Sketchbooks

(click on the pictures to see bigger)

Ever since I first started art college I've kept a sketchbook. At first I found it laborious and self conscious but after time I grew to enjoy it and eventually to actually need it! My favourite size is A5 with a hard cover. I think this is because it reminds me of a normal sized book and although I don't read novels very often, I can relate to the excitement of looking at the cover and wondering what's lurking inside!

 I tend to use it as a visual diary and among the pages are fragments of my inner life. Sometimes the pictures are easy to interpret and with others I don't even know what the pictures are about until I go back and look again and the passage of time reveals the answers to me.
I love to look at other people's sketchbooks too and at a recent visit to the Beryl Cook exhibition I enjoyed her little sketches on scraps of paper as much as the finished paintings themselves!
All the pages shown here in this post are from my current sketchbook

 and I like the pages to be strong enough to withstand acrylic paint or watercolour washes.

In my last post I spoke of how my muse had elluded me. My sketchbook once again came to my rescue. This is the most recent page, I can't say what it means just yet but I'm sure after a couple of days it shall dawn on me! :)