Sunday, March 1, 2015

Sketch! The Non-Artist's Guide to Inspiration, Technique, and Drawing Daily Life


I know you think of me as reader. And, of course, I am. 

I've been reading a little less lately. Instead, I've been spending lots of my time...oh my, how hard this is to reveal...how preposterous it sounds...how presumptuous...okay, here goes...instead, I've been spending lots of my time these days...sketching.


I love to draw. I've taken just-for-fun classes at the community college. My friend, her sister, and I took drawing classes one year from a private teacher with a group of elementary students (need I share that all of the elementary students were better...no, MUCH better...than I was?) One summer, my friend and I decided to meet together a few times a month and draw. I've kept a writing/drawing notebook since my twenties.

In January I received Sketch!: The Non-Artist's Guide to Inspiration, Technique, and Drawing Daily Life from the publisher.

And I started drawing.

Drawing.


A little every day. 


 
In my notebooks. 


During long meetings.

In the library.

 Sometimes adding a little color.


Sketch is the perfect book for the non-artist who loves to draw. We non-artists who love to draw need a lot of inspiration to get us over the hurdle of daring to draw. Sketch offers bucket loads of inspiration. We non-artists who love to draw need technique; we were never brave enough to take drawing classes at school. Sketch offers bucket loads of technique. Mostly, though, we non-artists who love to draw need to draw our daily lives. Sketch offers bucket loads of daily life drawings.


Reading Sketch! led me to seek out other good books about drawing: Drawing With Children...Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner...Cartooning for Kids...Mark Kistler's You Can Draw in 30 Days...Illustration School: Let's Draw Happy People...and even Danny Gregory's new Art Before Breakfast and Natalie Goldberg's Living Color.


And isn't that what good books do? Send you out into the world, in search of other good books?

I'd tell you more, but I really want to get back to my drawings. If you know of other helpful books for us non-artists, please let me know.



What is the Sunday SalonImagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.


Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week.  It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. 


17 comments:

  1. Oh my, how I love the idea of a sketch notebook.... but I can't draw a stick figure :( I think that's why I am drawn to photography.

    I plan to favorite this post, however, and perhaps this summer I can try to dip my toe (or paintbrush) into the creative area of sketching.

    Because I know you love Paris as much as reading and sketching... have you seen this flicker account - Paris Breakfast - https://www.flickr.com/photos/parisbreakfast/sets/

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    1. Oh, thank you so much, Molly. Yes, Paris Breakfast must be followed.

      (And...shhhhh!...don't tell anyone...but I can't draw a stick figure either.)

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  2. That sounds absolutely crazy! ;) Drawing!?! What????

    Actually that sounds great and looks great too. Look forward to seeing more of your sketches here.

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  3. Wonderful! I think it's great to mix up our activities from time to time just to get out our ruts and see the world in a different way. You are going to have to drop that "non-artist" language though. Are singers who are not beginners non-singers even when they are singing? (I completely understand the need to protect oneself, to be humble, to not be a "real" writer, singer, artist whatever, but if you are doing art -- you are an artist!).

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    1. You are so brave, Barbara. Thank you for encouraging me to be a bit more courageous.

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  4. How awesome! Thanks for confessing...LOL. It is fun to do other things, creative things. Enjoy!

    And thanks for visiting my blog.

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  5. I think it's great that you enjoy sketching! I can barely muster up a stick figure but I admire those of you that go for it! :D

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  6. that sketch book looks really good! So far, I do painting, almost exclusively on rocks (see http://rocksbyemmanuelle.com). But when I can no longer do this, I will switch to zentangle. Have you seen any? it's just awesome. if you are familiar, look into google pictures or pinterest. I actually always listen to audiobooks while painting

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  7. I worked partway through "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards and want to get back to it soon. Edwards maintains that everyone can learn to draw! I also bought a book on Zentangles recently - so much fun and not intimidating for the emergent artist.

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  8. What a lovely diversion. I used to love to draw especially pen and inks. It has entered my head to start doodling. Now I am more motivated. My Sunday Salon

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  9. I also have a confession....I have a how to draw book & journal tucked away someone in my TBR pile but have never felt brave enough to tackle it!
    Your post has inspired me to hunt it down...and a sketch book...and get started :-)
    Thank you

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  10. Oh wow! Your sketches are amazing! I'm not even vaguely artistic in that way! I hope you'll share more!

    Deb

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  11. For a non-artist, your sketches are very good! :D

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  12. For a non-artist, your sketches are very good! :D

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  13. I can't draw at all, maybe these books would help!

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