Okay, so after my previous post, you probably noticed that I stress the idea of sketch books like a freaking crazy person.. Well that’s because it is important. For example, here are FOUR pages from my current sketch book..

The idea of the sketchbook isnt to create this beautiful idealistic art piece. You have to get over the idea that when people look through it, that you want them to be amazed by every little thing in your book. Sketchbooks are for recording your thoughts, exercising your hand, and a little repetition.

When I sit down with my sketchbook, normally I have my iPad out, skimming through photos, through type faces, and through quotes. Chances are a lot of what goes into my sketchbook will never make it into a final piece, but thats alright. Its alright because my sketchbook is for me to practice my hand lettering, sketch out various different ideas for logos, and play with colors. I also use my sketchbook to come up with ideas for lino prints, and if the final block is small enough, I normally print in my book as well.

I keep a small sketchbook, and a larger one.. I am pretty stuck on Moleskiné sketchbooks for my smaller ones, and Moleskiné unlined notebooks for the larger ones. The Micron pens show through the pages a little when I scan in my pages, but thats not a problem at all.

One other thing I do is work with paper that pulls out of the sketch pads (watercolor/sketch paper) and when I get enough of it worked on, I bind it at work (The UPS Store) so that the pages stay together!

So in closing, dont stress if some of your pages look like garbage! Your sketchbook is not for your friends to love looking through (although if they are anything like mine, even garbage sketches get them excited) its for you to exercise your design skills, help you not forget a random idea you have or a quote you like. Dont worry about things being perfect, if you want it perfect, scan it in and refine it. Begin in the sketchbook, end with the printer.

Go sketch!