The humble sketchbook.
I spend a lot of time drawing. If you REALLY want to look inside the mind of a designer or artist, take a look into his/her sketchbooks. So here’s a little sneaky peak.
Most of the pages I photographed to make that video were from a 2011 – 2012 sketchbook. At the time I was doing a lot of freelance work. I hadn’t seen that book for a while. There are a few from my current sketchbook as well.
Did you spot this next page in the video? This is from my current sketchbook. There is no end goal or project in mind when I’ve been working on this page. It can be nice to have nothing in mind when drawing. That said I’ve already used images from it in one project or other.
Of course ideas can arrive any time; walking the dog, waiting for a train. For me, the pure muddle of words, form and ideas and characters from brain, via the hand to paper, the sketchbook is it. The process may seem random, and for me it is. Where possible, I try to tap into the subconscious even when I am conscience of getting a particular image illustrated. In this way I find I am able to generate random and original imagery. Who wants to be a photocopier anyway?
And here below I’ve brought together a few elements of old and new. See if you can spot anything from the sketchbook pages above in this next piece of work.
I am always happy for people to have a look through my sketchbooks so when we next meet ask me.