Sketchbooks
Artists' sketchbooks are essential workplaces for research, ideation, experimentation, and planning. AP Art utilizes sketchbooks as evidence of the artists' practices, processes, and thinking. It is a way of documenting the journey of your work over the course of the year.
What to Buy
Whether you are a seasoned sketchbook artist or if you are about to start your first one, here are my suggestions for getting started!
- Buy the right sketchbook for you! Go to the art supply store and give yourself some time to pick out one that feels right.
- Compare ring bound against stitch bound, top bound to side bound.
- Touch the different papers and consider thickness, durability, and texture.
- Avoid paper pads as the paper is not glued together in a way that will allow for long-term durability. Generally speaking a 9inX12in sketchbook is ideal for our purposes.
Where to Start
- Not on the first page. If you are feeling intimidated flip to the third page to start. I don't know why but it is much less stressful.
- Do a bunch of research on youtube. There are so many great sketchbook tours by students who took AP or A-levels that are great examples of what can be done. Some of the things to look for are the variety of sketches, collaged-in elements, color studies, notes and writing, and material experimentation. You might notice these students have taped, glued, and stitched in flaps and mini pages.
- Feel free to decorate your sketchbook cover. Cover it with decorative fabric or paper, washi tape, stickers, or your own art!
Your sketchbook is a great place to begin your AP Art Studio summer homework. Look again at the references below and notice how the student artists used the whole page and how each page is its own piece of art. Approach your work that way as well and don't feel bad if you make a mistake because that is part of the process, too!