The practice of carrying a sketchbook has long been a hallmark of dedicated artists. From John Singer Sargent’s Venice watercolors to David Hockney’s iPhone drawings, artists have understood the value of recording visual impressions throughout their daily lives.
A lightweight, portable sketchbook serves as both companion and catalyst for artistic growth. As urban sketcher Gabriel Campanario notes, “Drawing is about being present in the moment, truly seeing what’s in front of you.” This presence of mind, this readiness to observe and record, develops most naturally when artists carry their tools with them consistently.
The Daily Practice of Seeing
The portable sketchbook tradition traces back to Renaissance artists who carried small notebooks filled with observations of daily life. Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, perhaps the most famous examples, contain everything from scientific studies to quick character sketches of people he encountered on the streets of Florence.
Modern artists continue this tradition, though their subjects might now include coffee shop patrons absorbed in their phones or the interplay of light on city architecture. The key is accessibility β when inspiration strikes, the ability to quickly pull out a sketchbook and capture the moment becomes invaluable.
Beyond the Studio
While studio work allows for controlled conditions and sustained focus, sketching on location offers different advantages. The necessity of working quickly develops decisiveness in mark-making. The unpredictability of subjects β from shifting light to moving figures β forces artists to distill scenes to their essential elements.
“Working from life, especially in short bursts, taught me more about seeing than years in the studio,” reflects painter Richard Diebenkorn, whose small sketches often informed his larger abstract compositions.
The Technical Considerations
For artists considering incorporating regular sketching into their practice, several factors merit consideration:
- Portability: A sketchbook should be light enough to carry without hesitation
- Paper quality: Even in smaller formats, the paper should handle preferred media well
- Durability: Daily carry demands sturdy construction
- Size: Large enough for meaningful work, small enough to fit in a bag or large pocket
Building Artistic Momentum
Regular sketching, made possible by having materials always at hand, builds what author Malcolm Gladwell might call “thin slices” of practice β brief but meaningful encounters with art-making that accumulate over time. These moments, whether five minutes or fifty, contribute to an artist’s development in ways that scheduled studio sessions alone cannot match.
The practice also develops what artists call “visual literacy” β the ability to quickly understand and interpret visual information. This skill transfers to all artistic endeavors, from plein air painting to studio work.
For those interested in beginning this practice, Leda Art Supply offers an A5 medium sketchbook designed specifically for artists on the go. If youβre looking to elevate your artistic journey, this A5 sketchbook might be the one to consider.
