Since DART: Design Arts Daily launched in September 2006, artist/illustrators and their sketchbooks have been a constant presence, starting with Peter Kuper’s Oaxaca Journal on November 10, 2006. The series continued with another 15 installments, which resulted in the publication of Diario de Oaxaca (Bilingual, PM Press, 2009)—a beautifully produced volume with a linen cover. The book saw some high visibility, and contributed to the development of Peter's solo show, INterSECTS, at the New York Public Library this year. Above: Vivienne Flesher's Sketchbook; below: Peter Kuper, from Oaxaca Journal, V.10

Along the way, it became clear that artist/illustrators were keen to share their thoughts on keeping sketchbooks, as this tip of the iceberg composite (below) show. 

I—like many other artists—can be very cerebral. In my case, time for personal work is fragmented and I often get too serious about what I might do. With that in mind, I set up some guidelines just to make an easier start: 
• Use watercolor every which way
• Choose three main colors, switching out to a new set of 3 every week
• Start early am with coffee before any devices are switched on 
(My personal tag is #Roalf30sketchbook)

Birgit Schössow likes seeing other artists’ sketchbooks, especially those who try to capture a scene with no concern for an audience, as if they’re working for the wastepaper bin.

Do what you need to do to keep it going. Share your thoughts on IG.  

In January, I’ll start a series of features—dialogues about the project and what came out of it. Maybe we’ll even have a party!

Special thanks go to Carol Fabricatore and Dominic Bodden who joined forces to get this idea off the ground, and to Mark Heflin, Director, ai-ap.com, who gives his support.

And don’t forget to get your tickets for The Party—the annual celebration of AI, AP and IMAA, at Angel Orensanz Foundation. Info

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