I’ve followed Jane Davies for years so was thrilled to see a class for Sketchbook Revival. I watched the video and was instantly excited. Sometimes a process just clicks.
In the video Jane made 8 collages to work back into. I sat down and filled 3 sketchbooks, or 60 layouts, with the two-piece collages to work back in to.
I’ve already worked back into two of them. On one of them I squeezed a small paint bottle and it exploded (yep, quick change of sweatshirt). I love the mark it made … if I could do it again, I would!
I’m doing Sketchbook Revival ‘26, and working through the classes out of order, just because I can.
Amy Maricle’s class was called Soothing Watercolour Eucalyptus pages. I used indigo watercolour and a size 10 round brush. I worked in the handmade journal, with an Australian Piano Hinge binding, we were encouraged to make for the course.
This was fun and turned out better than I was expecting. I like the technique Amy taught and will try this again.
Helen Wells, on YouTube, talked in a recent post about the fallow period between projects where she tries out disparate ideas and gathers information. For her it’s a generative stage; divergent thinking enables her to find connections & interests. Then she moves to convergent action and thinking – focusing in.
I recognise the divergent and convergent stages in my own practice but, for me, there’s another stage. Most, probably all, of my family is neurodivergent. While I don’t actively think of myself as neurodivergent, there’s certainly some pointers! One of those is a strong need to control my environment, particularly when I’m under pressure. There’s a lot happening at the moment, both in the wider world and in my own realm … not least that we take over the grazing block in less than a month.
That pressure manifests in my art practice. I’ve been making small abstract landscapes using collage and mixed media, and love the process. I’ve got 5 days at home to do my own thing over Easter. Am I creating new works? No … instead, I feel compelled to finish anything that’s lying around, from paintings to art journals. Sometimes, while I wait for multiple pages to dry, I clean out a draw or cupboard.
It feels good to complete things and start with a clean state. In one sense, this is solely completion, but in another way it IS an act of creation, because I’m creating the mentally and physical space for new works to emerge.
Small handmade journals in the process of completion Detail from a long handmade concertina sketchbookThis concertina sketchbook is about 5 feet long … 2 pages aren’t shown.
I follow Helen Wells on YouTube. She posted recently about Sketchbook Revival 2026, a free course in April to refresh your sketchbook practice. Heck yes! I love working in my sketchbooks so this was a no brainer.
There’s a pre course class where you make a book to use for the course if you want … of course you can use what you already have, or buy one. I can do a simple sewn signature journal, but not much else. This looked achievable so I have it a go.
I’ll use the Australian Piano Hinge style again. Is mine perfect? Of course not, it’s my first attempt, and anyway nothing’s ever perfect. The paper I used for one element is a bit heavy, so it cracked on the fold. My cutting is slightly off, so some pages are a little bit shorter. But you know what? It doesn’t matter … I love it!
Through the years of looking after Tony my self care slipped a lot. I lost fitness and put on weight. Some people’s bodies cope fine with extra weight, unfortunately mine isn’t one of them. It’s four and a half months since Tony died. It feels like yesterday and forever at the same time … but what I do know is it’s time to take back control. Tony will be cheering me on.
I’ve bought a second hand elliptical for at home, rejoined the gym (a different one that offers better support) and gone back to a proper eating plan.
I’ve just had a three day weekend and spent it sorting stuff, getting used to the elliptical, and making an art journal that’s all about taking control and being capable – it’s an encouragement journal for me.
Cath Sheard Art 