by Brittany Lytle

Created on: April 28, 2009

Art journals suspend moments in the stream of consciousness.

The main purpose of keeping a sketchbook is to quickly capture ideas as a way of cataloging. These tidbits are filed away until a later date in which they are expanded on, used as a diving board for a new idea, or stored until a later date.

It is important for an artist to let go of inhibition and experiment by testing their boundaries. In doing so, they generate new ideas and challenge former concepts of their thought processes or artistic capabilities. A sketchbook is like a miniature, portable laboratory for artists to launch their discoveries and begin to map uncharted territory. Its white space is available for rapid successive development of an idea, practicing each perspective until the idea is exhausted and ready to leap from the page. Or the space could fill slowly until an oceanic project emerges from the trickle of thoughts.

As with everything else, practice makes perfect. Art journals are ideal tool for staying grounded, improving talent, and training the eye. It is admirable to create intellectual art that focuses mainly on color, but it is no excuse to let the skill of controlling line fall to the wayside - it will definitely come in handy later if it's not immediately applicable.

There are absolutely no rules on keeping a proper art journal, and in fact there are no "proper" art journals. These personal books are as wild or subdued as the creator allows. Clippings, pictures, material swatches, and textured paper are a few popular additives, but the possibilities are endless. Pressing leaves and flowers or transferring newspaper ink by way of modge-podge are a few alternatives that I have tried in my own.

Most mediums are sketchbook approved, but there has to be some thought into what is used and what it could do to the page. Charcoal gives a brilliant contrast and is perfect for quick sketches, but be careful - spray the page with fixative or hairspray when the drawing is complete if you do not want major smearing. Make sure the fixative or spray is dry before you close the book, or the pages may stick together. Pencil may smear as well, so either spray or keep the back of the previous page clean so their is a buffer surface. Ink is ideal for cross-hatching and people who are not afraid to discard their eraser.

When it comes to mediums, I prefer sharpie markers. While they bleed through the page and are somewhat visible on the reverse, this gives me a ghost image to play with on the opposite side. My sketchbook is all about making mistakes and figuring out how to use them to my benefit.

The best feature of an art journal is its function as a breeding ground for style. If the artist remains true to their ideas or the things that catch their eye, eventually a pattern will emerge. It is easy to be swept up in the current artistic trend, but an art journal will act as an anchor. Sketch books are proof of individuality. They brim with style and truth, allowing the artist to see what they may have missed while treading stormy artistic waters.

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