Back in April, I had a beautiful visit to Bellingham – traditional territory of the Lummi Nation – Lhaq ‘temish (People of the Sea). There we visited a favourite of mine: Village Books in Fairhaven.
I had been wanting to have a sketch book or journal for a while, but hadn’t yet quite found what I’m looking for. Lo and behold, with the intention in mind and an open heart, I stumbled across a notebook: One Sketch A Day – A Visual Journal. This keepsake sketchbook that has space for me to draw each day for one year.
This sketchbook has become part of my daily practice to notice the living world around me, take a moment in observation and reflection then capture these in an artistic form. Daily sketching takes the pressure of me only taking on “big projects” that often leave me either ecstatic or drained. Having this constant companion, I am able to record aspects of nature that I’ve experience as well as try out different drawing techniques. What’s neat is looking back and seeing the collective story that these drawings tell.
I’ve often struggled with consistency, and my usual art practice is one of droughts and floods. Nothing for weeks or months, then I obsessively get into a project. This is different. This visual journal is the diary of my relationship with nature. I take it everywhere with me; hence why it’s looking a little beat up. But it’s inexpensive and I can throw it on my bag to do a sketch on the bus, while waiting for a friend or when I’m on a digital detox while camping.
Every day is an opportunity to express my relationship to nature through art while learning and experimenting with different drawing styles. Some days I am less than thrilled with the output, but each new day is an opportunity for another drawing and the more I draw, the more opportunities emerge. I become less attached to the product and more invigorated by the process. Using this daily practice, art is no longer a big “special” event.
I treasure how my awareness is shifting and I find myself noticing even when not drawing – the way light reflects, the shapes, the shadows, and how the combination of these make me feel in the moment.
Beautify is everywhere. Every day.
