Creating the First Page of a New Sketchbook | the Art of Practice

[@s.maskell7134]

I love your half pan portraits! What a fun way to start.

[@kellyhoernig]

They are just so cute, aren't they? So small and tiny yet you can fill them with whatever delicious color you are in the mood for. Glad you were inspired!

[@Lauraisabelgonzalezart]

Always inspired by you! Thank You for keeping my company as I draw more Fall Mushrooms and Pumpkins!!!

[@kellyhoernig]

I love that we were In the Studio together painting what we love. Thank you for having me next to you as you created wonderful fall items!

[@maureencepiel959]

I started my first sketchbook with an eye and a nose of a pig. I love painting animals, so 3/4 of that sketchbook is animal 1/2 faces, or straight on faces (like a bee). The last 1/4 is odd views of flowers. Fun stuff!

[@kellyhoernig]

Artist sketchbooks are so much fun because of the variety they offer. Love that you started with the eye and nose of a pig, how fantastic!

[@CindyRippe]

A great start to your new journal!!

[@kellyhoernig]

Thank you so much, I am looking forward to a new start and a new sketchbook to play in!

[@jadec2180]

Thank you for sharing how to make homemade graphite paper

[@kellyhoernig]

It is my greatest asset when working in my sketchbook. Hope you have made some for yourself, it is a game changer for sure!

[@tlembro]

Love these books as well! Trig was the only math class I made A’s in! Just ordered one of these books from Les Escargot off Etsy…..they make beautiful ones! Thank you!

[@kellyhoernig]

I will have to check them out. So happy you found a book and paper you like. It is the most important step of a sketchbook I believe.

[@yellowsunnybear375]

Very nice start to your new sketchbook! I've been making my own books for a while and like that I can vary the size and number of pages. I usually don't do the 1st page right away but wait until I've broken my book in a bit first. I'm currently working through your "Cultivated Color" workshop. I waited to do my color wheel on the 1st page until I had completed the yellow pages. I'm afraid to mess up the first page if I do it right away!!

[@kellyhoernig]

You can't mess up a sketchbook, it is about art practice not perfection. Thank you for joining me in Cultivated Color, such a beautiful resource when finished and I refer to mine all the time. Enjoy color mixing and let me know how the sketchbook turns out, would love to hear!

[@SheilaLandry]

I love watching you paint! I am sitting here painting myself after getting home from a walk in the woods. I picked up a couple of ferns and some beautful scarlet and brown leaves from broken branches that already turned. I had Keith take a photo of a mushroom, and I have to bring a camera with me next time because there are SO many interesting mushrooms! You inspire me so much, my friend and I thank you for that. I love your Fox and Fern class and will be continuing with that probably later tonight. As for how I begin my sketchbook - that first page is the most difficult. I usually cut pages from the back because I don't want to 'ruin' it! (Sigh!) But you are encouraging me to be more brave. I will let you know ;)

[@kellyhoernig]

Sheila, the first page is always an art supply for me, it just takes the pressure off. The fact that you are starting one is the biggest step. Randomly open the sketchbook and just start, add dates and you are on your way. Your art is so beautiful, fill those pages my friend!

[@SheilaLandry]

@@kellyhoernig Yes. That first mark in a new book is a killer. I like the idea of art supplies first. They are a constant in my life, as in yours. I am also getting over my fear of 'messing up' books. The Fox & Fern class is helping with that. I framed my "Circle of Delight" yesterday and it looks beautiful here in my studio. It is a personal piece of art and I enjoyed it every step of the way. These little steps are bigger than they appear, Kelly. You have me picking up branches and taking my camera on our walks so I can take photos for references. I see so many interesting plants and little bugs and critters when we walk. Thank you for teaching not only an art piece, but the 'process'. I also am thinking about breaking in my new sketchbook by adding color swatching in the back as kind of a reference. I am interested in seeing what my Roman Szmal blues and yellows will do with each other and it will make a different kind of chart. I don't have 'too many' but enough to play a bit. Thanks for all of your insights.

[@kellyhoernig]

@@SheilaLandry I saw your video clip of your walk the other day and I'm like what? You didn't bring a camera LOL

[@SheilaLandry]

@@kellyhoernig Right? I have been here almost 20 years now (YIKES!!!) and I stopped bringing my camera. But I told Keith I have to bring it more. Thanks for the prompts. :)

[@alisonhendry2928]

Ok so before I am even five minutes in I MUST say thank you! I feel a bit 🙈🤦‍♀️at the moment. Shaking my head and thinking “HOW have I not thought of this ?”… I use the tracing paper with my image drawn in ink , cover THAT with graphite and trace onto my stretched paper… however. There is not much that is as boring and slow as rubbing graphite on the back of tracing paper EVERYTIME I start a painting… how have I not thought of making this instead ? One piece of graphite paper for ALL my transfers and reloading when it gets used up? Thank you thank you thank you! Did I say thank you ? ❤❤❤❤ brilliant trick. ( still shaking my head and laughing at self… all good 😂). I do not like Saral tracing graphite paper… so have always made my own… but not like this…

[@kellyhoernig]

Your comments have me laughing out loud because sometimes we just miss the obvious, right? It's crazy and glad you now have that knowledge to share with others while watching their explosions happen right before your eyes LOL