Shh! Flip-through peek at my "Secret Sketchbook" Drawing Skill Exercise & 4 Easy Rules to Start One
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- Опубліковано 28 січ 2023
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Hello Art-family,
This is a peak at my "secret sketchbook." Since being on the Drawing Inspiration podcast I've been getting a number of questions asking me to elaborate on my "secret sketchbook" excercise I mentioned. This video will detail my history with it and the 4 simple rules to start one yourself. I've been doing these for 10 years now. I have a series of exercises I have done over the years. If there is interest in this video maybe I'll make more in the future with tips on that sort of thing for here or patreon.
If you don't care about my history with it the actual "rules" for the exercise start at 01:42
Thanks for watching and happy sketching,
Jared
Drawing Inspiration Podcast:
drawinginspiration.fm/
Ep 91 with me:
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www.jaredcullum.com
PATREON: www.patreon.com/jaredlovestodraw
INSTA: jaredcullum
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TOOLS:
MOLESKINE Medium red sketchbook
LAMY safari
MUSIC:
Land on the Golden Gate by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/stuntisland/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
I have wanted to learn to sketch for decades! Thank you for your secret. I need to force myself to begin…yet again. I have zero talent, but a secret desire. Thank you again.
One of the things I love about a daily sketching practice, beyond the fact that practice makes progress, is how it quickly it brings a person to a place where they have to really dig in and just sketch everything. Unless you are young, unmarried, and childless, you likely have very limited subjects in front of you every day. The days bring you the same spaces and objects over and over and over. This exercise quickly burns through the "good subjects" and forces you to let go of what is deemed worthy of being sketched. I love that. It really forces you to develop an intimate relationship with everything around you and how to compose a composition out of space and light regardless of interest.
Very well said. Thank you for watching :)
@@JaredCullum Keep the amazing content coming! Always such a joy to watch another one of your videos. You've always got nuggets of insight I haven't thought much about and it's so insightful and inspiring to watch other people's process. Thank you!
that's true! i can only draw my kettle and wellington boots so many times
I find the more I improve with drawing, the more I seem to “magically” improve with painting. I like drawing, but I love painting, but I have a small child and drawing is so much easier to find time for. And, after months sometimes of not being able to paint but daily drawings, I go back to my brush and am amazed I’ve made progress there too! Drawing is definitely a skill that needs more attention from painters.
Would love to see more exercises like this. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us. I would love to see more sketchbook tours. Cheers!!
Cool- thanks for watching! Always nice to hear from you. :)
A beautiful reminder to get back to my basics like I have been meaning to lately.
I really struggle to find something 'interesting' to draw in my home and so it was great to be reminded again that it's not really about looking for interesting things to draw but to focus on shapes and how they intersect with each other and their shadows AND absolutely hand-eye co-ordination. Enjoyed this video very much - I'm happy to watch whatever you toss our way because I'm always happy to learn from you. Thanks
Thanks for watching and sharing about your experience- I know what you mean. The benefit of this exercise is it makes it so you don’t have to think about what to draw :)
I remember the older video you spoke about where you talked about keeping a secret sketchbook. I took your advice and began drawing every single damn thing around me, and you know what? My penmanship, my draftsmanship all improved like crazy. There's no secret, just hard work, persistence and dedication. All good artists come from cruddy ones who refused to give up. I would definitely like to hear more about the foundational exercises to become better. Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge with us, Jared, hope you have a wonderful day! Love from Malaysia!
Your hard work is so inspiring, Thar! I'm so glad :) Thank you for watching.
I've seen this video months ago and I followed the tips. I thought I would share how it helped me.
It changed a lot in my mind and help me understand why i draw. It also improved my skills. I can draw anything now because I'm not afraid of failure anymore.
I recommend this method to anyone who doubts themselves and is looking for a way to start making progress, mentally and in skills.
I can't express how grateful I am for your help.
I'm so glad :) that really means a lot to me.
This is a very inspiring idea. I'm struggling with painting, I'm getting good results, but I want to paint more and I feel I need time, and I'm afraid to fail a painting or a sketch because I can't find enough time to focus on a painting, which is time consuming and intimidating. Then I feel bad because I didn't make art and this is not good because it makes painting a stressful process. Sounds like this project of yours will help to get more confident and inspired, and it will also help you feeling accomplished to have made some art!
It is nice to keep your hands and eyes sharp for when you are able to make time. I know how that goes! I have two little ones and it can make time a challenge. :) Thank you for watching.
This is a really good reminder about drafting and drawing! Thanks for showing us your beginner-level process Jared :)
Thanks for watching! :)
This is such an insightful and contemplative practice. I love it.
This is very helpful, as I am new to drawing. I would really enjoy more videos about your drafting exercises .
This is so helpful, Jared. And I'd love to see more videos like it! I'm a very beginner artist. I love painting, but I know I want to develop my drafting accuracy as well. It can feel hard to know where to start. I appreciate you sharing your experience and insight.
Thanks for watching! :) I’m always around to offer help on your journey. It takes patience but anyone can learn to improve drawing.
I appreciate this! When I was just starting to pick up a pen and paper 10 years ago, Peter Draws taught me how to break artist's block (by drawing squares) and about two years ago Drawing Art Academy gave me the idea of five portraits a day (which was fun for a LONG time and I haven't picked it back up yet) and now you have taught me to do a sketchbook with pen (no erasing, no pre-sketching) and just draw everything. And all of it with a relaxed attitude, not fretting over errors or getting things perfect. Just going for it.
This was really great. Would actually love to see drawing videos in the style of your painting videos where you talk through your approach. I find myself unsure how to handle value and texture with pen and I love how your work in this sketchbook looks.
Anyway thanks and take care
Thank you! This helps- I can totally do that. I could do a whole series on the different approaches I toggle between.
Thanks for taking the time to watch.
@@JaredCullum Yes, please!
Yes, more videos like this would be great. Consistent drawing is the key to successful art.
Great stuff!! So encouraging!
I would like more videos like this too.
Excellent- thank you :)
Thanks for this - it was very timely for me. I desperately need to improve, and I had just bought a Lamy fountain pen the day before I saw this. Serendipity!
Awesome timing! :)
Best advise ever. Thank you. Now I can move on 👏
Thanks Karen!
I love your sketchbook! And your chicken coop. Both super nice! Also, Great Advice, Thank you!
Thank you for watching !
@@JaredCullum You're Welcome! ✨🎨
There IS interest! Thank you!
Good to know! Thank you :)
Well done Jared, I really like the idea of a pen and ink private sketchbook. I appreciate your comments on my other channel. I don’t post on this one.
Thanks for watching! Enjoying seeing the channel come together. I’m always looking for new watercolor pals.
@@JaredCullum me too pal
I’m interested in this and more like. Thanks
Oh yes, I do quite a bit of this myself though it's not dedicated to just one sketchbook. I give similar advice to young artists any chance I get in regards to drawing from life, doing sketches and drawings with no intention of showing anyone and working in a medium that won't bog you down with wanting to make it perfect, erase, nit pick etc. Just draw and go.
As far as getting over nice sketchbooks, the reverse method worked for me. My girlfriend at the time (Fiancée now) convinced me to pick up the cheapest sketchbook I could and just go ham on it. So I did, and what I found was that because of that I was letting go more and loosening up with what I created in it which eventually lead to me liking that sketchbook far more than what I was doing in my nice one. That right there convinced me, treat the nice ones like the cheap one. I also adopted the mindset that if a sketchbook is nice, and cost $30 dollars or so, if I fill it back to front, both sides of the pages in a lot of cases, that it's more than made up the dollar amount. I've spent more on video games I put less time into, I've spent more on drinks at a bar that I will never have again. Sketchbooks can be expensive, but it's an expense so incredibly worth it if you take advantage of them. :)
Love what you do my man, always inspiring and making me want to drop what I'm doing and pick up my art supplies. Including right now while I'm at work. Haha. Cheers.
Thank you for sharing your experience. :) you know- I had the same experience for watercolor! I couldn’t get started with the real gear and it held me back. Then I got a 50 cent cheap newsprint sketchbook that was impossible to make good watercolors and i filled. It gave me the confidence to move on.
You gotta do what gets you moving. I don’t recommend people buy a nice sketchbook for everything. This is just 1 specific exercise.
@@JaredCullum I'm doing something similar with watercolor as well, keeping a sketchbook where I do little landscapes on one side of a page and abstract playing on the other side. It's a medium I really would like to learn a lot more about but still have a difficult time wrapping my head around it. I was actually interested in that course you did recently I believe; at some point I'll find the time and money to dedicate to something like that.
Thank you for sharing your process. I've heard about a secret sketchbook concept lots of times, but I just never stick to it myself. I keep wanting to share what I do whether it's perfect or not. I actually don't have much issue with my art being wonky at times, but I do think it would be nice to try this exercise out to see how maybe it might improve my relationship to my art. We certainly live in an age of over-sharing, and maybe I do that too much with my own art. And, maybe subconsciously, I do put too much stress on myself about what kind of reaction that art will get, especially if it's not the attention I think it deserves.
Really, I feel like I have an odd experience where with my more purposeful pieces where I feel like I put in a lot of work, they hardly get any interest at all, while my more awkward pieces seem to get tons of attention. Probably other people just appreciating being shown that not all artwork is perfect and it makes art feel more approachable to everyone. Anyway. Next sketchbook I start, I'll make it a secret sketchbook and see how that maybe changes things for me. Thank you!
Kelly- thank you for sharing your experience. Art is odd- the key is really to get things done and move forward one foot in front of the other. I do keep this sketchbook "secret" but I also share everything else I do and I'm sure there is an element of need there, hoping for response. Sharing also gives you a deadline, like, gotta have something new so I'll keep making. So sharing isn't all bad. It can be good fuel- as long as it doesn't chew up the process from the inside out. :)
I have the same experience. It's fleeting, how art connects wtih people. Sometimes regardless of accuracy it just connects to people and everyone brings their own experience into how they view something. A bridge may mean something entirely different to you than to me. I will do plein air sketches and spend hours on one and then squeeze a 30 min doodle in before lunch and that is the one people repsond to. It's odd haha Thank you for watching. I appreciate your openness with your own experience and process.
Thanks for sharing a mention to the podcast. It was great having you and love seeing this video. I now have secret one as well ;-)
It was an honor and treat to get to know you better! Thanks for having me :)
Thank you for this video, another artist suggested this also but I started and then put it away as I'm a natural perfectionist, this video has helped me to understand the process and purpose of the book better, breaking it out again. I'm starting drawing at 45 and it gets overwhelming the shear volume of things to learn to draw and over information on the net can be a confusing mix. Thanks for cutting through all that to make a simple place to start.❤
I found numerous excellent tips in this video. I look forward to more videos in a similar vein.
I used to call my secret sketchbooks "trashbooks" because I intended to throw them away eventually. I was very freeing for me to know that the drawings' outcome or quality didn't matter, what really matter was the volume of drawings I was putting out. It ended up I never really threw them away, and actually enjoy looking at the progress through the years.
More please, Jared! I need this. I’ve neglected my sketchbooks and journals for awhile now. Using just a pen and paper is easy…
TFS
Thank you for taking the time to watch :) I have loads of these exercises- I think I always thought people would be more interested in finished paintings than the "how the sausage is made" type day-to-day art-calisthenics but I'm happy to share.
@@JaredCullum I enjoy watching you paint, too! Sadly, when I want to paint, by the time I get my supplies out and set up, I’ve lost my mojo…or something else has been thrown at me to do first. So many times I find myself waiting. Wishing I had something to do in my hands. Why didn’t I start doing this years ago???
Thank you Jared! This was so helpful!! Yes, please make more videos! I love water coloring but I get stuck with my drawing skills.
Thank You :)
Thanks for sharing your secret sketchbook! Looks great to me ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for inspiration...
Thank you for watching! :) I appreciate your time.
Awesome video! Went out and bought a fountain pen today 🙂. Looking forward to seeing your other practices.
I love this so much! I will definitely be sharing this video with folks on my newsletter. This is something I challenged myself with for a semester in my drawing classes when I was in college, it really helped me become more confident with my work and be less worried about 'perfection'.
Awesome! :) Thanks for sharing. Just checked out your channel and subbed! :)
@@JaredCullum thanks! I haven't filmed much since I had a baby, but it's on my list this year to get back into it.
Love this video! Would love to see more like this.
Thank you :)
Good advice… I’ve practiced this same method for years & it really improves one’s drawing skills 👍
Very cool! :) Thanks for watching
Thanks for sharing this I’m going to give it a try ❤
Awesome! Thanks for watching :)
This year I'm working to improve my drawings to improve my paintings- so thank you for this idea once again. :)
Awesome! :) That's inspiring to hear.
I definitely need to give this a try. I think the biggest thing holding me back in getting getting better at drawing is putting too much pressure on myself to make perfect drawings every time. Drawing/painting has become a frustrating experience for me because of that.
very inspiring video ))) do more of them ))
thank you for your work
Thank you!
Confess ive been making and using secret sketchbooks ever since i first heard you talk about this. Just in Jan and Sept they are NOT so secret as to take some pressure off I have been using them for my strada challenge work so they get shared then. Very helpful practice! Thanks Jared
Awesome! Thanks for sharing :) I’m glad :)
This is a great video. Not really a fan of "laws of how to do something" ya know? Just not my thing. But the overall message in this video is really spot on. Draw on!
Alright- well you have to do what works for you. I always get a couple angry emails or messages in videos like this about how you should not apply rules to art exercises. By all means- modify it or just don’t do it. It’s just one kind of exercise. Like me saying pick up that 5 pound dumbbell and curl it in this form for this reason. Parameters help isolate areas for growth and eliminate roadblocks of too much possibility. I’m just sharing my experience and what helped me but I always advocate for do whatever gets you working.
@@JaredCullum I'm not angry, I hear you and respect your viewpoint for sure. I agree that you can isolate things to try to improve. And I'm still going to try this anyway. I remember your other video on this and thought it was really smart. When I look at my practice, I can see that I do have my own pseudo- "rules" and expectations around things that sprang up without me knowing, and I'm trying to see if they are actually helping me. My tendency is that my "rules" tend to make me less likely to do things, but that's a ME problem not an issue with the rules.
This was great. I’ve been trying to do a similar thing with my sketchbook. I try to do something everyday. But now I’m thinking about a secret sketchbook project. Thank you.
Thanks for watching- you could always do one in between other stuff for fun. Because I’m often so busy with my illustration work- I usually just work through a project and when I’m done I do this as a palette cleanser haha and to sharpen up between contracts. I do keep it constant on the side for playground/waiting room type situations.
Thank you for posting this! I just finished listening to the Drawing Inspiration episode (awesome conversation, btw) and was intrigued by this idea of a "secret sketchbook"! And YES, please do more exercise videos (Jane Fonda, anyone?) like this!
Thanks Leo! :)
I agree with the last two rules. I disagree with getting a “good sketchbook.” The more expensive, the less likely I am to draw freely. In fact, I specifically bought a pack of 100gsm blank sketchbooks just for pen drawings so I don’t have to worry about ‘bad’ art. What I am picky about, however, is how the book handles my medium. And I don’t care about who sees my drawings. I am only a hobbyist so I guess that makes it easier to not care about what others might think. At the end of the day, all of my work is for *me* so it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. What matters most is if my process helped me in anyway, whether emotionally or technically.
Sure- you have to do what gets the work done for you. This is just 1 exercise and part of the intention is to help move past apprehension to work on a good book. I always have someone that says that rule is pretentious or unnecessary- I say in the video to use what you like or just don’t do this exercise all together. Im using a moleskine which is not a really nice sketchbook. There are much better/more expensive- the point is I wouldn’t use newsprint or something but only specifically for this exercise. It doesn’t sound like you have trouble drawing. That’s great.
@@JaredCullum I do buy sketchbooks when I see they are on good sale. Like my most recent purchases were Fabriano Venezia that I am afraid to touch. I guess I just don’t want to waste the paper (and money). I definitely want to learn to draw things that are on the move. (Wish I could draw chickens like you!). Still haven’t figured out a system, but I’m sure a priority is learning to recognize and memorize a shape that I only see for a split second. I’m glad I have my cheap books to explore and practice. Once I figure out the system and get comfortable, I think I will be ready to move on to my nicer sketchbooks. =)
@@R_H21 very cool :) your hunger to grow is inspiring :) I will say.. the nice thing about chickens is that they move a lot but they only go in about 3 positions. So you can wait or it helps to start a couple at once and toggle between based on position. Also I have 6 so if one leaves I just pick up watching another. :)
@@JaredCullum Toggling is an interesting idea. Also, chickens don’t really fly away so you don’t lose them. I always want to sketch the birds that go in my backyard but by the time they fly away, I’ve already forgotten the shapes. 😒 Remembering is a huge struggle for me but I hope to figure out a trick. If you have any, maybe you can do a video on it. =)
Hi Jarred. Jim from Madrid. Sorry for not posting too often.
I agree with you completely! Drawing and painting is a daily exercise (like going to the gym to stay active and fit, as well as physically and mentally healthy).
You may want to share your sketchbook exercises or not, it basically really doesn't matter (at least not for me). Constructibe Criticism is always essential in life in order to evolve, grow and learn. Otherwise you get "stuck" and life is always and constantly changing and evolving around us.
I started to do this not so long ago and it is like brushing your teeth every day. I draw all the time. It doesn't matter if it comes out great or not, because it is a practice to exercise and learn.
Thank you again for the video. I hope it inspires many other people. And... one last thing (and I know this is hard sometimes)... don't be neither afraid nor embarrassed. It is just a part of learning (like children in school).
Cheers from Madrid and I will continue to see your channel. Thank you for sharing!
Forgot to share with all one more thing which you cover in the video. I bought several fountain pens which I use for Sketching on a daily basis for both just ink or line and wash (1bwith a fine nib, 2 with FUDE nibs and one which I made using a zebra G flexible nib). The most important thing I've learned from using ink for Sketching is exactly what you say... you can't erase! It helps you to observe more, to be more patient with your lines and to try to be more accurate in the drawing with proportions, perspectives and light values (including shading). It is great practice that greatly improves your artwork without even thinking about it. Just wanted to share my personal experience. Cheers!
@@jaimejaime1178 Thanks for sharing, Jaime, and taking the time to watch the video.
Also- helpful to know about the pens! I don't know anything about pens. I did not know anything about nibs or sizes- I bought this pen because I liked the color. haha I like them for this exercise but otherwise I'm not crazy about ink in anything I do. I even stopped using them in my comics and kids book work.
@@JaredCullum Thanks Jarred for your comment. I mainly use Ink as part of my outdorr sketching (line and wash) when I'm sketching quickly and don't have the time to do a full painting directly in Watercolor or Gouache (which is what I use). And, since I'm learning, I like to experiment with different techniques and mediums. I think I will benefit a lot more from an overall perspective, though my focusl is mainly on painting in Watercolor and Gouache for now.
Thank you again for your input and Cheers from Madrid!
Thank you so much, I've been working in my letting go of the concept of a bad drawing and shame because of not having a level of drawing that I would like to achieve also by accepting the current situation and attenpting to draw more from life and fill sketchbooks, but veen really messy and not caring that much about them, so Ill apply the advice of getting a nicer one and also using pen!
It'll be awesome if u share more exercises!
Awesome! Your pushing yourself is an inspiration- thanks for watching
Enjoyed seeing your secret sketchbook. I always draw in pencil so I can erase. I'm intimidated by the permanence of ink. I have a lamy fountain pen, so I really should make this a practice. I'm interested in more exercises! Enjoyed this video.
I know what you mean. That’s why it’s a “secret book” so you can be free to just go for it. You’d be surprised at how even a wonky loose drawing can feel more real sometimes. Thank you for watching :)
Hi Jared - this was such a great video. I've been getting stuck in my painting lately, and this might be a great exercise to unlock some of that creativity again. I would love to hear more about how you may apply this to painting, or maybe more about how you've gone about developing your watercolor skills.
Thanks for sharing!
Sure! I'll have to include that in a video some day. I think I'll do more on integrating drawing and techniques and strategies I've studied or developed. For the purpose of this channel- I tend to think of drawing and painting as the same. When I 'm painting I'm still think of drawing. Developing shape. This is just 1 exercise in a series of others I'd do. This one focusing on developing contour lines. Most of which- i don't often use a lot in actual painting as I tend to go for the big puzzle piece shapes. But it's an important skill. Thanks for taking the time to watch :)
@@JaredCullum Thanks for the reply! I really enjoy the videos you share (as well as the idea for your new channel).
Though doing five to ten drawings a day?! That's an intense dedication! I'd love to see more exercises.
It was a lot at first. I don't think everyone should aspire to kill themselves like I did. There are parts of my life that border on obsession with painting and drawing that I realize are probably not healthy and wouldn't suggest. But- the nature of my work in kids books and comics require intense long days of drawing with no break. This helped me develop the ability to hang in there. :) Thanks for watching :)
@Jared Cullum absolutely it makes sense for the work you do as an illustrator. I wish I could devote more time to my art instead of my day job- though that is important it doesn't fulfill the creative side of me. I'm glad it worked for you and you saw progress.
I know Ian Robert's also suggests doing a composition a day. But this seems a bit more approachable!
Is that a fine or an extra fine nib ? And the video is as usual great !
Thank you for sharing this. I have a question. Could you do this with a pigma brush pen instead?
Hi Charlotte, thanks for watching! Yes- you could totally work with that. As long as it is producing a good amount of ink so that you are forced to keep the pen moving. :)
Thank you for this Jared! I've been struggling to get back in the habit of drawing every day because of the thought in the back of my head that "it won't be good" and this has helped to kick that thought away. Is there any chance you could share which ink you're using in the LAMY pen? I just have the regular cartridge ink that it comes with and it seems to not "stick" to the Moleskine paper, leaving the strokes looking gray. Thank you!
Awesome! That’s odd- I haven’t had that happen. Are you using the moleskine sketchbook? Their quality has dropped- at least in my experience with them over the years. This is the lamy
www.dickblick.com/products/lamy-safari-fountain-pens/
I’m new to the lamy pen- my personal favorite is the relatively cheap V7 pilot roller ball pens you can find anywhere.
@@JaredCullum Hmm, good to know! And thanks for the quick reply! I'm using the Moleskine 'Art Collection' sketchbook with 165 gsm, I do generally like it so I'll have to do some experimenting :)
I bet you are really liking your chicken house & chickens with the cost of eggs now!!
It's handy :)
Is the tip of the safari f or ef? What ink do you recommend?
I'm not really sure- It was an impulse buy and I wasn't paying attention to it. I believe it's F though.
I just used whatever they load the lamy with. The lamy brand. I don't really know anything about ink. I only use pens for this- but that's the only ink I ever use.
@@JaredCullum I figured it out after watching your video.
By buying a converter, bottled ink can also be used: the most recommended for use with watercolors are Rohrer & Klingner Sketchink and the slightly more expensive Platinum Carbon.
anyway thanks for the inspiration and congratulations for the video and for your work
Nie ma napisów... szkoda
You're pretending that you don't have skills, and you do
I don’t recall ever saying I don’t have a skill. This video is about the process of developing skills which is a never ending journey. I’m not sure what you’re implying. I think it’s relative. I have gotten to a point but it would be hubris to say I have mastered anything. I will always be a student. If you find my video dishonest I’m sure you’ll find other channels on UA-cam that you prefer and can learn from.