I LOVE my sketchbooks. They are a big part of my life. My favorite companion. Especially since I found a sketchbook years ago that is the perfect size for on -the-go. Fits in purses/bags, ties close, toned paper, has a leather cover, so it is durable and flexible.
I often start doodling in my sketchbook with the intention to doodle and end up doing finished works in them. Not because I mean to, but I have had people ask me if I will sell the pages. My answer is always immediate and firm.
NO.
I do not mutilate my sketchbooks. As well, they double as a journal. I just d0n’t. I don’t like cutting anything out, losing any of it. Also, there are sometimes other pages that go with it that have something on the back that have other pages that go with it. It’s a very hippity hoppity book. Haha Not everything is put inside in order. Sometimes I have to jump a few pages and come back to it.
It really started getting annoyed, though, that all of my works for a while there had been only in my sketchbook, which is difficult to get good scans of, and people often want originals, so it was a little problematic.
I had to learn to start doodling on loose-leaf papers and it kind of sucked for a while. Anyone else have to retrain themselves on something? I feel like I got spoiled early on in middle/high school because I received drawing pads that had perforated pages, so I could just tear them out, but they were also bigger, so I never used them as journals. I had separate journals to journal in. However, I hate carrying multiple. They are heavy, ruin bags faster, screw with my posture and I’m able to keep less in my bag. (Which, if you know me and have been unfortunate to have to hold my bag for me at some point, you know my struggle. Haha It’s all necessary, I swear!)
Eventually I got into the loose-leaf thing again, but then that was aggravating because it was taped to a board I could not take with me. They were slightly larger works, but the work was unprotected from anything that wants to jab at it. However! If I want to use a different paper type/size, then loose-leaf is the way to go!
Anyways, working primarily in my sketchbook also had me limiting my works to a smaller size. Sometimes you just want to work big! (Not that half of us have the space for it. sad sigh) Am I the only one who, once I get something out, I don’t want to revisit it? Like, I feel like I physically can’t do it again. There is an emotional disconnect because I already got it out. That’s another issue I have with the sketchbook bias. I end up finishing the works in there and then don’t do them separately/ larger because I already worked through it. So, even though the purpose of the sketchbook is to work it out with thumbnail sketches, notes, progression of concept (which I never really do), it never stops there for me. Anyone else struggle with that?
How about you?
Do you prefer sketchbooks (and have any tips for getting really good scans more easily), or do you prefer to work on the loose-leaf page where it is free and its own creature?
~Taylor