Skip to main content

Lessons I've Learned Through my Sketchbook

Learning to think through drawing is something I've been focusing on this year. I've always thought that I think best by writing, but as a graphic designer, I also need to be able to think by drawing.

I started a sketchbook awhile back and don't draw in it nearly enough, but it's still fun when I do. Here's an older entry:


I'm totally fascinated by typography, so sometimes try to draw quotes that I come across. When I drew this, I didn't know the first thing about how to draw a font to look decent, but it was sure fun to try different techniques:


Sometimes I can't help it and I fall back on my love of writing. On this page I was brainstorming ideas for future blog posts:


Occasionally I like to try out techniques that I come across online. It's fun to try new things and reminds me just how many different ways there are to do things:


The more I draw, the more natural it feels, which is probably a good thing. I can feel my brain warming up to the idea of expressing itself visually instead of only through the written word.


Here's a page I made just a week or two ago. As you can tell I'm still drawn to typography, but I'm starting to understand that sometimes a simpler approach to building letters can actually make them turn out better.


Art is a journey and is teaching me a lot about thinking creatively. It's a good test ground for my design ideas, and is a good way to get my brain thinking outside the box (a skill that will come in handy when I start getting more graphic design clients!).

*****
Do you have a sketchbook or art journal? What has it taught you? What inspired you to start one in the first place?

Comments

  1. I love the fonts you've come up with on the bottom picture! I'm such a sucker for fonts, but I definitely prefer the simpler ones. One of my pet hates is a font I can't read because its too fancy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I haven't had a sketchbook for ages. I do everything digital now adays but nothing beats a pencil and a piece of paper.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always fail to have a decent sketchbook. Either I forget to write in it regularly, or I lose it. (it's happened to me a couple of times. Ugh!) But having a sketchbook is really a great way to keep track of your ideas, inspirations and thoughts. I might start a new one now that I think of it. Ha! :)
    xxx,
    Lily
    http://lilycupcake.blogspot.co.at/

    ReplyDelete
  4. The fonts are cool, I always encouraged my oldest daughter to keep a scrap book, I also bought one for my youngest daughter. My whole family is very artistic except for me. I am creative with writing:) My oldest also became a graphic art designer, she loves her career, I wish you the best with yours:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Now you have 90 followers. I your work. Malika

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Don't even try to leave a link in your comment... it will be deleted without warning.

Popular posts from this blog

Etsy Giveaway: Desert Rose Knit Shop

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!! 39 comments are entered - if there are any more at a later time added, they will NOT count. ********** Today I'm christening my new(ish) blog with an Etsy giveaway! I'm offering one lucky winner a cabled beanie of their choice ( pick your favorite color !). This giveaway will run for a week - so you have until next Monday, January 23rd, to put your name in the hat. 6 ways to enter: Comment below about which color beanie is your favorite. Subscribe to my blog on Google Friend Connect . Blog about this giveaway on your own blog. " Like " my Facebook fan page . Follow me on Twitter . Tweet about this giveaway. Please leave a separate comment below for each entry. At the end of the contest, I'll use a random number generator to pick the winner!! Here's a look at some of the color options available. Browse other color options over at  my Etsy shop ! ***** Thank you for enteri

Meet a Designer: Stephanie Kubo

I stumbled across a completely fascinating artist today, Stephanie Kubo . Her portfolio doesn't state if she's a working designer, illustrator, etc, but her work is exquisite so I think she fits the bill for including in my Meet a Designer series. Enjoy! (Linking up with Kristen Victoria ).

DIY Art Journal

Hi, my name is Linda and I am a 25 year old law student living in Manhattan. I blog over at My Passion Is... about my life, scrapbooking, DIY crafts, photography, exploring NYC & more. I am honored to be sharing a post with you today on Jen's blog, so thanks for having me! I recently completed a mini album that I made out of a pasta box so I wanted to share a tutorial with you so you could make your own! What you need: empty pasta box [I used a whole foods penne pasta] scrapbook papers & embellishments a single hole punch sturdy tape [like packaging tape] a paper cutter and/or scissors some sort of binding, either binding rings or ribbon First, you are going to flatten out your pasta box. Then you are going to cut it down to two 6x6 squares [or whatever size album you want to make]. If the box doesn’t fit perfectly in those shapes that’s alright, just piece them together using packaging tape to hold the squares together. Once you cover them i