100 pages. Twelve years in the making.
I wanted to digitally archive some of my old drawings, and it turned into a huge sketchbook scanning bash. In this post, I’ve collected 100 pages and laid them out chronologically. It was a great project, and I ended up learning a lot; it’s probably more fun for me than for you, because I get to walk down memory lane a bit, but hopefully you’ll gain something from my little experiment.
Some stats:
Years represented: 1995-2007
Ages represented: 12 to 24 years old
Total # sketchbooks represented: 23 + a few loose pages
# that are unfinished (half or more of the book is blank): 10
# that were assigned/for class: 6, and many others are filled with sketches for various assignments
Pre-teens
Most of my early stuff consisted of head portraits. Looking back, I find it very interesting that I didn’t really draw cartoons, comics, or cute furry animals. I was obsessed with Star Trek as a kid (and as an adult, but I have since found additional interests…), so that’s what I drew most of the time. I remember getting annoyed at the ridges on some alien’s nose or forehead because they were so hard to draw. I didn’t like hair either. I drew Captain Picard a lot because he had a nice smooth, round head.
High School
Eventually, I branched out and started drawing other movie and television stars. This got me started on the bad habit of buying tons of magazines every time I go to the grocery store or the mall. I loved looking at and drawing from the pictures. Bonus points to those of you who can tell who they are. As you’ll notice, this group includes some of my first attempts at caricature, and drawing with something other than a pencil.
Early College
I was in love with shading! Big fully-rendered drawings with 6B pencils! They left large smudge marks all over these sketchbooks. You’ll also see some perspective notes from my very first college art class – Drawing I. There’s also a lot of figure drawing from Jack Hamm
Late College
Looking back at all these old sketches, I realized that my style really took a turning point in my third and fourth years in school. My idea of sketching changed. Figures came more easily, so I was experimenting more with different styles (some outright bizarre); and instead of simple portraits, I started drawing more situations, stories, and environments. My artwork was starting to tell a story, and it was at this point that I was seriously considering an illustration career. I was producing TONS of sketches during this time, and you can see how drastically my style evolved because of it.
After College
There was a period after college where I was still riding on its momentum and produced a lot of sketches, but it gets harder and harder to find the time. Most of my drawing nowadays is for work, and I’m still not the best sketchbook keeper. After looking back on all these sketchbooks and seeing how much they have helped, I am resolving to do better at this.
Some things I learned
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Sketchbooks aren’t precious – the best pages in my sketchbooks seem to come from moments where I didn’t care about creating a “beautiful” page at all.
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I have to learn to follow my own advice.
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Date your sketchbooks.
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I need to have more fun. When you draw for work all the time, you tend to forget to just draw for yourself sometimes. There is a lot of great craziness in some of my old stuff that I don’t think I’m doing as much anymore. I need to get back to that place.
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Cringing at your old work is good. It means you are improving.
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Diligence does pay off. It is encouraging to be able to look at your old work and see how much you’ve grown. It’s a little reminder that after all those painstaking creative struggles you endure every day, you will be rewarded in the end.
So that’s it! The evolution of me…on paper. I’ll give you an update in another 12 years…
Have you looked at your dusty pile of sketchbooks recently? Did you learn anything by this small journey through my drawing history? Let me know in the comments…
No related posts.
These are just GREAT! I love seeing all of your sketches. It’s hard to believe that you were drawing so good at such a young age. Thanks for taking the time to do this. You are an inspiration.
This is a great post! I did something similar recently on my blog but not to the same extent you did. I’m thinking of scanning more now… because heck, it is a great trip down memory lane. Oh and you’ve won an award from me: “You made my day award”. I LOVE your blog. Thanks for the awesome topics.
(www.crystaldriedger.blogspot.com)
Your best post yet!
And a female Star Trek fan? Are you single? ;)
Thanks for letting us travel down sketchbook-history lane with you!
Totally fun. Star Trek TNG and Burne Hogarth bodies!
I’m curious for your opinion, and I’ve asked others: as an artist, do you care about showing “Non-Artists” your sketchbooks? Do you ever get the feeling they just misinterpret everything, ask all the wrong questions, and pay more attention to the furious scribbling? Maybe just me being uptight. Any thoughts?
Awesome post! I used to sketch and draw constantly growing up, I have sketchbooks filled with stuff. But I got away from it in the recent year. About six months ago, I started carrying a sketch book around with me again, and started actually using it, and MAN what a difference it has made. It really is important in developing your style. I’m trying to get away from the “pretty pages” hang up too.
When I was growing up, I had a hard time showing my drawings to people other than family. There was only a few people who were allowed to watch me work. Now, it doesn’t bother me so much, I don’t mind having some one flip through my sketchbook. My step-mother just recently made a comment while looking at it, “Its like looking through a window into your brain.” I guess thats good, thats what a sketchbook should be, right? :p
Love this post. I often sketch on stick notes while at work and was debating about posting one on my blog, you’ve given me the courage to just let it all hang out! :)
Wow – this is so interesting! I’ve been following your blog for a while and it’s awesome to see how your style evolved. Thanks for taking the time to put this post together. Awesome! :o)
I agree all my old sketchbooks are filled with fun and wacky and crazy stuff that I don’t have in my current sketch books anymore. Usually they are for work now, and even some personal projects have turned into self censorship in a way. I miss it soo much!
My goodness you are so young and you rock! Us old folks are getting intimidated!! :-)
this is really neat experiment. cool to see all of your work and musings on your periods!!
thank you!
Hi Angelbug, It’s alway fun to check out your blog…:) I remember so many of these drawings and a few Dad and I haven’t see…takes us down that memory lane too…:) You should have posted the Johnny Damon drawing you did. Ok, it’s still hard for us knowing he’s playing for that other team…what ever…I seem to forget the teams name…hehehehehe….BUT, the drawing is so cool.
Proud Mom and Dad
Thanks, Mom. :)
JB – I don’t think I’ve ever had that particular problem. I used to be very self-conscious when people watch me draw. I’ve mostly gotten over that. But you’re right – “non-artists” will see different things and ask different kinds of questions. I don’t get annoyed or mad about it. In fact, it might benefit to show your work to a non-artist now and again, for a different perspective.