This is my Special Edition Behind the Scenes of Refresh Daily Rewind featuring my Creative Art Relic, my Art Notebook, that I've had since I was a teen; coming to you from my Dawn Herring Collection Art Gallery! 

 My Sketchbook. I've been using these types of sketchbooks for my personal journaling after many years of writing in smaller lined journals with ribbons for book marks. But a couple of years ago, they were starting to feel too small. 

So I decided to start writing in an unlined sketchbook which gives me a way to doodle, draw mind maps, write lists and all sorts of fun stuff like that, where lines would be prohibitive or hindering. 

But recently, I decided I needed to use a sketchbook for just my ART. This one you see on the left is for just that purpose. 

Sketching, which is basically rough drawing, has never been my forte; I love to draw fully detailed, no rough. Rough sketches don't feel natural to me. 

So I was reluctant to start a sketchbook for my art. 
BUT I had an epiphany of sorts, after reading and watching other artists with their sketchbooks. I realized I don't have to necessarily Sketch in my Sketchbook if I don't want to. I can draw whatever I want. I can do more doodles in addition to my daily doodle that I do in my evening entry in my personal journal. I can practice my lettering skills to create more graphic headers for my blog posts, which I have SO MUCH FUN with! (The above graphic header was originally created in my new sketchbook. :) )

I also use this sketchbook to take notes on what I'm up to with my current watercolor-in-progress, with any plans for other projects, my artistic goals, dreams and lists. So, yes, I journal in my artist sketchbook! 

One of the issues I've come across since I started it is whether I should be separating my art from other life issues when in my art-focused sketchbook...since I'm already journaling otherwise. But it's really hard to keep it separate, because, in reality, my art influences and affects all other areas of my life. But HOW MUCH to include is the challenge. 

I suppose if I just determine that Anything Goes with it, I can just relax and not concern myself about doing it Wrong or wondering if having an art sketchbook is worth the bother. I do have many journals that I keep, but I have looked forward to writing and experimenting with this one. 

I will admit to repeating myself a lot between my art and my personal sketchbooks, But my art bears repeating! That's how important it is to me. And No one else is reading it so I don't have to concern myself about boring anyone or having someone say, you already wrote about this. I can repeat myself as many times as I'd like with no harm done.  

I think the fact that I HAVE an artist's sketch book to play in is a great cathartic catalyst for ideas, for messing around, for playing with my Winsor Newton Watercolor markers, and just having FUN. Who knows what may result from what comes up in my creativity and in my thoughts and intuition s a result of giving myself more artistic space? 

Journaling Prompt: 
Is there something that you have given to yourself recently that you may feel is a bit over the top or unnecessary but you really want to try this new thing and see what comes of it? Detail this in your journal and express how you feel about this new thing and if you feel indulgent and why. Give yourself space to validate your emotion and feelings about this new thing and be your own cheerleader! 

Art Journal prompt:
Make a page or spread in your art journal to express how you feel about doing something for yourself that you may feel like you need permission to do. Use text, color and stamping/stenciling to create layers of meaning for that permission granted! 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Graphic Header by Dawn Herring Collection