PRACTICAL 3RD OF 5: KEEPING A SKETCHBOOK
A number of years ago I was invited to present a demonstration of my painting process for a local watercolor society. During the demonstration I discussed how I use my sketchbooks to develop ideas. I brought several sketchbooks with me and passed them around the room for the watercolour society members to look through. My partner, Sue, and our daughter, Anna, were in attendance and when the sketchbooks came their way, they took a minute to glance through them as well. Although I always have a sketchbook with me and am constantly adding to it, my sketchbooks had been so ubiquitousthey saw and after returning home, Sue mentioned to me that she thought we should give each of our three grown children one of the sketchbooks as a Christmas gift. Baffled by the suggestion, I simply replied, ‘Why?’ She went on to explain that having taken the time to look through a couple of the books, she realised that they contained not just sketches and painting development, but glimpses into how I think, how I process, and even what I value.
