Sketchbooking

In the studio the start of the year brings breathing space after the Christmas rush and room to work on neglected tasks like tool maintenance and organising our paperwork. But the thing I love the most is developing new designs. Since January I’ve had my sketchbook by my side to try and develop some new jewellery I’d like to make this year. I’ve been using different mediums to work through ideas to hopefully come to organic design conclusions that can translate into gold. I’ve been calling them Thinking Drawings.

I started by looking at branches then focused more on leaves. I haven’t reached a conclusion with the new designs yet but I thought I’d share my sketchbook progress so far.

I think I needed to get these designs out of my head and onto paper straight away. Pencil and coloured pencil.

I think I needed to get these designs out of my head and onto paper straight away. Pencil and coloured pencil.

Drawing from a photo from my trip to Malaga in January. Branch from a lemon tree in the Botanical Gardens in felt pen and wax pastel.

Drawing from a photo from my trip to Malaga in January. Branch from a lemon tree in the Botanical Gardens in felt pen and wax pastel.

Another drawing from photos taken at the Botanical Gardens in Malaga, this time in black pen and coloured pencil.

Another drawing from photos taken at the Botanical Gardens in Malaga, this time in black pen and coloured pencil.

The boys were doing some collage so I joined in.

The boys were doing some collage so I joined in.

Young honeysuckle leaves in the woods behind our house drawn in wax pastel.

Young honeysuckle leaves in the woods behind our house drawn in wax pastel.

Again young honeysuckle in wax pastel but scaled up.

Again young honeysuckle in wax pastel but scaled up.

Drawing leaf shapes in ink from a gorgeous Kew Gardens book I have about botanical illustration.

Drawing leaf shapes in ink from a gorgeous Kew Gardens book I have about botanical illustration.

Shapes of leaves decorated with the Catkin design in pencil and chalk pen. Starting to see the shapes as jewellery although I’ve tightened up.

Shapes of leaves decorated with the Catkin design in pencil and chalk pen. Starting to see the shapes as jewellery although I’ve tightened up.

More leaf shapes in ink and felt pen, trying but failing to loosen up again.

More leaf shapes in ink and felt pen, trying but failing to loosen up again.

Branches picked on a walk with Izzy in ink and wax pastel.

Branches picked on a walk with Izzy in ink and wax pastel.

Blackthorn blossom in pencil picked on a walk with the family. I spend so much time stopping, taking photos and collecting treasures, they are very patient with me.

Blackthorn blossom in pencil picked on a walk with the family. I spend so much time stopping, taking photos and collecting treasures, they are very patient with me.

Blackthorn branch moving. Slowly spinning the branch with my left hand I drew in pencil with my right.

Blackthorn branch moving. Slowly spinning the branch with my left hand I drew in pencil with my right.

Since the lockdown I’ve been fitting work around homeschooling my boys and my sketchbook has been neglected but I’m hoping that this post will encourage me to pick up my pencil again.

Stay safe

Ax

Alison Macleod