How to start a beautiful sketchbook.

[@laurak5196]

France I feel that way about looking at YOUR work. If she can do it, so can I. Just need more miles on my pencils/pens. Your work inspires the heck out of me! The birds, animals and faces are all fab. Thanks Danny, for this great content! Always love your work and channel.

[@wagonized6677]

Thank you, Laura!

[@mariajulios6178]

Really interesting perspectives. Thank you. Does anyone know what that red mark on her pages is and what it means? Is it sth like her signature?

[@wagonized6677]

Yes, it’s my little wagonized stamp :-)

[@annelizabeth728]

France is a wonderful teacher. I decided to take her class because, while I like to draw, I didn't think that much of my ink drawings, and I had just finished reading her book. I've never improved so quickly in any skill. I can literally turn the page of my sketchbook and see what I drew before taking her class versus what I did after her class, and the difference is profound. Plus, her personality just sparkles.

[@kanakarajan2854]

I LOVE this combination... you two have taught me the value of creating anything and the incredible value in creating with an inexpensive tool!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@christinebarone2151]

I have recently began a drawing class. They use graphite and charcoal often which honestly I find it dirty and messy. I love the idea of using ballpoint pens plus they are so inexpensive . Thank you for this. Xo from sunny hot NC..

[@TwithBooks]

All my sketches come out as abstract. I can never get what I see to come through my hands the way I see. It all ends up as abstract art. Am I still considered an artist?

[@SketchBookSkool]

Of course! You are expressing yourself through art. If you want more control over your images though, just keep working at it. Keep drawing Keep making, and most importantly, keep being supportive to yourself. Oh, and don't worry too much about labels like "Artist" and "abstract". Just do you.

[@jroisblessed5730]

absolutely!!! and without a doubt! You are creating and learning as you go.... (now, if only I'd heed my own words of encouragement...LOL)

[@dtylice]

When I sketch a seemingly incoherent collection it’s usually (for me) a reflection of white noise obscuring the creative impulse. Too much mind. If this happens often, trying going over the previous abstraction in a different color instead of starting a new page. Sometimes channeling an impulse is greater than our ability to translate all at once.

[@pachionart5586]

Absolutely!

[@cjmac9641]

That’s the whole point! YOU being the medium through which an idea/thought/picture passes, processes and then translates into that which you create!!! You absolutely are an ARTIST! In the purest sense! 💕. Allow for that which wants to be expressed through you!

[@perevision]

Thank you for the video! I love to use Bic multipens to do coloured-pencil-like drawings, an idea I got from artist Nicolas Sanchez. France’s are beautiful and inspire me to work on my precision and consistency. Also I love the signature stamp!

[@rebeccawong1]

Stamps always add charm ❤️

[@JF-kv1gm]

Thanks, Danny! Thanks, France. Her work is so amazing. Judging by the work that her students are sharing at the Skoolyard, I would say that she must be a great teacher too!

[@LaLa_ArtGal]

Her notion of "dirty cross hatching" sounds like a cross between cross hatching and scribbling, in a fascinating way. I learned some wonderful scribbling techniques by watching Brie at Documented Journey. I am such a fan of ballpoint that this video really curled my toes! So great! 🥰

[@SketchBookSkool]

Wonderful!

[@wendywatt-pringle5525]

I just adore ball point. One really can't explain why until one uses it. The results are free-looking drawings and one gains so much confidence using it to do a portrait. I urge everyone to try it!

[@cindysimons2772]

France was a delight. Thank you so much for sharing her.

[@kjrising]

Danny, this is very inspiring. I relate to the things France said about the ugly stage of a drawing. I find I stop at that stage. It results in a sketchbook full of disappointing sketches.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Push through!

[@MothsAreTheBest]

I believe in you Kevin! There is no such thing as ugly art, just different

[@deidrejarvis1373]

Nana

[@louisaellingham602]

If you really can't go back to an unfinished sketch, try using collage in conjunction with the drawing, or cover the page with collage. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results!♥

[@carlaeskelsen]

A sketchbook full of disappointing sketches is a SKETCHBOOK FULL! That is a wonderful thing, a full book! It's not about making an art gallery book; it's about showing up every day and making some marks, and filling that book. And starting another. You don't have to show it to anybody. Just show up every day to your book and draw something and don't judge it, or yourself. 💙💙💙

[@brendawalsh8254]

Silly question maybe… when sketching with a ball point pen, do you first draw in pencil? The images are so amazing.

[@SketchBookSkool]

No - don't draw twice. Just start in with a pen.

[@AleeshaSattva]

France pencils in a tiny bit of the outline before she begins with pen to get proportions correct.

[@wendywatt-pringle5525]

I dont use pencil , it's challenging but builds your confidence so much

[@glitteresque]

I like messy and imperfect art. neat and perfectionist art is not my thing.

[@gardeniainbloom812]

You might like Sandi Hester's channel then.

[@deathmetalpotato]

love seeing such a talented artist championing how great your results are capable of being with just a simple, cheap BIC pen

[@ThePattiw]

I love this series! France is an incredible artist.

[@lorrainesaliba5469]

Thank you for this Danny and also for today’s Essay ! Loved both ! I appreciate you time and commitment towards all the guidance and encouragement you give always give me ! Warmest regards... Lorraine 🤗🎨😁

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are so welcome!

[@amandasymon4363]

So inspiring - Have loved watching/listening to this video. Wow! Gives me belief that it is possible with work and self belief ❤️

[@SketchBookSkool]

You can do it!

[@SuperFcsmith]

My favorite ball point pens are Pentel RSVP fine point. These are better than Bic. They come in the all the usual colors. Thanks for the sketchbook inspiration

[@OliVeeTV]

I Love France soo much

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

Danny, my question for you is that is SketchBook School primarily pen and ink I am a realistic and photo realistic animal portraiture artist that works primarily in colored pencil and in graphite. If I participate in something like one of France's classes which interests me so much or if I'm able to afford to sign up for sketchbook school at all can I use a pencil or is it preferred that we use just pen? I greatly admire pen and ink artists but it is something that seriously intimidates me.

[@SketchBookSkool]

You are free to work however you choose. We respect all artists' choices. We also encourage you to stretch and try new things.

[@margaretpetersen9275]

I love this lady❤ it's how I like to draw too, it's like she's talking toME❤ thank you Danny for sharing this

[@Lacroix999]

Does she sketch in pencil first or completely in pen? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen that these Bic pens are the best to sketch in!

[@SketchBookSkool]

All pen

[@melindaavila498]

I enjoyed your conversation with Ms van Stone. It sparked my interest in sketching!

[@richvanatte3947]

I do sketchbooks and artbooks. I experiment in sketchbooks and do nice art in the artbooks.

[@jroisblessed5730]

I have not gotten the hang of 'cross-hatching'... so I don't try it often since I'm not quite happy with my attempts at it. I know I should do them in my sketchbook, but then feel like I'm messing up a sheet LOL I need to get over it and just practice... maybe I'm just not patient enough to take my time with it, much less come back to it time and again with breaks in between. When I draw or paint, I like get it finished in one session. Guess that means I'll not get any good at realism. C'est la vie! :o\

[@SketchBookSkool]

You have a lot of reasons for not being good at it. Here are a couple of reasons that might help you do it anyway. Two free tutorials on our channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXOpYWN8jK95eaM and kzbin.info/www/bejne/poHMq2aQmsmgf8U

[@polymathfreelancers1869]

Just finished the very last podcast/short discussion on your playlist about sketchbooks and I'm sooo in love with the ideas and the instructors from these interviews! I'm so glad I came across this channel! It's just what I need during these difficult times when I feel like I'm not capable enough to go back creating art. Thank you so much!

[@dianemarie9d9]

I am just now, after 50+ years of being an artist--a painter--I am diving into drawing. Something that I learned in my 40s or 50s was if you don't like what you're working on, you're not finished. Keep going. I have a phrase that applies in a lot of ways: Being an artist is like taking a walk in the wintertime--it's beautiful--take the time to look around, but keep moving, or you'll freeze. Having grown up in Minnesota, and then running away from a perfectly good but unfulfilling 9 to 5 life to live on an island in Lake Superior first in a tent, then a schoolbus, and finally a house that was bought for us by my husband, whom I met while living there, I know a thing about freezing literally and figuratively.

[@maryjogiroux6183]

I love France's work and her approach! Does she do any classes for Sketchbookskool members who are not in spark?

[@SketchBookSkool]

We have done a couple of workshops with her. She also teaches in Art Bootcamp and People Drawing People. But why not try a free trial of Spark?

[@connieebinger6343]

Hi Danny! The link to the sketchbook Spark is not working maybe just a temporary glitch. I’ll try it later, but just wanted to let you know.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thank you. The Spark program has just ended, alas.

[@hopelessatusernames]

Exhibitions of sketches by renaissance masters are always worth a visit. My favourite kind of show.

[@carlaeskelsen]

The more you draw, the better you see. The better you see, the better you draw.

[@marie2513]

I am mesmerized with this process and start my own today.

[@jumanas4012]

its funny how they advise us to follow the techniques but yet in the end they say there is no right or wrong way of art ! that's confusing to me ..... oh the ugly stage make me quite sometimes :)

[@SketchBookSkool]

I don’t think we advise you to follow techniques. Sure we share what we do which is helpful to people starting out but ultimately we encourage you to find your own voice and style.

[@BIA_N]

Amazing work. Does she have an Instagram?

[@SketchBookSkool]

@wagonized

[@assel4225]

Danny, thank you so much! France is simply amasing. Her works are fantastic. I am amazed that she reached that level of artistry by herself without any professional education. I don’t think I could come close to that kind of results by myself, but I’m very inspired and so grateful to you, for opening to us such a beauty and talent.

[@Emilia-ps2th]

Loved the high standard of France's drawings. I'm just beginning. Just starting with the little bit each day that you encourage. Synchronistically, I've seen the exhibit now in Sth Australia(Hahndorf) by Nora Heysen, 1st female war artist; the drawings section on display. She used 'conte' which is new to me, comes out red, plus charcoal plus chalk. The paper is not white. She also captured facial expressions & eyes that could speak.

[@childesinthev.761]

Conté was just the (still existing) brand I think, the specific product was probably a sanguine pencil, commonly used in sketching, sometime with an easily blended soft white and "pierre noire" black.

[@Slaylahvr]

😯

[@birgitblume4980]

Gorgeous art! I LOVE the animals and would love to learn to draw them. Very inspiring video!!!

[@szenka43]

Thank You for the conversation! 🥰

[@SketchBookSkool]

Our pleasure!

[@carolguzek9391]

2:01

[@jude1515]

Beautiful drawings! I am definitely going to try crosshatching.

[@laalbujhakkar]

OMG I used to follow France on Flickr in like 2007! she's so great! I even copied some of her drawings :)

[@rodicacretu1030]

Where do you find your models? I try to treat my Saturday spleen finding figures on Pinterest. Thank you.

[@seenuz1]

Wonderful Sir, u made every artist to Njoy this vlog..👌

[@quaffie]

you dont start a beautiful sketchbook, a beautiful sketchbook starts you

[@pattaylor7298]

She has really helped me go forward beyond the ugly stage of a drawing and I'm so glad I've found her!!!😍

[@karenturner-cf7vq]

This was good to listen to. I had some inspiration. Thankyou

[@connieebinger6343]

I’m inspired by you two!

[@mercurysbest]

I’ve sketched since being very young and love to paint , my faces all turn out similar and am really frustrated because I’m trying so hard with trying to get likeness’s thank you for the encouragement

[@SketchBookSkool]

Glad it's helped

[@bunnylady6758]

Her sketchbook is so beautiful. 😍

[@MRLoveARTdraws]

nothing but mam's smile

[@Elena-Studio]

This is super inspiring to draw more in my sketchbooks.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Have fun!

[@dimitrioskalfakis]

what a sexy, smart and talented woman!

[@Nicola-Lore]

Great video !

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thanks!

[@Jaxplode]

Isn‘t that more Rendering than Drawing?

[@SketchBookSkool]

Hard to say, Roget.

[@doriettprada3446]

Hermoso trabajo

[@take2rollem]

me too!!!

[@birhanustehay8695]

its amazing!!