Sketchbook question

[Serra]

So I was thinking today about how I never really draw detailed things in a sketchbook. I use a sketchbook for thumbnails (really rough ones) but then if I actually want to flesh out an idea I move right to the final surface so I don't have to do all that transferring.

Which got me thinkin'...

Do you sketch things in a sketchbook that you plan on finishing? Or do you treat the sketchbook like its own work of art and do smaller finished works in there just to keep fresh and to have fun?

--Serra

[FlameDragon]

So I was thinking today about how I never really draw detailed things in a sketchbook. I use a sketchbook for thumbnails (really rough ones) but then if I actually want to flesh out an idea I move right to the final surface so I don't have to do all that transferring.

Which got me thinkin'...

Do you sketch things in a sketchbook that you plan on finishing? Or do you treat the sketchbook like its own work of art and do smaller finished works in there just to keep fresh and to have fun?

--Serra

I haven't reached that level yet where I could draw things from my imagination with the intent of it becoming an actual art piece, so in my sketchbook I mainly have my stuff from life drawing sessions. I do have some finished works, but those were drawn from reference pic!

[Grief]

its a sketchbook, not a masterpiece-book.

but that doesnt mean you cant spend a long time in it until you work out whatever problems you feel are worth the time to study.

[Lukias]

heh, whatever blows your hair back. doodle brainless nonsense or realise massively zen unagi shit. Perhaps 'Sketchbook' narrows the parameters for what goes inside.. call it your 'good times' book and put goodness inside.
Then smile like nobodies watching.

YAY

[VulgarDragon]

I've been posting mostly garbage (practice sketches) in my sketchbook. I've noticed some have been putting in beautifully rendered pictures in their sketchbooks and getting a lot of :asslick: . What gives? I'm confused on what constitute as sketch and not....and I am embarassed to post any more for the fear of getting laughed at.

[Bowlin]

I think of these exact same questions! It would be easy to just say both, thumbnails and smaller finished works. A book of thumbnails with really rough drawings that perhaps only the artist could intrepret is not something that's going to impress many people, because the quality of realism is really low. Finished works make a more impressive sketchbook to show people, but being an illustrator, I'm often thinking of working ideas for a picture, doing thumbnails, then roughs and later work out the details. So shouldn't there be more thumbnails and really rough ideas?

Of course you should do whatever you want with a sketchbook and not feel pressured by it, but for the aspiring artist it seems like there should be more ideas taking up the pages since studies require more time in one little area? Just my 2 cents.

[CCThrom]

For me the sketchbook is mostly a place to record ideas, to practice, and a place to take a break when I'm going crosseyed from the monitor. Sometimes I work a sketchbook study up to a final piece & then it'll get cut out of the book... but I'd say 90% it's just to get the ideas out of my head.

[Farvus]

I usualy buy sketchbooks with low quality paper so fill them mostly with some quick ink/graphite studies from photos or doodles with ideas. If I want to put more effort into doing something good looking, I prefer to sketch it straight in Photoshop or I scan messy some thumbnail done with graphite.

[rpace]

Sketchbooks are places for artists to do whatever the hell they want to do at the moment, be it quick (possibly drunken) scrawls or beautifully realised and finished pieces of work.

The bulk of my sketchbooks are full of fast things, largely as a result of their being creatures built for drawing out of the studio. Things that go further are often taken there in spite of how the piece started rather than initial intent.

I firmly believe the sketchbook is the quick fix artists need for their art-addiction, but I push it on my first year Life Drawing students harder than other teachers I know, but I usually allow broader content in their books than just gestures, blind contours and anatomy studies.