Claudia’s meadow, 20″ x 30″, acrylic and canvas
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Claudia’s meadow, 20″ x 30″, acrylic and canvas
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I recently purchased Sketchbook Explorations for Mixed-Media and Textile Artists by Shelley Rhodes, and I love it! I recommend it to any creative who wants to try using a sketchbook to loosen up and become more spontaneous.
I enjoyed it so much that I knew I wanted to share it and start my own creative collaboration. I thought it would be fun to use sketchbooks as an opportunity to reconnect with my artist friends while exploring and experimenting with new art themes and materials.
Sketchbooks allow an opportunity to explore and experiment with freedom and capture ideas for future work. Though I’ve kept sketchbook books for years, I’ve filled them with more art business notes than physical sketches and painting ideas. This time I wanted to start a sketchbook that was more an illustrated diary, a visual record of ideas for more developed artwork. However, I knew without accountability and encouragement, I would not set aside the time to do it. This is how the collaborative sketchbook circle was born.
I asked two artist friends to join me. We each started with three small sketchbooks (different sizes and paper types). We assigned a “theme” to each set, giving us a starting point and cohesive motif to work within. Next, we worked on a page/spread in each of our three books. Finally, at the end of two weeks, we swapped our set of sketchbooks with each other.
Each artist adds something to each sketchbook page. When the third artist adds their marks, the page is considered finished. At that point, new pages are started. Round and round, the books will travel until all the sketchbook pages are filled. The goal is not to make finished artwork; it’s about working within a theme and responding to what the other artists have put on the page. I am so enjoying this collaboration.
Have you worked on any creative, collaborative projects? Can you share any advice for us newbies?
One suggestion to working faster and looser is to on start multiple paintings at one time. I use the same paper size and color palette to work up four different versions. That way, I can just move from painting to painting, adding a little here and there, letting it evolve more naturally. Everything is a little less important or precious so I don’t get as frustrated when a painting isn’t working out. I just move on to the next one and come back later with a fresh perspective.