Sketchbook Project: Round Up

I enjoyed working on the 2011 Sketchbook Project so much that I signed up for 2012 as soon as it was available. I had been jotting down advice note for a few months and interpreted the theme 'Ask Me How I Can Help' as an advice journal from my current self to my younger self. As with most of my work, the spreads flowed it fits and spurts. Some ideas and images coming quickly and easily while I laboured over others. I notice that in this sketchbook, and in most of my other work, I tend to focus on the humorous end of things and skip the heavier topics. Heavier topics aren't something I usually enjoy tackling in my art, but I'd like to scratch the surface a little this year.

The front cover redux

I'm proud of my final sketchbook and I can see how my ideas and techniques have evolved in the past year. I'm already well into my Limited Edition Sketchbook Project, but that is another post for another day. For now, I'll leave you with a picture of the front cover after I added some texture to the hair, as well as a link to all the spreads on my Flickr. I've also uploaded the images to the Arthouse site. If you're a member, please follow me and I'll happily do the same.

Sketchbook Project: The End

A glitter thank you card.

A short message and contact information.

Back cover.

The last few pages of the sketchbook are some of my favourites. I created a similar pattern to what appears in the front but created a little pocket to house a card. The back has a light wash of green and pink and I mimicked front cover but drew the back of our heads.

I'll be posting one last round up of all the pages then you'll start to see the pages from the Limited Edition Sketchbook. Are you participating in that project too?

... J

Sketchbook Project: Easier

The idea for this spread was conceived by a childhood flashback. Not sure what started it, but I suddenly remembered the stress and anxiety I had over a computer class in elementary school. The test was on a Commodore 64 and yes, I am that old.

...J

Sketchbook Project: Cover

Front cover

I'm nearly complete the 2012 sketchbook project. This is good news as it needs to be in the mail before the end of January. I have one spread left, the inside and outside back cover and then minor touch ups.

I put down a layer of blue and brown watercolour on the cover and then added self portraits. One of present me and the other when I was little. (Yes, that is an 80s mushroom cut.) The text reads "If I spoke to my younger self and said ask me how I can help this is the advice I'd pass along".

Inside front cover and first page

On the inside front cover I began by printing out a pattern of photos onto T-shirt image transfer paper. I sprayed it with alcohol and rubbed it onto the kraft paper. Once removed it has a old and weathered look. I glued down the transfer paper to the first page and hand wrote "ask me how I can help". I added a bit of the same brown and blue from the cover to the inside.

On my last stage of touch ups I may change a bit on the cover. I'll let it sit for a while and see how I feel in a few weeks.

If you're also participating in the Sketchbook Project, do you create your cover first or last?

... J

Sketchbook Project: Permission

The text reads "you have permission to play with your art without a plan or deadline" A reminder that I can simply put colour and material on paper and let the medium shape itself rather than over-thinking each stroke and colour choice. Watercolour and ink.

... J

Sketchbook Project: Be Nice

Various colours of pen and the background is a yellow, pink and blue stipple.

Sketchbook Project: Kids Say...

The words you mutter under your breath are heard, recorded and replayed when you're in line at the Home Hardware. For this spread I used & adjusted two lino stamps of my girls that I'll be using on our family Christmas cards. I also used pen and a magazine cut out.

...J

Sketchbook Project: Canada

"Get to know each part of Canada." I've lived in the Prairies, Central Canada and now the West Coast. I also visited the East Coast before we moved back West. I've really enjoyed getting to know each part of this beautiful country. This spread was done with eraser stamps, marker, pen and origami paper.

...J

Sketchbook Project: Crazy

Sometimes I need to adjust my crazy from Batshit to just a little strange. This spread is pen and markers with a moving dial.

... J

Sketchbook Project: Fitted Sheets

They are impossible, so why fight them? Stuff them in the closet and stop fussing.

Sketchbook Project: Knives

Well, maybe it wasn't half but this is my forum so I'm allowed to exaggerate. It was a fair chunk of change and I balked at the price. Now they are one of the best tools in my kitchen.

For this illustration I used the cut outs from the flaps on the previous page and drew some of our knives. I put a pink and grey pattern in the background and used the look of a receipt for the text.

...

Sketchbook Project: Layers

As I've discovered over the years, the ones with the hard, crusty shell often need the most love.

I used the heart cut outs from the other spread to help with the theme of this spread. A light wash of watercolour then a few sheets of origami paper were layered. Held in place with glue and kept in position with a circular cut.

Peeling back the first layer to find another sheet of origami paper.

The last layer was delicate rice paper and you get a hint of the illustration.

An anatomical heart to go with the symbolic hearts.

Using my red and black pens to create a small anatomical heart.

...

Sketchbook Project: Love Lessons

Seems like a no-brainer, but it takes some of us a while to finally get it. 



I used a red and black pen and made small heart cut outs. In this close up you can see the green origami paper on the next spread.

Sketchbook Project: Three Spreads Down

I'm participating in the Arthouse Coop's Sketchbook project again. Last year was such a joy. I had a lot of fun putting it together and met some really great people. This year I chose the theme "Ask Me How I Can Help" and I am interpreting this as advice spreads from older me to younger me.

This year I am off to a much slower start. By this time last year I was over half way done the entire sketchbook. Luckily there are less pages in the 2012 edition. I'm hoping to devote a great deal of time to it this Autumn so it's finished before Christmas takes over.

I read this phrase on Twitter ages ago and it applies as a reminder to pay attention, slow down and don't over share.

Last year's sketchbook had thin paper that bled through easily. While that often made some really interesting effects I decided to eliminate this on a few spreads by adding a thin layer of gesso first. It also created a nice texture on the paper. After that I sketched, painted with watercolour and then added ink.

It's not just me who learns by trial and error, right? I learned not to take shears and hairstyle decisions into my own hands right before the school pictures were taken. This spread had a gesso layer with a different texture than the one above. Watercolour and stamps from an eraser I carved.

I often have mini conversations in my head. Inner monologues, if you will. One side is usually the emotionally driven, worrying side and the other is the very quiet voice of reason. I had been fretting for a while about my eyes until I finally got around to a checkup. Turns out I only need to look away from the computer more often.

It's hard to tell in this photo but the glasses, speech bubbles and background all have different shades of gold and a slight sparkle.

I'm three spreads in and there are many more to go. Time to get crack-a-lacking!!

...J

Sketchbook Project 2012 - The Arrival

One of the things that fills me with joy and excitement is a fresh sketchbook. It holds so much promise as to what will fill its pages. The sheets are clean and crisp and (maybe it's just me sniffing books) it smells SO GOOD!

I have joined the 2012 Arthouse Coop's Sketchbook Project and my sketchbook arrived just the other day. I had so much fun on the last one and met some really wonderful people so it was a no-brainer decision to participate again this year. I've signed up a lot earlier than last year so it actually feels as though I only just stuffed the last one in an envelope. I'm wondering if this extended period of time will result in procrastination or more experimentation. 

Before it is touched it is so thin, sleek and perfect. 2011 on the left and 2012 on the right.

I chose the subject "Ask me how I can help" because it jumped out at me. At the time I was thinking of an idea for a zine or a small series of illustrations along that subject matter. I have been jotting down ideas as I think of them and I think I'll be including some patterns from stamps I've been working on lately. I'll be documenting my progress on this blog as I did with the last one.

One of the most exciting details is that the tour will be making a stop in VANCOUVER! Since I live in the Victoria area I think a road trip will be in order... and perhaps a meetup of some Western Canadian Sketchbook alumni.

Let me know if you've signed up, I'd love to follow your progress.

... J