It would be hard for me to even name just one or even a couple as I honestly love many many artist/illustrators/animators sketchbooks and I think this shows in my own sketchbook with mix match of styles!
I’m excited to explore even more artists sketchbooks, I enjoy watching sketchbook tours on youtube, it is one of my guilty pleasures in life!
It is easier for me to talk about my earliest inspirations for sketches and that is the original sketches of Disney characters, I actually love these sketches / type of drawing than that of the polished finished version and the movies. The Disney animator collection sketches are a prime example of this!
My taste in artist sketches are greatly vast as also adore the works of Leonardo de vinci, I was blessed in 2019 to see his sketches in person and honestly spend forever just looking at his sketches!
In my own main sketchbook (below) I studied the style of disney, Tim Burton, Ronald Seale, Kate Beaton, Guillermo del toro, Frida Fahlo, James Joyce, Norman Cornish, David Fullerton, I used their style to create my own self portraits. I’m a very visual learner so by doing things like this helps me reference and remember each style in my head and makes it easier if need to use their style as reference in the future.
I looked into some of the artists and illustrators than the list and found I really liked Chris Ridells work who is really is type of “sketchbook” I wish be able to create in my own style.
On my quest to find artist and illustrators to add to the list I also came across the works of Jenya Uzhegova, while her work is much more highly detailed than I have the skills or patience to achieve I just love how she calls herself a “sketching nerd”!
I’m now going to call myself a sketching nerd as well!
I borrowed a book from the library titled “The addictive Sketcher” by Adebanji Alade, his style while great isn’t something that normally “jumps” out to me, it was Alade’s personality, his spirit and passion for sketching that makes his place on my “list” of inspiring artist/illustrators and he caught my attention. I should point out I do love his finished portraits and the emotions he evokes, in fact the more I look at Alade style the more I love and value his work.
(above) my pinterest board of artist sketchbook pages (will make it easy to find and match up artist to exercises/projects)
I wasn’t short of artist/illustrators that I wanted to research (above) and knowing me as I go along will add loads more to this growing list. From the insane work of artist like Kim Jung Gi to the colour and expression frond in the works of Frida Fahlo I had many that inspired me, But as I’m currently reading The Addictive Sketcher, it makes complete sense that I start with Adebanji Alade.
My mission is to inspire, motivate and entertain you.
Adebanji Alade
What I really like about Alade is that he makes me want to go outside and sketch, (however with isolation at moment I’m limited to sketching the world though my window and my husband and children. His books tackle the side of art that isn’t so much fun, such as negativity, how not to take yourself too seriously, avoiding comparisons.
His book is fast becoming one that I would recommend to anyone wanting to sketch. (maybe should find a place on the recommended reading list in the future)
(above) I first found some key information on Adebanji Alade. Alade is a very open person, willing to share and help others so I wasn’t stuck for information at all.
Next I drew some images based on his work, I knew never be 100% as Alade draws from life, but I could look at his marks and start to understand his technique.
On the next page inspired by Alade I started my own drawings from life.
In charcoal I drew a toy found the other week, the lost bunny toy! and my hand. But the highlight and a bit I have to be honest I love was the picture of my children, they kept moving and wouldn’t keep still however I found they did seem to have what is called a signature pose and that is what I ended up sketching.
(above) I started by drawing faces that Alade had drawn himself and quickly realized it wasn’t working as wasn’t viewing the organic source, and that made my work seem lifeless. With this in mind I moved on and sketched faces using line of action website, while not as good as life drawing I know, I limited the time and didn’t observe the photo as a photo, just quickly glancing up and down.
I will continue to research and look into other artist sketchbooks.
Credits, research and references
https://thebluereview.net/artist-sketchbooks-that-will-change-your-life-or-at-least-inspire-you-to-start-drawing-6ae04103838c
https://adebanjialade.co.uk/
https://line-of-action.com/
Books –
The Addictive Sketcher – Adebanji Alade 2020
Urban Sketching – a complete guide – Thomas Thorspecken 2014
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 