Currently Browsing: journal practice 19 articles
Keeping Your Mind in the Present Moment
Seems like you can’t turn around these days without someone telling you to keep your mind in the present moment. I tell my students that all the time. I have told students for 30 years that being able to keep your mind in the present moment is one of the main benefits of journaling. I’m […]
In Context: Notes, and Lists, and Sketches All Together
For today’s in context post I wanted to show you how when I need to make a note and work out which new pigments I want to buy and I’ve left my list at home, I simply sit down and work it out in the journal I’m using—even if it contains watercolor paper. Above you […]
In Context: Snow Piles
Typically on New Year’s Day I go and sketch at Como Zoo. This year, it seemed impractical to try to park (Como is always crowded on New Year’s Day), walk the long distance to the entry, walk to the Aquatic building (where I could sketch puffins), and reverse the process while keeping my toe warm […]
When Do You Stop? When Is A Drawing Finished
I think the number one question I get from students is: “When do I know my drawing is finished?” Most people aren’t going to like the answer. You’ll know after you’ve taken a ton of sketches past the point of no return. Here’s the thing, you’re asking a question that involves choices both stylistic choices […]
Journaling Superstition #20: Your Text and Your Image Need to “Make Sense” Together
Students tell me all the time, “I can’t write in my journal, I don’t have anything profound to say.” Or they worry, “I don’t want to write on my pages because my handwriting is so bad.” Or they fret that, “What I’m thinking about right now and want to write about doesn’t have anything to […]
Get Something Down on Paper, Even if You Think You’re Too Close to Your Subject
This post was originally published on January 30, 2017 during my site transition. Above: A page spread from my 8 x 9.25 inch Shinola Sketchbook. It has 112 pages of 100 lb. (148 gsm) acid free paper. I purchased it for $28 at Wet Paint in St. Paul. I’ve written about these whenever I post from it, […]
Another Eyebrow Update
Above: Here's a quick contour drawing I made of Dick as he sat on the couch in the TV room—for all the folks keeping track of those eyebrows! I was working in the 6 x 8.5 inch Prat FlexBook Sketchbook with the Sakura Pigma Sensei Pen. (Just one thickness, but I did go over the […]
Where Does Inspiration Come From?
Above: Some pre-lunch sketching with a serendipitous quotation from "Rear Window." There is a tab between these two pages, created when the book was bound and I have digitally erased the tab where it covers part of the right hand page image and text. 8 x 8 inch hand bound book using a now defunct […]
Tune In for a Free Webinar with Roz Stendahl
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. CST. Diane Gibbs of Design Recharge will be interviewing me about one of my favorite topics—Journaling, specifically fake journaling and International Fake Journal Month. IT’S FREE.
2014 Hiatus Post: Looking at Practice and Adaptation
See the full post for details.