As our trip to Italy approaches, I continue filling pages in my Sketch Journal, building readiness for the sketching workshop I’ll be attending in Sicily in May. More on that later, but meanwhile, some pages from my little sketchbook . . . a workout for the vulnerability muscle I wrote about back here. Something about the idea of sharing sketches with the other (yet unmet) workshop attendees; I can’t help imagining they’re all far more accomplished than I am . . .
I am honestly not “fishing for compliments” as I post these page. Rather, I’m reminding myself that I can expose my work without needing others’ approval; that the work isn’t me and my worth doesn’t depend on its quality; that, y’know, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Etc. Etc. Reminding myself of the indisputable pleasure I took in the drawing and painting. Of the joy we can find in practising, in acquiring skills. Of the value of setting oneself challenges or goals or simple commitments.
In the case of these images, I’d committed to filling 2 or 3 pages a week with a quick “Outfit of the Day” sketch — the accompanying text became an enjoyable complement to the project. I’m pleased to say that I’ve almost filled up that little Fabiano Quadrato Artist’s Journal I posted about in February, the one I began in 2016, then allowed to languish, most of its pages still empty. It hasn’t been great for watercolour or glue (intended, rather, for pencil, pen, pencil crayons), so the paper’s crinkled, the book itself swollen. But I’ve come to love its crinkly, swollen pages, all the moments those gesture at. . .
The photo below is the most recent in the small series of What I Wore Self-Portraits. Let me transcribe what I’ve written to accompany the sketch, since my choice to write vertically makes it difficult for you to read: Tuesday morning, March 22, 2022. Mom would have been 91 today. I think she might have liked my jumpsuit. . .
On the weekend, I took everything out of the coat closet for a good cleaning, and I started putting some of the winter gear away. And to make room in the storage boxes, I took out some clothes for warmer weather, including this pale pink cotton T and the hemp/linen jumpsuit I bought at Still Life 3 or 4 years ago. Happily noted how many garments I’d almost forgotten about — instant renewal of my wardrobe!
The other sketches are from earlier in the journal. The Italian class I reference below, for example, was on January 15th, but I didn’t sketch the outfit until the next day. This one would have been sketched from a photograph snapped in front of a mirror.
Some days (January 23rd, in this case) a quick and messy effort had to suffice. I won’t transcribe this, believing it to be legible, albeit with some effort 😉
As crude as some of these figures are, drawing them has made me increasingly comfortable — even confident — with being able to roughly capture the basic proportions of a female body. I don’t always achieve it, sure, but I can diagram it well enough. . . And obviously I’m aiming at something between realistic and stylized; not quite caricature, but leaning that way.
Sometimes (rarely enough) time lapses between the day I’m recording in my journal and the day I record it. We snow-shoed on Mt. Seymour January 24th, but I didn’t get ’round to sketching (from a photograph) until the end of the month . . .
In fact, I seem to have found a block of time on January 30th, enough time to fill the page above
and the ones below . . .
Not sure if the head-replacement page was put together on that same day, but either end of January or beginning of February.
The page below (which you might already have seen, here) is from February 8th. . .
February 17th entry: playing around on the back of an envelope with body-in-motion — and I dressed the “Me” in motion in that same dress and wide-legged pants that you see in the sketch above. . . Glued the sketch into my journal because ink had bled through from the preceding page. . . And sometimes I like to save those scrap-paper efforts, which can often be much looser. . .
Sometimes, I guess I might be too loose! ;- Sketch on the left I wanted to tear out, but I try not to do that. Sketch on the right a marginal improvement. . .
Both sketches, though, work well enough to illustrate a memory, capture an observation, especially when coupled with the complementary text. I find the one invites and encourages and loosens up the other. . .
Below, self-explanatory, expostulation and all. Except that I could have written something about how much I liked this combination of navy linen gathered skirt and mustard wool T and that same scarf bought on Rue du Bac. . .
We’ve come to the end of this post, and now I’m asking myself which is the bigger challenge for my vulnerability muscle: posting photos of myself and my OOTD’s (which I’ve avoided doing here) or posting my sketches of same. In the former, my body, my looks, are more directly exposed; in the latter, my artistic skills, such as they are. Interesting question, I think, in light of ageing, questions of visibility, the sadness or loss many women seem to feel regarding wrinkles, changed body shape, greying hair. In contrast, never having suspected for my first 55 years that I could draw at all, my ability to make marks on paper improves every day that I choose to pick up a pen or pencil. . .
Which makes the prospect of that workshop in Sicily this May infinitely more enticing than intimidating. And well worth exercising that muscle I mentioned.
Comments open. As always, I look forward to whatever responses this post might evoke. And in case the focus seems too specific, but you want to chime in anyway, there’s always the more general topic of vulnerability, or of keeping a journal, or of a personal preference for photographic or hand-sketched illustration or even both. And that contrast I introduced paragraph before last between abilities or skills that are still improving and our physical selves which are presumed to be on the decline (although I must tell you that the weight I chest-pressed last week is more than what I ever have, even much younger– the advantage of beginning a strength-training program later!). All grist for the mill. Chat away!
Love it , it’s beautiful !! Bonne preparation de ton voyage ✈️ vers la Sicile. some more sunny sketches to come I hope ! Flying to Switzerland next week (my daughter and her family left London for Geneva 3 months ago) Have a nice week end (sunny and cold in Nantes
Sylvie
Author
Merci!
You will miss your visits to London, but I imagine it’s very good to have all the family in the EU. Enjoy your time in Geneva!
Lovely sketches,Frances! I can understand your feelings,leaving your comfort zone….but,you are going to a wonderful island to learn,enjoy,to eat wonderful food and drink great wine,to hear about new approaches,to talk to people who are,more or less-and this is apsolutely not important, if it’s more or less- doing what you are doing, for your fun and artistic fullfilment……and if they were not nice and kind people (which I can’t imagine)- it is their huge loss,not yours
You are doing fine! Think about us who love your sketches!
Dottoressa
Author
It’s true, K. There will be much to assuage any discomfort I might feel. I am SO lucky to be going (and I will keep your wise words in mind, thank you!)
Great post. Thank you for this 🙂
Author
You’re very welcome!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Frances! I completely understand the vulnerability issue. I know you’re not fishing for compliments but I do want to say how much I love your sketches! They capture a mood/essence so well. Thanks to you I spent many hours in this past week enjoying creative time sketching, painting and stitching!
Author
I’m so pleased to hear that, Genevieve! It feels so good to be able to do that, doesn’t it?!
Francis –
Have a wonderful trip.
if you are going to Sicily, you may enjoy my novel The Sicilian Wife. It was named one of the best books of 2015 by The National Post. And it has had great reviews – including one in a Sicilian paper. (And I was interviewed on CBC’s The Next Chapter about it.) It is available as an ebook and also in a French edition, as well as a paperback. It is set in both Sicily and Alberta.
I don’t ever leave such self-promoting messages on blogs – but I feel as if I know you a bit, and I do think you would like the book. (It is also a mystery.)
Author
Thanks for the recommendation, Caterina! I see there’s an e-copy available at the public library here and have downloaded it — perfect reading for my flight.
I am delighted. I hope the library has an ecopy of the book. They should.
I haven’t read your post about packing for the trip yet. I find your blogs about what you wore and what you are taking on a trip so interesting. The blogs make me more thoughtful about what I should take on trips. I always take too much.
And you also make me think about what clothes I need for “nicer” occasions here. During Covid, I almost never had a reason to wear anything beyond jeans and exercise clothes.
I also appreciate your postings on feeling vulnerable. I totally relate, and i know many other of your readers do too.
Author
I got an ecopy of the book and have started reading it — enjoying it very much already, thank you!
Funny about Covid and the inclination (or not) to dress up again now. I put much more (enjoyable) effort into what I wear to my weekly Italian class than I ever would have before!
I love that so many of your clothes have such fond memories attached to them, the dress you might have purchased in a little shop or a scarf bought on a trip to Paris. Your wardrobe is so uniquely you. I am seeing jump suits more often these days. I remember when I used to wear them, so many years ago. It was a look I quite liked. Wondering if 80 is too old to try it once again. I often will write in my journal what I wore for an occasion, but perhaps I ought to try sketching as well , since it was something I wanted to do more of.
Author
Thanks, Darby! I’m finding that more and more objects in my life, garments included, have stories attached. . .
Yes, I had a few jumpsuits “back in the day” and it’s been fun wearing them again. And given my efforts at Slow Fashion, I hope I’ll be wearing mine at 80 as well 😉 So go for it if the look appeals, why not?
And I think you might enjoy adding the occasional sketch to the writing in your journal pages. It’s been a fun extra component for mine.
I’m tempted to buy myself a sketchbook!
Author
Go for it!
How I loved this post! It makes me think of trying the outfit sketchbook idea myself. I have almost never managed to get it together to record my outfits with a camera (or phone camera). . . But I might really love doing this as an artistic process of drawing. For years I have loved the act of dressing creatively, and also creating garments to wear, both through knitting, and also embellishing existing garments with threadpainting. I think of myself as an “ensemble artist”. During the past two years, it has been sometimes hard to be creative when I am mostly just home, but I am getting back into it now that things are a little bit better. . .
I have a few big artistic projects that are in process at the moment, so maybe it will be a while before I try the outfit sketches, but I hope to do this before year’s end. Thanks for the inspiration–and enjoy your course in Italy!
Author
Thanks for your keen and encouraging response!
I think you’d have fun sketching the ensembles you’re putting together. Any outlet for our creativity. . . .
Brava!
I admire your zest, adventurous nature, and your sketchbook journaling. You’re my inspiration, Frances. D
Author
Ah, kind words, thank you!
I’m a new reader of your blog, and I’m enjoying getting to know you through your words and sketches. I understand that feeling of vulnerability very well! I’ve been fortunate enough to go on a couple of sketching retreats, including one to France in 2018. I found that the other participants were very encouraging to each other, and that there was a vast array of styles and levels of accomplishment. A lot of that had to do with the instructor, who “required” civility and encouragement along with constructive critiques. I think you’ll have a blast and come home amazed at your progress.
Author
Glad to have you hear, Kathy, and thanks for the encouraging comment about vulnerability and sketching retreats/workshops. That’s been my experience as well and everything I’ve seen from this instructor’s social media suggests she’ll create a great environment. I’m really looking forward to it!