My sketchbook journey!

Towards the end of Level 5 and thought Level 6 so far I have found the value of my sketchbook. Until then, I rarely used my sketchbook and jump straight to the finished artwork. I found sketchbooks almost intimidating which is strange to say when I worked in them for years. 

During GCSE I was taught that even the work in my sketchbook had to be neat and finished. They had to be structured and ordered and must include a certain amount of drawings per page. During A level my sketchbooks turned into almost scrapbooks, with the off page where I wrote about an artists work and had to copy it! During foundation I was encouraged to use my sketchbook as a diary and had to write a daily entry. I enjoyed those sketchbooks but they were clean and neat, not playful. Every page was done using fine liners!

LCA

First year: 

My sketchbook work was limited. Just a few bad thumbnails and that was it. Still only using fine liners. I didn't like visual language because I was too stubborn and didn't want to push my practice and experiment. I thought I knew what I wanted, what I liked. My sketchbooks were dull and boring and half empty.

Second year: 

The majority of my sketchbooks were much like the ones I kept in first year. Most of them where half empty. In my head I knew what I wanted to do, so a few quick thumbnails was enough for me. I didn't think to use it as a way to research visually. I was producing sketchbook work not for me, but for the tutors, to tick boxes. During OUIL505, I FINALLY started using a sketchbook how I should. Lots of colour, line and shape. Finally.... I think I'm getting somewhere.

Third year:

Two years later and I finally understand visual language and all the things I should have done in my first year. My sketchbook is for ME, for me to understand. I'm not doing work for the tutors, but to inform me and my work. It doesn't matter if it's a mess. I now use a sketchbook as a way of thinking, a way to visually research and take apart the brief. It's now an important part of my illustrative process and informs my work well.