Visual Journal: Micro Lesson and Sketchbook Project
An effective way to dip into the treasure inside of us.
Before we get started, big thank you to again for hosting last week’s Sketchbook Project. It was lovely to see everyone’s pet drawings! If you didn’t know, Beth has a brilliant Substack called Introvert Drawing Club , sometimes I go there to draw quietly in the background at other times, I sit right in front and make faces.
It feels a little bit like being in the drawing room in art school. If you liked Beth’s project last week, you’ll love the club!
Hey Everyone,
I wrote about how my sketchbook journal comic, has been a huge breakthrough for me.
Today I’m going to dive into using your sketchbook as a journal.
Micro-lesson: Use a Visual Journal to draw out Specific Knowledge
A sketchbook is often used to capture the things we see externally. This could be drawing from life, or learning from other artist. This week we are going to point inwards.
We’re going to use the sketchbook to get windows into what’s going on inside of us.
Now depending on the phase of life we’re in, this can be a scary thought.
Maybe we don’t want to face what’s inside of us. And we definitely don’t want to share it with the world. Well I’m here to say that sharing is optional.
And that creative stuff inside of you, that’s the most precious bits.
This week we’ll be extracting those precious bits, I’ll show you how in the sketchbook project. As I extract bits throughout the day. I’m finding that many of the bits find their way into client work.
Sometimes I find myself having to draw the same thing over and over in my journaling practice, I use this as a chance to improve and iterate.
Many people have journaling practices involving writing. The ‘Morning Pages’ are an example of this and has been credited to have helped create many cultural art giants.1
Adding the drawing component unlocks a different mode of thinking.
There is knowledge inside us that is more profound than language. The kind of knowledge that enables a baby to learn how to walk. Let’s get digging.
Sketchbook Project: Visual Journal
This is the setup.
Draw the boxes
Write the questions, we will be answering the same questions everyday.
Fill the boxes with words and pictures, stickmen, full scenes, icons… anything goes.
I stole the questions from a
tweet. Thanks Cole!Here are some of Cole’s thoughts on the questions.
What did you do yesterday?
Focuses the mind on the most important things, just because of our limited memory.
What are you working on?
Focuses you on what you need to get done today, what’s the big thing, and indirectly, what are the distractions to avoid.
What’s coming up?
Keeping the future in view helps you prepare and avoid missteps.
What are you grateful for?
This is the most powerful journal question and a great source of creative energy, try to think of one big one and one small one. Draw the one that’s most energizing at the moment.
IMPORTANT!
Draw this as if you were not going to share it.
Draw it entirely for yourself, you need the mindset that you are doing it for yourself, not the algorithm or the people on instagram, this is how to get the most joy out of the project.
And if out of the 7 days you have a piece or two that you would like to share.
You can share it in this gallery.
Have a great week! How have things been going?
• How has these lessons and projects helped you?
• Do you have a favourite one?
• Do you have questions about building a creative practice?
Let us know in the comments!
A recent Podcast by Tom Froese touches a lot on this creative well and the process of unlocking it.
Thank you for the shoutout and for asking me to help! I LOVED seeing everyone’s pet sketches so much. I’m excited to try this week’s prompts!