Sketchbooks, diaries, and scrapbooks; these are all types of journals that artists use to express, explore, and reflect on their creative processes. At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, the Student Learning Commons (SLC) is dedicated to sharing the benefits of journaling and the breadth of journaling types with all kinds of artists. Through a series called Sketchbook Bootcamp, the SLC highlights new journaling techniques twice a week in an effort to expand the documentation skillset of RMCAD students. In the following blog, you will learn a few of the tips and tricks shared during these sessions.
Why Journaling is Essential for Artists
Illustration faculty member Andrés del Valle hosts the Sketchbook Bootcamp event twice a week, open to all RMCAD students regardless of program or modality. These virtual events showcase the different benefits of creative journaling. Del Valle shared that the goal of the event series is to “create a small community of artists that will keep each other accountable as they build their habits and discipline.”
Journaling is often a private practice for many of the creatives. By gathering students together over Zoom, del Valle aided as RMCAD student Aria Hernadez brought Sketchbook Bootcamp to life. The event series pushes students to reflect on their creative process by sharing the different ways they each assemble their journals surrounding that week’s topic. “We want to expose students to different ways of working, inspire other students, and let them be inspired by their peers,” shares del Valle.
Encourages Experimentation and Risk-Taking
Perhaps the greatest advantage of keeping an art journal is that it’s a blank slate to express your thoughts. Many creatives do not share these journals with anyone so they are a consequence-free way to explore new ideas. Feedback and constructive criticism are monumentally important tools in the creative process, however in the early stages of an idea, they may not be necessary yet.
Journals encourage artistic experimentation that may or may not influence the artist in future projects, however by trying new things they will inevitably develop their perspective and skillset. We’ve all heard the saying practice makes perfect, journaling is no different. The same way that athletes practice between games journaling provides artists a low-stakes environment to try new things and hone their craft.
Documenting Artistic Growth
Another one of the art journaling benefits is the ability to refer back to previous ideas. This can be immensely helpful when you run out of new ideas because you can always reference old ideas that you may get more mileage out of. Perhaps more importantly, you can track the iterative process of your work as you progress as an artist. The farther you look back the more noticeable your progress is.
To best track your advancement in your skills, del Valle suggests finding a notebook that reflects your creative medium. He shared that “painters might want to have a sketchbook that works well with watercolors or acrylics, while concept artists might want one that can hold markers or just have a digital sketchbook instead.” Different types of journals can enable their owners to advance different skill sets. Some creatives even prefer to have more than one notebook of ideas at a time.
Effective Techniques for Using Sketchbooks and Journals
For many artists and designers, the creative process can already be overwhelming enough. The goal of using sketchbooks and journals is not to create more busy work between projects but to illuminate their imagination by providing creatives with a sense of clarity. Utilizing mindful practices, journal users can chase their inspiration more vigorously. By utilizing the following sketchbook techniques, projects can be more effective, efficient, and creatively fulfilling.
Daily Sketching Habits
Consistency is key when it comes to journaling. Daily sketches help you to continually visualize new pieces in bold and exciting ways. Through a process called visual brainstorming, these daily sketches can help you work through the early stages of new ideas and help you determine which ones are worth pursuing long term.
Del Valle shared that “sketchbooks help you get used to regular practice.” He used the example of working for a client, saying that not every request for work will immediately fill artists with inspiration. Daily sketches not only offer a well of ideas to come back to when a creative roadblock is hit but more importantly they foster discipline to flex creative muscles -even while in a rut. “Sketchbooks give you a sense of artistic freedom when you don’t have a specific purpose.”
Combining Visuals and Writing
Many artists prefer to express their thoughts through sketches and illustrations, while others communicate through written entries. There is no right or wrong way to journal; what’s most important is that creatives preserve their original ideas in a format that works best for them. Mixed media journaling utilizes multiple techniques such as writing, imagery, and any other techniques that express the author’s intent.
Plenty of artists opt for this type of journaling as certain ideas are better expressed in one format, while another musing may be better captured differently. When keeping a journal, remember that you are both the author and the audience so as long as you know what an entry means, there are no limitations that you should impose on yourself.
Exploration of Materials and Techniques
Regardless of the medium an artist, designer, or producer works in, keeping an art journal can allow them to record their thoughts in a centralized place and express their creativity. Techniques will vary from artist to artist. Color coding, photography, collage, and many other mediums can be incorporated into journal entries. If you find that one technique or medium consistently gets you into and keeps you in your flow state then consider maximizing that productivity by using that technique or medium more often.
Del Valle shared that he finds repetition to be greatly impactful to his thinking while he’s working out the early stages of a project. He may sketch the same knight’s helmet or bird over and over again with slight variance until he lands on a version that satisfies him, often a composite of multiple drafts. “The most important thing to try and figure out to get the most out of a sketchbook is how you understand and learn new things. As long as your approach is intentional and aimed at learning, you’ll see growth in your art.”
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Artistic Journaling
Buying a notebook and never picking it up won’t help your skill set. You can stay motivated and become the best artist you can be by following a few simple guidelines. Creativity is all about the inputs an artist adds to their process. If you want to get the most out of your journaling time, consider some of the following advice.
Developing a Cohesive Body of Work
For many artists and designers, creating a consistent body of work may be more or less important to them- that is their decision to make. Many like to consider how a new piece will fit into their Oeuvre, which Britannica defines as “all the works that a writer, an artist, or a composer has created.” The relationship between an artist’s different pieces can be like a constellation made of many stars. Journals can be profoundly impactful in determining the commonalities between these pieces. Motifs can include color and imagery or even more metaphorical, political, and spiritual topics.
Some creatives may find that focusing on creating a cohesive body of work may limit their artistic experimentation. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but it is worth striking a balance between these ideas early in the journaling process can lead to some of the best work. By taking full advantage of their sketchbook, artists can create one of a kind pieces that contribute to the story of their creative journey.
Overcoming Perfectionism
Through a consistent practice of recording their thoughts and feelings surrounding their work, artists are able to utilize creative journaling to overcome perfectionism. For many creatives, using journaling as a daily art practice not only helps them to reflect on their previous works but be proactive in articulating what they hope to do next. Whether it’s rough sketches, meticulous illustrations, or written musings; the act of consistent conceptualization can help artists try new things. The end result may not be perfect, but it will certainly give you something to reflect on.
Just as the first sketch of something is not expected to be perfect, neither should a final project. Even if a sculpture, painting, character design, or logo is not perfect, it can still be a success. Journaling allows an outlet to assess how artists can improve their work as they move onto new endeavors.
Personalizing Your Sketchbook
The most important part of journaling is remembering that it’s your sketchbook to do what you want with. Utilizing journal prompts that suit the topics you are curious about exploring is one method you can use to curate your work. Your sketchbook is a visual diary that should reflect your innermost thoughts and feelings, so it’s good to try new journaling techniques and see what best represents the art you want to make.
Potentially, the best way to personalize your process is by picking a specific cadence for your journal entries. This can be daily, weekly, or however often works for you. Setting aside a time of day where you can commit to being present with your journal, this can be first thing in the morning, at lunch, or before you go to bed. Just remember that consistency is key!
Share Your Journaling Journey With Us!
Now that you understand the creative discipline that art journaling builds, you can put at least a couple of these practices to use. If you are looking to continually challenge yourself, consider enrolling in one of RMCAD’s creative programs.
At Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, we’re proud to offer degrees both in-person and online to meet your needs. As part of this career-focused program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of drawing, digital tools, and the critique process.
Reach out to learn more about this program, or take the next step by completing your online application today.
