Getting a glimpse into the sketchbook of an artist is like having access to the most sacred of documents.
How do people work through ideas, and how does their creative practice and process unfold?
During a weeklong retreat with my painting mentor, Robert Burridge, my focus fixated on the stack of sketchbooks he kept at his side during the workshop.
Burning questions about what was inside those sketchbooks, and exactly how he used them as part of his daily creative practice filled my mind…and I thought you’d be curious to know, too.
The video will probably look best if you view full screen, especially since I accidentally shot it in portrait mode on my iPad – the first time I ever used my iPad for video. Did you know that you have to shoot videos on the ipad (and iphone) in landscape orientation? I didn’t know that.
Tip: Have your own journal or sketchbook handy to jot down ideas.
Don’t miss what Bob says about Fear of the blank page…just after the seven minute mark.
This was his response to the question I asked on behalf of my students – What advice to you have for people who are afraid to even make a mark in their own sketchbook?
After our interview, I decided it would only be fair to show him the sketchbooks I brought with me, even though I felt intimidated to do so. I’ll share what he had to say, along with photos of those sketchbooks, in an upcoming post.
Bob is a prolific artist, and a generous, enthusiastic teacher. He’s happy to share everything he knows about painting, and the business of marketing and selling art.
Paint like a dog goes after a bone – is something he said during the workshop that I took to heart. Five full days of attacking the black page. Exhausting and thrilling all at once.
In addition to leading workshops and retreats in person, he has a series of DVDs and books that I have found so helpful to me as an artist…and as a creative entrepreneur. Bob and his wife Kate produce a voluminous monthly newsletter for artists…that you’ll actually want to read and probably print out and keep forever. It’s that good.
His website is here: http://www.robertburridge.com/
Oh, and he did say yes…he would love to come teach here in Oaxaca, Mexico. Won’t that be the treat of a lifetime! If you’re on my mailing list (the sign up box is on the right in the sidebar of this page) you’ll get notice of workshops coming up. Yay!

During the workshop, Bob kept calling me “Liz, from Zihuatanejo”, so after the workshop I said, “I’m really Lisa, from Oaxaca” – so we took this photo with my name tag on my forehead. // Now we both can remember who I am. Painting does put us in a delightfully altered state, after all.
My questions for you are:
Do you keep a journal or sketchbook? If so, how do you use it? To document your process, experiment with ideas, work through challenges?
I’d love to hear your experience with keeping sketchbooks. And if you have a link to somewhere I can take a peek at them, all the better! Put it in the comments.
Any books you like about keeping sketchbooks and the creative process also welcome. Thanks!
My plan is to interview and feature a bunch of artists (not just painters, but writers and others) about their sketchbooks. So please reach out and let me know who I should talk to. Thanks!
10 comments
Super interesting. I especially benefitted from his discussing using them to keep himself focused on whatever project he is working on. I guess I never really thought about that.
I’ve just started an online type of journal for a personal project I’m doing–Japanese style of pattern drafting– and I’ve been wondering how I can incorporate the physical patterns into a sketchbook. I had to keep a sketchbook in school of quarter scale patterns but these are half scales, therefore, larger than a 9X12 page sometimes. There half scale because I’m using a half scale dress form to make them.
I’m trying to just do the projects without getting caught up in them being perfect and without the presentation being perfect. The point is to try them and learn something new.
Teresa – what kind of journal are you using for your larger patterns sketchbook? This might be an opportunity to make you own larger sketchbook. I like using large sheets of cardstock weight vellum bristol – it can be ordered from print and paper suppliers in 20 x 30 inch sheets.
No journal so far, just stuffing them into an envelope. I’m not concerned about folding them, so, if I do this I might choose something pre-made and smaller. But I might check out the paper available at the art stores. Thanks.
How wonderful, Lisa! I took a week long abstract / figure class with Bob about a year and a half ago. Loved it! He is a great guy….and so talented, too. II love the exercises. Looking forward to all your creative interviews!
oh yeah, here’s a little video pick. It’s really an altered book that I am using as a journal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVGwXTsmPjA
Hi Lisa,
It’s all here. A link to my journal blog entries:
http://e14studio.blogspot.com/search?q=journal
Hope we can connect!
~Sharon
well done, even if it was supposed to be turned the other way! It was helpful to hear about his process. I bet he’s a great teacher, he explained things so well. I’m a photographer/writer but I enjoy hearing about how everyone works. Do more videos! Thanks.
Bobbi – yes, Bob is a great teacher – and this is something that is a bit rare to find (in my experience). There are many talented painters out there, but few who really understand how to impart their wisdom.
thanks for posting this video Lisa! how awesome, I gathered up more ideas for my own sketchbook and also…15 paintings at once! Must try that, I thought doing 2 or 3 at a time was a lot, I can feel how free the work gets when I am not tied up in only one.
xo
hi lisa! what a thrill to take a class from robert burridge. I watched an interview with him and was thrilled with his process. I love your sketchbooks! I know they are our personal containers and it is hard to share sometimes. I get that. I just finished leading a three week workshop called “daily creative practice”. it was the best time. I create daily and it is a practice for me. a ritual. a meditation. I make myself a cup of tea in the morning and head to the studio and sit. it may be five minutes or five hours but I love jotting down the day and date, some quotes, book titles that inspire me and I always add my to do list for the day. I have been doing this for years and I love looking back to see what my days looked like at that time. it is a great container to hold all those bits and pieces from my day. thank you for always inspiring and sharing your process. have a wonderful day! ciao!