90: Sketchbooks as a Diary.

Ritualizing the practice.

📝 This is the first of 3 perspectives on what a sketchbook is, the next two are

📝 Sketchbook as a collection

📝 Sketchbook as a workout.

Then on Monday, I’ll share everything I know about keeping a sketchbook, including various tips and exercises I’ve learned from classes on the topic over the past 3 years.

I’m trying to get into sketchbook again, and on Monday I’ll share my plan for doing so with paid subscribers. But you don’t have to wait till Monday to subscribe.

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Visual Diaries

I was looking through my sketchbooks from 2021.

Inspired by Mike Lowrey ‘s how to keep a daily sketchbook I ritualized the practice.

I bought a stack of Moleskine cahiers (square) on the left side I wrote some notes and the date, and on the right side, I did the work.

I managed to get through 10 books before I started experimenting with different formats. I miss the regularity. I miss having an empty stack of sketchbooks as well as a full stack.

Flipping through the sketchbook felt like reading a diary, I remember the circumstance each drawing was made in. And it filled me with all the emotions that were in me when I made the drawings. The sketchbook is my own personal catalog to draw from. And I can draw both from what’s on the page, and I can use the pages as keys to unlock memories and emotions.

Alas while I still make a sketch of some sort almost every day, It has lost that ritual quality that I would like to get back.

Exercise:

Here’s a super simple exercise if you wanted to create a visual diary by Austin Kleon

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☕️ Speaking of ritual, You do know that these notes are available as daily or weekly editions right? Look for a Manage Subscriptions button if you want to adjust your settings. I’ll be making some tweaks to mention any highlights in the weekly email, so you won’t feel like you’re missing anything.