10 over 10 May Design Inspiration: Sketchbooks

One of my favorite compliments my husband gives me is that I destroy sketchbooks. He means that as an endearing compliment: I’ll use up a 100-sheet sketchbook in a month, “destroying” every page with ink and paint. I have have piles of sketchbooks around the house, and still own every single sketchbook I’ve ever written or doodled in since I was a kid.

My sketchbooks have evolved over time. When I was in undergraduate I studied creative writing with a focus on poetry. Those sketchbooks are full of short poems, kinda depressing journal entries, and the occasional portrait or landscape. As I started design school, the sketches evolved to more doodles, curlie-cues, with the occasional experimentation of new media.

About 2 years ago I started a regular drawing practice. Now I have 3 sketchbooks that I work in at a time: a larger format book where I do mostly watercolor and ink drawings, a smaller book that I draw in pen, and a journal that I use after I meditate where I write 10 things I’m grateful for each day.

I think that keeping a sketchbook has brightened my soul creatively and personally. The day doesn’t feel right if I don’t get at least 15 minutes of drawing in. Today, I want to share other sketchbooks that are immensely inspiring. You ready to break out the pens, pencils, crayons, glue, spit, gum, WHATEVER and get sketching? Send me your stuff. I’d love to look at it! And please follow me on Instagram where you can see my most recent sketches.

 

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Gosia Herba

 

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Steve Huston


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David Fullarton

 

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Mar Hernández

 

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Jennifer Orkin Lewis

 

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Guillermo Del Toro

 

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Lisa Congdon

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Kolby Kirk

 

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Heather Smith Jones

 

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Wendy MacNaughton