It was a lovely week on Vlieland. It had everything: cold days, warm days, rainy days, walks, books, and painting. And painting in a sketchbook, which I should do more often.
The power of a sketchbook lies in the lack of responsibility it gives you. It's a kind of diary; you use it only for yourself. When you pick up a perfect sheet of watercolor paper, you immediately feel the pressure that comes with it: it has to be something beautiful, what are you even going to make? For whom are you going to make it? Why pick up a loose sheet? Does it need to be framed? What do you think you're doing? This is a collection of stress that can destroy all freedom in your creativity.
Does it need to be framed? What do you think you're doing?
But don't despair! The sketchbook comes to your rescue; the sketchbook approves of everything. Do you want to scribble pages full of only colors you like? No problem! Do you feel like drawing over a previous painting with a thick marker? Also no problem, because you have nothing to lose.
But don't despair! The sketchbook comes to your rescue!
If I could give one tip on how to break free from creation anxiety: start a sketchbook and – more importantly – treat it like a sketchbook. The photo above is actually a bad example, because while I did go wild with a black marker (which I wouldn't quickly do or dare on a loose sheet), I still fiddled with it until I found the end result acceptable.
Just a photo of Muis in between.
I made three small paintings. In the one above, Arjen sheds light on something.
My daughter was also on Vlieland for a few days and tried to paint me under the table. She succeeded, of course.
I made a portrait of Muis in her second-favorite environment: the forest. The beach is number one, of course, because she's a dog, and from what I've seen on the beach this past week, dogs are the biggest beach lovers on earth. After grains of sand, of course, and seals, and maybe crabs, well, you understand what I mean.
Look at that! She made a whole series of blue mini-paintings. I guess you're in your blue period then.
Quickly draw trees in the sketchbook. It doesn't have to be neat and you shouldn't overthink it.
And another work. I tried something different, I used my pen.
These characters emerged on the couch in front of the TV, pen and felt-tip pen.
The trees had dried by now. I filled them in with colored pencil. These pages then immediately provide an overview of different ways I can draw a tree. A sketchbook is also a reference work for yourself.
I read so much here on Vlieland! Four times Thomas Heerma van Voss, because I couldn't say goodbye to his tone. After I finished Condities, I thought that was his most beautiful book, but then I read Het archief and that one is even more beautiful. I also really liked Vlees en bloed, but that's by Vincent Kortmann.
I had just finished Maartje Wortel's book and then saw her on the beach the next day! What a world... (She wasn't sleeping at the campsite, because it's still deserted.)
Until next time! I'm also curious about what you all created last week. You can let me know in the chat or in the comments or if you happen to run into me on the street sometime. Bye now!