In This Economy?
Frivolities, whimsies etc
Reading time: about 3 minutes
Three weeks ago, I wrote a note in my sketchbook:
Thinking about the frivolity/foolishness of starting a small art biz while the news is so Big and Bleak. Plying my silly little wares.
This week I channelled that feeling into a one-panel comic:
I’ve just ordered 50 flyers with this comic on one side, and my details on the other! It’s going to serve as a business card and promotion for my art shop. Yes, I have opened my online store!
It has been a real journey of trial and error, but I’ve set up print-on-demand postcards and prints that ship internationally.1 Let me show you another sketchbook note that led to something in my shop…
My creative practice changes with every sketchbook, and in this one I’ve figured out that sometimes I need to write a thought, and sometimes I need to doodle it.
The gherkin doodle led to this illustration… the dream!
Why not browse my wares (whimsies, fripperies) at nataliebsketching.com? In the meantime, I’d like to share some more sketchbook mess.
The crucial thing with ideas and observations is to get them down as soon as possible. I used to think that pencil was a waste of time — that it’s better to be fearless and use pen — but lately, pencil has encouraged me to jot down anything and everything. For example, the devastation of this little kid who was carried away from the ice cream freezer.
Pencil is just a space saver, in that you can rework an idea with a handy eraser. If I like an idea, I’ll ink it. If I don’t, I can use the space later for something else.
I love that illustration fills the gaps left by observational drawing. The other day I went on a lovely walk in Hampstead Heath, and although I took my sketchbook, I didn’t draw in it until later. I communed with the trees and the crows and then drew up my impressions at home.
Do you ever go on a ‘noticing’ walk? I drew this after a walk to the shops when I spotted a spoon on a tomb. Like, a serving spoon.
Last weekend we enjoyed beautiful weather at an Urban Sketchers London meet up near King’s Cross. I did manage some direct observational drawing — a bit twisted, of course — but these days I find just drawing buildings a bit impersonal. Later I wrote a sort of diary entry on the page.
Substack is turning me into a diarist! (Or the cool version — graphic memoirist).
Finally…
Thank you for staying with me to the end; here’s a spider comic (not that one).
Items are printed to order in US, UK or NL. I’m still tweaking the delivery options and costs; message me if you have any concerns about delivery and I can check the settings. I want to bulk order some items for UK customers so everyone gets the best deal!
That song! That briny sea song pops into my head about 3 times a week! Any time anyone says the word "sea" or even "see." Or "bobbing." People say that more often than you'd expect...
the getting dressed while there's a spider in the room made me laugh out loud. the spider fear is real!