early stages of their art collecting or someone who has an eye for art but hasn't yet established a solid reputation as a collector. Just as there is training and processes for the emerging artist to follow I have created The 10 Steps of an Emerging Art Collector for those who have never ventured to think they could buy art let alone become a "collector". So EVERY FRIDAY CHECK IN FOR THE NEXT STEP. Okay, I am only yelling so that I can remind myself to post every Friday. Let the journey begin. ____________________________ Sometime our discomfort in certain circumstances result from unknown surroundings or the unfamiliar synergy of the situation. No one likes to be in a conversation where there's a need for clarification, don't understand the discussion or actions have to be measured to avoid missteps. This can be avoided if you Advance Your Art Understanding The first step in becoming an emerging art collector is to advance your own art understanding. Art speak is not complicated and usually some basic vocabulary, terminology and principles will increase your knowledge quickly. Surprisingly enough this can start at home through self-directed education. I'll point you in the right directions. There are 4 things you can do this weekend - 1 - Learn Terminology & VocabularyThe Greenwich Workshop carries art originals as well as reproductions. They specialize in fine art prints and on their website they have a thorough FAQ section that will inform you in some of the terminology and definitions. Read these sections first - What are Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Reproduction Techniques? and What are Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Definitions? They are further down on their page - click on the link Go to my old blog (click here) for some art talk there. Check back here for vocabulary I'll be adding as well. 2 - Start an Art JournalWrite down what you learn. Questions you have. Artists and artwork that you find interesting. Websites you visit and like. Maybe even sketch a little artwork of your own. Keep this the duration of the 10 weeks to record your emerging tastes. 3 - Subscribe to One Art MagazineI subscribe to about 4 art magazines and then I periodically pick up others. You don't need to get that crazy. Just pick one. You can go to a bookstore or order online. One I like and recommend is American Art Collector. Art Instruction delivered to your door and computer (they offer an online version in the subscription.) click image 4 - Ask QuestionsYou might come across things you just don't quite get. Feel free to post a question in the comments or email me. I'll find the answer for you and either email or make a post for everyone's benefit. DATE NIGHT TIP: Go to Barnes & Noble. Check out art magazines, buy one and have cheesecake from the Starbucks Cafe. About $20 total for two. You are on your way. Have fun with your fist steps. More next Friday. ORIENTATION Portrait or Landscape There are 2 ways that a rectangular painting can be turned and it is referred to as a paintings orientation. A paintings orientation can be either Portrait or Landscape Portrait is where a painting is taller (vertical) than wider (horizontal). Landscape is wider (vertical) than taller (horizontal). A couple tricks to remembering which is which - Portrait - when we look at a person we look up and down (vertical) & people are taller that wider Landscape - we look side to side (horizontal) & the horizon is vast and wide It is not the content of the painting that determines orientation. A painting of a person reclining can have a landscape orientation and a painting of tall trees can have a portrait orientation. Landscape OrientationPortrait OrientationICONOGRAPHY \ˌī-kə-ˈnä-grə-fē\ an image, subject or style that is traditionally or popularly used to represent, symbolize or associate meaning to another thing; a visual image used to represent a religious figure; symbolism associated with an image Here is an example of contemporary iconography -
New York's I Love New York image. The heart icon has long been associated with "love". It's symbolism is recognized by most people and now needs no explanation to the meaning. An Icons beginning can be intentional or accidentally but it's the repetition that gives its meaning strength. |
Shannon's Studio
Archives
March 2023
|