In a few hours, a plane will land not too many kilometres from here, and our four kids and their families will once again all be in the same country. We won’t all be together until later next week, but from today onwards, family festivities will likely keep me away from this keyboard and my various screens.
We’ve kept the build-up to Christmas very low-key around here, and we’ve indulged ourselves as we did the bit of shopping (books, cheeses) and chopping (onions, celery, mushrooms) traditional for this time of year. And because we kept it low-key, I’ve been able to honour the commitment I made to my sketchbook practice.
I’ve been finishing my Paris Sketchbook (I’ll share more with you later), and I’ve also begun a new Daily Sketchbook. For the last few years I’ve used our local Art Supplies retailer Opus’s “Essential Paperback Sketchbook,” and have generally found it suitable for my purposes. But I’m determined to do some sketching in my daily journal while I’m out and about, and to encourage that determination, I’ve switched to the same book I used in Paris, the Stillman & Birn Premium Sketchbook (Alpha Series, portrait, mixed media, 150 gsm paper).
To consolidate my sketchbook practice, I’m planning to incorporate more of my journal pages into my posts — and ideally (for me, at least), these posts would not include much explanatory or complementary text.
As I do here, I’ll photograph the double-page spread, and then get in a bit closer to the single page, so that those who are motivated to decipher my handwritten text can do so.
So today’s post is something of a prototype, and my loose plan at the moment is to go forward into the New Year with more posts like this and see what you think.
I’m amused to think back to when I first took a sketching course from a good friend after years of “knowing” that I just wasn’t “artistic,” the argument I made to overcome my Inner Critic was that an illustrated travel journal was just for me. I wasn’t trying to make art that anyone else would ever see. I wasn’t making any claims; I wasn’t making myself vulnerable.
Gradually, over the past decade or so here, I’ve tested that vulnerability and shared drawings, watercolour sketches, whole journal pages, and those posts have led to connection and encouragement rather than any disdain or ridicule (Thank you! Sincerely!). I haven’t yet trounced those inner detractors, but I guess I’ve learned that continuing to resist or ignore them is worth the discomfort.
And that the discomfort is increasingly well compensated by the joy I find in the creative act itself, in the pleasure of finding such joy in taking chances and learning new skills at this stage of life.
The last journal page I’ll show you here exemplifies both the discomfort and the pleasure, as you’ll understand if you can make your way through my scribbles. But I can summarize briefly by telling you that as soon as I’d crayoned (Caran d’Ache Neo-Colour watercolour crayons, fun to work with but rather crude/childish as a drawing tool) in the shapes of the small tables (bottom of the page) and, especially, after I’d got the chairs “wrong,” I was frustrated and mad and telling myself bad things about my talent and skill.
And Paul insisted (I was so annoyed with him!), and so I kept going, and I channeled Koosje Koene (who was one of the instructors at that workshop in Paris). . .
and I’m glad I did. Not only because it captures a good moment (although I didn’t draw our yummy waffles, the sketch conjures their memory as well!). . . but because I’m using my sketchbook to record my efforts, to model my own persistence to myself.
Of course, that may not be evident to other eyes than mine, and that’s okay . . . or at least, I’m working to accept that as okay. In the end, my sketchbook is still a place for me — but it’s become important enough to me that I want to share it. Expect to see more posts like this in 2024 (with far fewer accompanying words, although there will still be word-heavy written posts ’cause, well, you know me! 😉
For now, I wish a Merry Christmas to all who share that tradition, and a peaceful and joyous Festive Season to those who celebrate other traditions designed to pull us out of this winter’s dark and back towards the light! Comfort and Joy! as one of the old songs goes. . .
And I hope we’ll all meet back here in the New Year!
xo,
f
Merry Christmas, to you and your family. How wonderful to have everyone close this year. I enjoy seeing your sketches and watercolours. To me you are talented, I have just taken up dabbling in watercolours….with little talent, but I find it relaxing. Look forward to seeing your future posts.
Author
It’s a wonderful way to relax — I’m so pleased you’re dabbling!
I love your sketches Frances. Keep ’em coming. Merry Christmas to you, Paul and the family, and mountains of blessings to you all in the New Year.
Author
Thank you! I enjoy yours as well 😉
Comfort & joy to you, too, Frances.
Thank you for your work which adds food for thought-and soul, at pleasing intervals.
♡ A. in ( beautifully dressed for the holidays) London
Author
So pleased you continue to visit and find interest in my posts! (Some day, I’d love to see London at the festive season, all decked out!)
Hope you and Paul and all your family have a good Christmas, Frances. It must be lovely to have everyone in such close proximity. Hope the tourtiere is delish, the wine smooth, and the hugs big and warm. 🙂
Author
Thanks so much, Sue, and yes, it’s a nice change having them all close at hand for a bit.
Those are lovely wishes you’ve hoped my way — may you find the same in your home this Christmas (and perhaps just enough snow for a White Christmas! not a chance of that here)
I love these posts! Thanks for sharing your lovely sketches…and your thoughts behind them…and during them!
Author
You’re very welcome, Genevieve — thanks for visiting and encouraging and being part of this community!
I look forward to more of these posts in 2024. I journal most days but just my scrawl. this makes the writing so much richer and memorable. How wonderful that your family will all be together for Christmas, enjoy every moment!
Author
Thanks, Darby! I have days when writing’s all I want to do — and it used to be all I did. It’s been interesting adding the sketching and trying to balance the two.
These are lovely…I particularly like the onions…the skins take well to be portrayed in watercolour.
Done shopping but not chopping. That part will begin tomorrow. With good music playing. Can’t wait.
Tanti Auguri di Buone Feste
Author
The onions-and-teapot sketch is my favourite as well — you’re right about the skins and watercolour.
Happy chopping and singing. . . and Tanti Auguri anche a te!
I love your sketches and watercolors! I’m still avoiding trying my hand, but I appreciate the wonderful example you set of perseverance, openness to learning new skills and your willingness to share. Happy Holidays to you and yours. The moments of having the entire family together are few and far between.
Author
Thanks Wendy! (It’s true — I watch how it’s happened with my siblings and our large extended family . . . far fewer gatherings, more time between them, and rarely anything that gathers all of us together — celebrate them while we can, right?
Lovely! Enjoy having your family all together ~
Author
Thank you!
You have put a great deal of effort into your art & a massive amount into your family . So this is payback time . Have the very best Christmas Frances , with all the love you deserve .
Author
Thanks so much, Wendy!
Merry Christmas Frances, and how lovely to have all the family together. We are exchanging photos with our one in New Zealand, where it’s summer, as we look out on a heavy fall of snow. Lovely to look at, but we have to set out today literally over hill and dale to collect the Christmas turkey. I am still intrigued at what a different reading experience it is with a sketchbook rather than paragraphs of text. Much closer attention rather than the decades of well-practised skimming.
Author
New Zealand — not only such a distance away, but two whole seasons separating you! At least these days we can be together virtually, but still, I imagine you might miss each other even more amidst all the trappings of Christmas.
Take care over those hills and dales! xo
How I love seeing your drawings, and reading of your process! You continue to inspire my own efforts, which I truly hope to expand in the coming year.
Have a wonderful time with your family!
Author
Thank you for this kind encouragement, Linda — and I’m so pleased to know that I might be encouraging you as well 😉
You have inspired me to pull out my travel journal, sketch pens and watercolors!
Thank you.
Author
Do it! Yes! Enjoy!
Donna
Happy Christmas to you and yours 🎄
The wash of colour on the onions is perfect! I enjoy the sketches that you so kindly share. As a long-time reader, it’s been lovely to see you grow in confidence and accomplishment. It’s already a quiet, overcast Boxing Day morning here. The day looks likely to be a bit stormy and humid but I’m feeling peaceful and mellow after a few hectic days.
I will join in the chorus of people singing panegyrics to your onions:). Happy New Year, Frances, and all good cheer.