What lies ahead
I cracked open a new sketchbook this week: blank pages stared back. Who knows what will become of them? Pieces of life, seasons, artistic experiments, birds, experiences, memories. It seems fitting then that my first page records a journey. These are quick sketches made while driving from Connecticut to Maine, pulled together with text about what I was listening to in the car.
I wasn’t really sure where the pages would go when I began. With each stop along the way, I added something more. Built over time, the page, like the book itself, is record of my journey. Here’s to what lies ahead!
Drawn In 
I loved it when you eat your subject! Great watercolors, cracking into a new book.
Thanks! Always hate to lose the reference material, tasty as it is.
Great first page! I assume you weren’t driving yourself while doing those quick sketches😋
No driving and sketching for me! But eating and sketching works. That’s why most of the vignettes are food related pitstops.
Well they’re lovely, Jean
you inspire so many of us – thank you!
Thanks Judith!
What a lovely start on your life journey sketchbook. Great page layout with many fun sketches explaining your journeys. Have lots of fun filling those pages.
I hope to! I’ll share some of my Maine pages over the next few weeks.
I love pages like this, Jean…they just develop, but they say so much.
Thanks! Yes, this could have gone in many directions, but I’m happy with the way it kept following the journey to Maine. I think it will be fun to look at it in the future and remember some of the small things that would be lost to memory otherwise.
What a great start! Love every bit of your page!
Thanks Cathe! It’s fun to do a page like this, just taking a piece at a time until the page feels finished.
what a beautiful beginning. Everything about it is lovely.
Thanks Jodi! I really enjoy sketching while on the road and sometimes to rush to fit things in really works. Once I arrived, I was teaching for a week and then it was hard to really work on things for myself…I’ve got a few pages to add watercolor to and then I’ll post some more.
Wonderful beginnings of a new sketch book ! What do you do with the completed books ? Do you make prints of any of your favorite books/ or pages and put them out for sale? Or make cards? Do you ever tear a page and frame it or keep your books intact always and not separate the pages? Just curious! They are all so gorgeous just wondering if they stay on your shelves or have other lives ! Really love how you do these pages!
Hi– what great questions. I think I may have to do a blog post on this topic to answer them! The simplest answer for now is that I never tear out pages and yes to just about everything else. My books are mostly personal and live on my shelves, but I do scan my favorite pages, sell prints, and occasionally have an exhibit. I really appreciate your enthusiasm — you’ve got me thinking!
Fantastic beginning to a new book. Love how you weave together all the pieces, like collecting musical notes and creating a beautiful song in gorgeous paintings. Thank you for sharing these.
Thanks so much. I’m always glad when a page like this comes together. I wasn’t sure where this was going at first, and thought about other possibilities. But then the journey just seemed like the more relevant thing.
As always, Jean, fabulous. Your visual storytelling inspires me.
Thanks Jann…so nice to know. Always happy to inspire!
You are off to a good start! I love the postcard….I may have to borrow that idea.
I laughed as I, too, just bought the travel size Whiskey Painters Palette and extra pans also.
How do you like it? I’ve yet to fill mine as I am trying to figure out what 12 colors to use.
Decisions, decisions. Any suggestions are warmly welcomed!
Don’t you love the shiny black box? Mmm…I hope I like it in use! I just filled mine yesterday, but haven’t tried it yet. I filled mine with my standard palette, minus raw umber. 3 blues, 2 yellows, 2 reds, 1 green, 4 earth tones (quin gold, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber). Now I need to make a getaway to test it!
That sounds like a good choice of colors. I think I’ll stick to my favorites which sound pretty much like yours. It is a very appealing little box. I think I have a palette addiction problem!
You’re not alone! Finding the “perfect” palette, paper, paints, etc…is part of the fun.
Love your journal and the way you write! Your letters looks simply cute and clean!
The image with the colour bird houses its my favorite
Thanks Wendy. Those bird houses lined a fence just outside the restaurant, so I could draw/paint and eat. I see you like hand lettering and calligraphy, too. It’s a fun element to add to a page.
I took classes last year, of calligraphy and lettering and it’s the most useful thing I could learn. It’s an incredible tool for illustrations!
This is so lovely! Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks Deb…glad you liked it!
There is so much promise to an empty-waiting-to-be-filled sketchbook/journal! Love your first page. What great memories it will evoke. Thanks for sharing.
Funny, I am just started another new journal and I’m really excited about it. I’m traveling again and so I love capturing new experiences in it. Thanks for poking around the site!