Sketch Joy

I have been trying to find ways to make art in ways that are a little more removed from the realm of the digital. With all the big tech companies leaning hard into generative AI, including some that really should be better stewards for the artists who make up the majority of their userbase, I felt the need to step back from my computer and my tablet.
I had a birthday recently, and I put together a teeny tiny little portable drawing setup.

This thing fits two very small sketchbooks and a mess of pens. I love an object that does one thing. My phone and my digital tools do too many things, so it felt incredible to prioritize things that are meant for only one purpose. This little bag (which looks like my backpack’s tiny baby, I love it) will only hold tiny art supplies. Also, tiny things are great.
And it’s necessarily personal drawings, too. I can’t very easily sell or repurpose these drawings. But they’re fun, and they’re fast. It’s like having fun-sized candy stashed away everywhere.

The first drawings I did in one of my teeny tiny sketchbooks were a throwback to my old fineliner days, though this was done in black gel pen. The notebook is three inches by four inches, I think, and I think this actually forces me to summarize shapes and lines with a bit more intention, which I loved.

Forcing myself not to get too fancy was a welcome challenge and an odd bit of relief. I get stressed out when there’s too much surface to cover, and I love a little highly contained area. I like working within limitations.

I forgot I’d bought myself some colorful gel pens, and I’ve been playing with those, too. I’ve never been huge on working in color materials. I did a lot of oil painting in college, but color never quite spoke to me the way shapes and line quality would. I think I just needed a more limited palette.