The Ease of Creating Art in my Sketchbook
Finding freedom to discover…
Hello Creative Souls,
Firstly I’d like to wish you all a happy and fabulously creative new year! This is my first newsletter of 2024 and I wanted to share with you the direction my art seems to be taking and why, the materials I am using and what I am reading and listening to this January. Read on creative souls to find out what my plans are for 2024.
In my studio, my happy place 🤗
“The artist has outer and inner eyes for nature, nature rewards him by giving him inspiration.” – Wassily Kandinsky
Last year I really enjoyed trying something new, well, actually I tried a lot of new things, like writing on Substack and starting my own YouTube channel, but when it comes to my art I decided to follow my heart. I am fortunate enough to be able to split my time across Dorset and Cornwall where the landscapes are so beautifully awe inspiring that I felt I wanted to capture my surroundings on paper. I did some research online and watched quite a few YouTube videos to find out what I would need to enjoy doing some plein air art. I came across several artists, who like me, share their ideas, materials and inspiration right here on Substack and Youtube. I will leave their details at the end of this post.
Painting Plein Air
Painting plein air was freeing, I wanted to loosen up my style, to draw and paint quickly without thinking about the rules of watercolour. I wanted to paint what was in front of my eyes, whilst experiencing the sights and sounds of where I was sat. I didn’t have to worry about conformity, accuracy or even composition, I was creating art for me. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t to scale, whether the tones weren’t right, if it was messy and rushed, that was almost what I wanted. To breathe, to be out in the elements, to feel part of the painting, to paint with my heart.
There were times when the rain and wind meant that it just wasn’t practical to sit outside and this winter has certainly been that way, however, I took lots of photos whilst out on my walks ready to use later on.
Art Materials
So what is needed to start a sketchbook practice?
First of all I needed a sketchbook and as you can imagine the market is swamped with sketchbooks. It’s really hard to know where to start so I looked at what other artists used and settled on purchasing a Seawhite of Brighton sketchbook, actually two Seawhite of Brighton sketchbooks. I have an A5 and an A4, both fit nicely into my rucksack, along with the rest of my art materials shown below.
Using a sketchbook means that I get to try lots of different art materials and I particularly enjoy using pencils and Neocolor II Aquarelle to layer over the top of a watercolour wash. I enjoy the process of swatching out new materials and testing what they can do on the paper. I love the fact I can speed up the creative process, spending as little or as long as I like on a piece. You don’t need a huge amount of art stuff to go paint outside, keeping to the basics I would suggest:
HB pencil
Ink pen - waterproof uni-ball or Micron
A mixed media sketchbook or pad. I like Seawhite of Brighton or Canson
A limited watercolour palette. I use a Winsor & Newton travel kit
Travel brushes although the W&N kit does have a small brush
Over the summer as my confidence grew, I started adding materials to my art supplies, which enhanced my sketches and were fun to explore with on the page.
Coloured pencils. In my stash I like Derwent Drawing pencils or Caran D’Ache Luminance
Neocolor II Aquarelle, in various tones. I am gradually adding individual colours to match the landscape I am sketching.
Tombow pens
Posca Pens
Mont Marte Extra Soft Oil Pastels, ultra blendable in assorted colours.
I am yet to experiment with my oil pastels, I will be filming a video later on this month and will share with you how I get on.
Sketchbook Practice in 2024
Having enjoyed the experience of creating art in my sketchbook and nature journal, I want to continue the practice throughout the year. I don’t want to put any pressure on myself by making statements like, “I am going to do a sketch a day” however, I will block out time in my diary every week to make sure I get time to create mixed media art without inhibition and freedom. I have already produced some artwork over the festive period and love the way of how a finished sketchbook piece makes me feel.
Last year I found artistic freedom through my sketchbook, I found that I could focus more whilst outside in nature, there was less procrastination and more wanting to capture a moment in time on the page.
Back in the Studio
I love being back in my studio over the winter season, it feels cosy inside whilst the rain falls outside and we have certainly had a lot of it this year. Whilst creating art I like to listen to an audiobook and this year I have downloaded two ready to kick off the new year. I haven’t started listening yet but will do once the last of the Christmas decorations are packed away. I have listed these down below along with a podcast I have recently found. I will also list the books I like to use as reference throughout the year.
If you have made it this far, I thank you 🙏 This time of year can feel a bit slow and dull after the rush of Christmas, I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little bit of pressure to make this year better than the last. I hope you have positive things to look back on from last year and I wish you positive things for the year ahead. I am sticking to my mantra,
“Nature + Creativity = Joy”
Sending you all new year blessings,
Clare 🧚🏼♂️
Stay naturally curious…
YouTube Artist Vlogs:
Melanie Chadwick
Linda Vine
Helen Cryer
Sandi Hester
Substack Artists:
Podcast:
Creative Catch Up - Melanie Chadwick, Kriksis & Natasha Newton
As the Season Turns - Ffern & Lia Leendertz
Audiobooks:
Find your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon
Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Books List:
The Alamanac, A Seasonal Guide to 2024 by
The National Trust Gardener’s Almanc 2024 - Greg Loades
The Tree Almanac 2024, A Seasonal Guide to the Woodland World - Dr Gabriel Hemery
Happy new year! Thank you so much for the mention, that's really kind :) I also absolutely love as the seasons turn podcast - one of my favourite moments of calm in the month!
Another great newsletter. Keep pondering xx