Something I noticed while watching other people's sketchbooks
I have spent countless hours watching sketchbook tours on Youtube, especially ‘Calarts accepted Sketchbook tours’. These videos accompanied me during my daily walk on my threadmill during the cold canadian winter. I do like to look at art from skilled artists but I noticed something else, something that interested me more than perfectly done portraits of models, it was drawings of everyday life.
Those randoms drawings of their living room with grandma watching tv, the kitchen sink with dirty dishes waiting to be washed, view from their desk at school, people walking downtown eating ice cream.. All this seemed so beautiful to me because it was real and raw. I am drawn more and more to than as I age compared to the cute anime girls that used to catch my attention 20 years ago.
This sketchbook spread above was made after spending a really fun evening with friends. We went out to eat in a restaurant in Chinatown, then we went to see a concert downtown Montreal. After the show, my girlfriend’s feet were hurting so her boyfriend dared her to go on his back. This was funny and cute so I took a few pics to remember the moment, I knew I would draw it later on.
It was a fun evening and I enjoyed the food, the concert and of course the time spent with my friends but somehow, the fact of drawing this little skethbook spread to commemorate my evening made it even more precious to me. When I look at those drawings now, i remember this evening even more vividly than with just my memory of pictures. It adds another layer of memory, i can almost smell my grilled chicken and remember how my back started to hurt after 4 hours of standing up ahah. I also wrote some lyrics!
Remembering everyday little things and ...big things?!
Earlier this week I went out after work with 2 dear friends from work. We went to a nice spot close by for drinks and food. I saw the biggest Aloes plant I had ever seen in real life! I was impressed! Yes, i touched it to make sure, i assure you it is a real one! I have a few little ones at home myself! This encounter made my day and I knew it was going into my sketchbook!
I had such a good time with my friends + seeing this plant. I decided to dedicate a little spread to it. I called it the Gigaloes because Giga Aloes, am i cheesy? I accept it lol.
I drank a Mojito virgin and share a Burrata plate. Everything was delicious and worthy to be remembered.
I asked my friend to take a picture of me next to the plan because you need something to scale how big it is! I am a 5’2” tall/short? lady.
Soul over perfection
Soul and authenticity will always beat perfection for me. So please, celebrate everyday life in your own artistic way and you will cherish those memories!
Thank you and see you soon 🙂
Toujours un plaisir voir ce que tu ramènes de ta vie dans ton art! C’est merveilleux! Fière de toi! Ça me donne le goût de voir toute tes sketchbooks pour rentrer mieux dans ton monde et te comprendre mieux 🙂 bonne journée!
Toujours un plaisir voir ce que tu ramènes de ta vie dans ton art! C’est merveilleux! Fière de toi! Ça me donne le goût de voir toute tes sketchbooks pour rentrer mieux dans ton monde et te comprendre mieux 🙂