Sketchbooks and Journeys

Sketchbooks and journeys, no matter how short or long, make excellent partners. Taking a sketchbook on a holiday, or a trip, can be a great way to familiarize yourself with what a sketchbook can be – you have plenty of time (ideally) to indulge in using your sketchbook, and plenty of inspiration (hopefully!) around you. And then of course the sketchbook reaps new rewards by acting as a reminder of precious times, and stimulus for new work, upon your return.

Frances Hatch
www.franceshatch.co.uk

Claire Stringer

“I make very quick drawings and notes and then work into them later with watercolour paint, though sometimes I leave them as they are. These are from a recent Art Residency in India. They capture a moment or a feeling. The first image with the camels, is from the republic day event where you weren’t allowed a camera. It was an incredible sight as an entire brass band came out of the Delhi fog, all on camels. I always carry a sketchbook round with me, and often draw people on the trains and undergrounds in London. Usually in this situation you only get a minute or two to draw someone.
It is great practice. I think of it like how musicians play scales. Drawing is the basic principles of art, and you need to keep practising.”
Claire Stringer

Carrie Holder

“Pages from my current sketchbook, which is inspired by my trip to Iceland. I use sketchbooks for a variety of reasons, to work out ideas, to capture the atmosphere or essence of a place and mostly because I just like to draw. I include collages, my own photographs and sometimes small textile samples in my books.”