Keeping A Sketchbook

Wow.

The start of 2020 has not been what I expected.

The world is in turmoil over the COVID-19 pandemic and life is not as we formerly knew it.

But life does go on - right?

We just have to establish a new normal. And we can do that by continuing with the things we love and letting go of the things we cannot control.

So that is what I have been doing during this time of social distancing and isolation. I have been doing what I love and that is learning and creating.

In early spring I signed up for a course from Bonnie Christine, who is a well-known surface pattern designer. Her course taught me, not only the tools of Adobe Illustrator, but the business of pattern design. And I am all in! I will have more to share over the coming weeks on this, but for now, I want to simply share what is making me happy…

Inspired in the Immersion course, I am now keeping a daily sketchbook.

Sticker courtesy of the Immersion course by Bonnie Christine

It is not perfected drawings and I scribble things out a lot. But it is becoming a collection whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I see something inspiring on TV, or Pinterest, or IG, or in a magazine (like my new fave Uppercase) and it just needs to be captured.

Keeping a running sketchbook has not been a part of my creative practice in the past. But with the intent to make patterns, everything is now an idea to be captured as I do not know where it could possibly lead. This sketchbook is becoming my favourite thing to do while being holed up at home. And I am loving it.

Sometimes I simply write words or ideas that inspire me…

Words from Elisabeth Olwen

Sometimes I have ideas for a collection and sometimes it is just motifs that I want to explore and play with more. At any rate, the pages of this sketchbook are quickly filling and I cannot believe that I have never taken on this practice before!

How about you?

What are you inspired by in these crazy times?

What are you dedicating your time to that makes you happy?