My sketchbooks are not like travel diaries or nature journals, as they don't contain detailed sketches, perspective-accurate drawings or volumes of text.
My sketchbooks are a chaotic mix of monoprinting, tracings, painting, and scribbles. I like to think I am responding directly to what I am seeing and feeling, looking at pattern and repetition in the landscape, and generally just being loose and free with my creativeness. This kind of approach ensures I don't worry when something doesn't look perfect, and I don't feel guilty when I use a bit of 'artistic licence' to interpret something my way.
I like to work plen-air, sketching loosely from a 3 dimensional object rather than a photograph - I think this truly captures 'the moment' on the page. Of course, photographs are useful for later, to add a touch of colour or other details not recorded at the time of drawing.
Below are some photographs of the concertina book I completed at Curtin Springs. I used a variety of objects to create the imagery in my book.
Plants and grasses were used for gelli plate monoprinting and drawing from. I also drew seed pods. The colours were inspired by the landscape. I also used a stick to do some sepia ink drawings - a great way to loosen things up! I use a variety of waterproof pens, from 0.05 to 0.8, and also a pen with a brush nib. Water brushes with my watercolours also provide colour content.
It took me 6 days to complete my book on site. I finished it off at home with a cover made from paper made from Curtin Springs grasses and a platted fibre tie.
If you're in the Sydney area and are interested in learning how to make this kind of book, I'll be running a workshop on 14 October at Me Artspace, St Leonards. For more information and bookings, click HERE.
