I have made several Artist Sketchbooks in the past few years. I have filled them with drawing, painting, collage, whatever I wanted. In the past I have put art on one page and on the facing page I have written poetry to go with the image.
This book is different. Only pictures, no words, to this book. I figure each viewer can go through it and construct whatever story they like, for each picture alone or as an ongoing narrative or chapter.
As I am getting older, less and less do I want to define the art I do. I just want to do it. That is enough meaning for me. As for you who are looking at it, I’d rather let it do its own talking. Or you can tell your own story to the art and see it reflected back.
Here are the project’s specifics. I used a mixed media sketchbook that’s 5.5″ x 7.5″. I had collected a lot of odds and ends from other projects and kept them in a box. I used up the whole array of those materials in making this book, and then I added whatever touches I felt were needed. I did this work March-June 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. I did this project to make me feel better.
My plan is to show you the pages on a regular schedule until the book is finished, a page spread at a time
Lots of talking. Time to begin the book. Here is page 1. It’s by itself since its page mate is the front cover of the sketchbook.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Love the composition!
Thank you!
❤ how much would you want for the completed book, are you willing to sell ?
No, sorry, I keep all my artist books like this. I will be posting all the pages from it over time, since the book is done now, and if you see something you like I could send you the image file if you want to print it out?
naw…Aw well, at least I asked.
This is lovely. I like your idea of a box of leftover useful bits !
I’ve been keeping items for a long time and every so often do a project that gets rid of all of them (like this sketchbook). I am happy to say that now my inventory is low, but…it is starting to grow again. I recommend the concept of holding on to scraps of this or that, because with passing time, you see them differently and they suggest new artworks, if you are like me. I tend to make sketchbooks like this but I also make postcards and ATC’s with my extras.
I like the idea of this project. The first page strikes me as a bit reflective, but not too reflective, maybe reflective with a bit of inquiry. I look forward to this project. XO
I enjoyed doing it, and not only getting rid of a lot of little pieces of art that I could not bear to throw out, but let’s face it, were leftovers. Just sorting through them and coming up with the different pages was fun. I did not try to have a message or theme, just made images that appealed to me, and I do think it is the nature of collage (and being forced to restrict the items I used to these leftovers that came from different origins) that there are a lot of stories for each page. I am glad I decided not to write anything, just let the book be itself.
I love the mixed media nature of this project and how uninhibited it is by parameters or an over-arching structure. I look forward to seeing how it evolves. I love your use of that wonderful blue among all the black and white elements in this piece.
An excellent use of your time. As always, I admire your discipline and productivity. (K)
Thank you. I always feel better when I am moving, or doing something. And these sketchbooks I have been doing over the years, they are relaxing and also allow me to do all manner of artwork, try different things, and try to do good work. A focus.
Thank you for sharing this and your thoughts behind the sketchbook. I identify with the wish to just ‘do’ what asks to be done
Thank you. I’ve always been a person more interested in the tangible than the abstract and I work things out in my mind by using my hands. So these sketchbooks have become important to me.
You give me no shortage of inspiration ~
Thank you!