Sketching is quick drawing and/or painting studies.  Oftentimes, artists uses thumbnail (miniature) sketches before beginning larger works. This enables the artist to make adjustments in perspective, design, color and cohesiveness before beginning larger works.  Sketching is also practiced for relaxation, introduction to new mediums and as well as for someone who wants to learn to draw.  So, it stands to reason that a sketch book is a collection of all that has been mentioned above.

There is some debate in the art community whether graphite drawing is considered a legitimate medium.  Some believe that drawing falls under the sketching category, while others believe that drawing should receive the same accolades presented to other mediums.   Myself?  If you want to make me good and mad?  Tell me a drawing that I have 80 hours invested in is a nice sketch and I will go from zero to wolverine with no stops in between.   But I digress…

If you want to start sketching, the most important question you should be asking yourself and thinking about is what medium are you going to use in your sketchbook?

Will you be using dry mediums?  Such as:

 graphite?

colored pencil?

ink?

charcoal?

pastel?

Or will you use wet mediums? Such as:

watercolor?

qouache ?

I would not recommend oil or acrylic.  The drying time for oil and acrylic takes too long.  You may be able to use acrylic, if it is used as a wash and you have a spiral bound sketch book that can lay completely flat.  Acrylic can take up to an hour to dry so be aware….

Whatever medium you choose will have a great bearing on what type of sketchbook that you would need to purchase.

So, I guess that is where I am going to leave today…In contemplation…

Be Well and Happy!