Thats how I feel about new sketchbooks.
Stupid really, after the first few pages, and the first poorly observed sketch, greasy mark, or coffee cup ring, a sketchbook becomes a living thing. It then has history and memories that are not solely about the sketches themselves. Vital to remember the real undertones of any scene or subject, these blemishes become at least as important as the marks made deliberately in charcoal or graphite.........But, when brand new and brooding on the shelf, the sketchbook is a perfect unmarked thing full of potential. It whispers to me, the half heard creative conscience....."Do some more work, get on with it".
I think I better bite the bullet and start the first page this evening.
8 comments:
I know just what you mean Knifepainter - I feel the same when writing the first thing in a new year's diary, worried in case I make a mistake and mess it up (the diary, and the year). Within a couple of weeks it's all full of crossings out, I've lost the little pencil, the odd page is missing, but when it's new ....... as you say, full of potential but carries a bit of a responsibility with it.
Better a full and tatty sketchbook than a pristine empty one, as you say, and this applies to diaries too. And life, I suppose, come to think of it.
Blimey, I'm scaring myself now!
See, SM, you start writing a little thing about a book of blank pages and end up getting into the meaning of life.
That's just what happened to me.
Hi Knifepainter. You really struck a chord with this one. Brought back memories of new exercise books at school, all fresh and unsullied with my scrawlings and oh so quickly covered with red ink. All I can suggest is just go for it!
MMoF, thanks for popping in.
Started the new book, as you said the key was just to get stuck in.
New post later with a sketch or two from the new book.
I am with you on this one, I Hate starting a new sketch book, and have a new one to start....soon she says lol.
Glad I'm not alone !
I feel exactly the same with a new notebook. People give me gorgeous ones and I never end up using them because I don't want to defile them with my crossings-out.
Must be a lack of confidence or something. The weird thing is, once I get started I forget about it and just carry on as normal.
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