In the year that sprouted mass self-introspection, 2020 that is, I experimented with a new sketchbook technique. The sketchbook is any artist’s or designer’s most useful tool. It is a place to explore narratives, dissect ideas and see what comes out the other end. Often they will be crowded with haphazardly drawn doodles with the occasional meticulously illustrated masterpiece. As the creator eventually discovers, unexpected outcomes can come from mixing medias. Regardless of style, the sketchbook reigns king as the master of ideas in one’s personal land of imagination.
Truthfully, I’d gotten very comfortable with simple garment doodles to quickly jot down my ideas and concepts. On occasion I would do a full-fledged fashion illustration when time permitted. I used to see the sketchbook as plainly a tool to communicate. It was the instrument I came back to time and time again when I needed a little design direction. I wasn’t taking advantage of creating a LIVING sketchbook. I highlight “living” because when I saw how different my sketchbook became; the emotion, the conversation, and the exploration began to pop off the page.
So, now for the technique. It’s really just playing with mixed medias and choreographing a dance of ideas. This showed itself in numerous ways: layering colored paper, grid paper, sticky notes, sheet music, pictures that inspire a feeling, envelopes that hold additional information, doodles, sketches, and fabric swatches and samples of all varieties. Pages quickly went from flat 2D imagery to 3D tactile encounters. Suddenly exploring a concept became conceptual. It turned itself from a comment to a conversation.
I went a step further. I photocopied lots of random images and began to cut them out in unusual shapes. I then took the shapes and laid them scrupulously on a fashion croquis to create various forms on the body. This was heavenly, if I do say so! It opened my mind up to volume I could have never imagined and lines that didn’t have to follow the overly abundant silhouettes on the market.
This new way of creating a sketchbook conversation with myself definitely isn’t a quick feat. It really does require lots of searching for the right images, a printer, scissors, a variety of different types of paper, different fabrics to play with, a sewing machine (or at least needle and thread), and lots and lots of imagination.
I will say this has challenged me to think outside the box and as a designer who has lots of experience with selling clothing. It’s so easy to get locked into the shapes that I instinctually know people want to buy. It’s so easy to be trapped in the “is it sellable?” mindset. But god that’s boring. Creating big bold ideas is so expansive to the mind and it’s a challenge I want to always strive to undertake.
This technique will be one I come back to time and time again. It truly evokes an inner child excitement in me and wow does it turn out some super cool ideas!