2023 sketch journal
I’m hesitant. But I want to. Look at the sketch journal, which turned out not to be a sketch journal, but lots of experiments in different media and approaches. It’s all over the place. Maybe by looking at it in a more structured way, I can figure something out?
Anyway, I’ll start. The idea came from a bookmaking friend. She suggested binding a journal with a page for every day in 2023. It was a big chunky book. I didn’t love how it turned out, but it was serviceable for its purpose and I decided to go for it. I’ve done some other practices for a whole year, so I knew it was within the realm of possibility.
I have difficulty with drawing. I don’t have any particular way to explain why. I just don’t feel it comes naturally. I took a course in drawing and worked on it diligently for a few years – but the drawing practice I was cultivating drifted away. I’m often visited by a feeling that I don’t like what I draw and lose motivation that way.
But I also continue to believe there can be a spiritual foundation to drawing – or something to discover, or to contemplate, or pay attention to, or something. I keep at it although the form it takes morphs here and there. Or in the case of 2023, morphed constantly.
The pages are from French Paper in alternating sections of white, tan and black. The black was the hardest because I had to work with white media and was never totally happy with my options. (I found ways to work around that, too…)
I thought maybe I’d try to post my favorite pages, month by month. And maybe slip in some of my least favorite pages too because I can learn from that, right? And use this review to inform what I do for 2024.
Maybe this is too much, overthinking it. Maybe that’s what I’d good at. Worth a try though.
I think ‘chunky’ is an understatement! Wow…that was a lot of playing in 2023 🙂
I agree that what we end up satisfied with and what we don’t like both have something to offer. As does “overthinking” in some ways.
Story: Way back, maybe 21 years ago, my friend/co-teacher and I planned to present at our National ECE conference. We applied, got accepted and dove in. She is ultra-organized and focused, while still flexible and collaborative. So we divided up the main subjects (she did quilting in the classroom and I did weaving)..and then we PLANNED. There were lists, agendas, handouts, attendees questionnaires, timing, a planned dialog framework…and so on. Everything was organized in two (mine & hers) notebooks with all of our plans in clear plastic pages. I will say that I was more of a follower to her grand plan, as she was a mentor in many ways and I would have never thought to prepare this way…and I used some of the techniques in later solo presentations. Anyway, the day of the conference, we packed all of our MANY supporting props and materials and paperwork…and Presented. We ended up using some of it, not all and some not at all (the mock dialog flew right out of my window for my section – I just winged it!) It went great! The room was completely packed and we were very well received.
Afterwards, I felt liked we’d wasted so much time in such detailed prep work. It took me a while to figure out that all of that overthinking is what allowed us (me) to feel comfortable in presenting to a room full of strangers (my first conference)…got all of the bits we wanted to share fleshed out, expanded, gelled…it was needed.
So, boy what a long babbling mess I’ve put here, but it turned out to be such a lesson to me…twofold: I overthink – that’s a part of my process. That makes it valuable.
Sorry for such a long ramble.
I look forward to seeing some of your 2023 (and 2024) pages.
Have fun.
I like your stories, Nancy! Congratulations (belated) on your successful presentation.
I’m amazed that you kept your project mum all this time … and am very much looking forward to what you choose to share …
I guess it seemed like a jinx of some kind to share it. There was a chance I would abandon it.