The Science of Story

Got my sketchbook in the mail yesterday for the new Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition. My theme is "The science of story". For once, I decided to get crackin' on this right away, rather than procrastinate. 

I've been thinking about how to interpret this theme. The themes always hang me up a bit. I decided to start a pinterest board for sciency-type inspiration: vintage pop science magazine covers, scientific illustrations, medieval diagrams of plants and animals, etc. My idea so far is to think about story writing and telling as if there were a scientific method to it. Chemical elements to combine into a story reaction. Specimens of story archetypes to document. What would the scientific formula of creating a story look like, if there were such a thing?

I was just reading a note on Facebook about how too many people are trying to pass off "good enough" or "satisfactory" art these days to make a living, rather than really going for broke and making the best art they possibly can (which, according to some survey data he examined, is actually more lucrative and efficient). I don't know if I agree with that 100% (not sure whether artists today are any lazier than they've ever been; maybe we're all just more aware of each other), but I do think I personally settle a lot in my own work, rushing to finish before my idea is completely fleshed out where I want it. Seems like I'm always rushing last minute to fulfill a deadline, or to get my stuff into the next kiln firing, and I'll sacrifice some elements I wanted just to have a finished piece. I think maybe it's time to spend more time on fewer, better pieces, rather than making lots of little, less than satisfactory pieces.

Each one of my sketchbooks so far have been unfinished, and far less than I originally envisioned. I hope I can push this one closer to excellence. Just for personal pride. It would be nice to have a finished sketchbook that I actually felt proud enough of to put in my portfolio.

We'll see how it goes. I hope I'm not all talk this time around!

Sketchbook Project 2012

Today was the last day to mail off our moleskin notebooks for the Sketchbook Project. In case you've forgotten that I took on this project, it's that little cloudy looking button down there on the left hand side (scroll way down). It was my intention to post my sketches on the blog as I did them, but that kind of fell by the wayside. It's a bit of a miracle that I finished doing this at all (which, technically, I didn't - I only managed to get half the pages colored, though I did at least ink them all). 

I drew most of the sketches on my break at Fedex when I was still working there, shortly after Maddy was born. Having a little girl really influenced me thinking about stories, and girls, and gender, so the sketchbook is full of flame haired girls riding giant cats and taming alligators. Some of the images might even turn into stories for Maddy one day. I keep saying I'd like to make a book for her and illustrate it. Maybe this is a jumping off point.

The theme I chose for my sketchbook (you are asked to choose one of the themes provided) was "Fill me with stories." I didn't write any literal stories, but I did draw a lot of illustrative images that could become stories one day.

Filling him with stories, literally.

I have a thing for drawing girls on cliffs.

I used these awesome acrylic inks for all the color. They're super vibrant, and water soluble,  so I can get nice delicate watercolor washes and deep opaque colors.

Maddy will probably not have flame red hair. I just like drawing flame headed girls.

I included a secret note for anyone who checks out the sketchbook from the art library. So the sketchbook tour comes to your city, look for it!

The main branch post office downtown is supposed to be open until 7pm, but I live in Indianapolis, and the Super Bowl is this weekend. The post office is around the corner from the stadium, so it was closed. Of course I waited until the last minute to mail this thing, which must be post marked today to be included. We dropped it in the box in the hopes that it will be postmarked for today, since the pickup time was supposed to be til 7 (we dropped it in at 6:50pm, 'cause we're that good). Fingers crossed.

I'm just happy I drew on every page this time around. I didn't even submit my 2011 sketchbook, and I was sad about that. I'm proud of myself for getting this done! Maybe next year I'll do even better, with full color dreamscape pages from cover to cover. 

For pics of all the drawings, visit my Facebook page!