Sketchbook Ideas - Abstract and Imaginative

For some artists, philosophy, literature and art itself is a source of inspiration. Drawing can provide a way of exploring concepts, bouncing thoughts around and expressing feelings that are difficult to put in words. Traditional art forms often used allegorical figures and dramatic gesture, realistically painted, to express these ideas. Modern artists often use abstract means to expess very similar thoughts. Consider some of these approaches:

• Experiment with mark-making. Do patches of scribbles and squiggles. Try aggressive, angry marks, smooth flowing ones, and regular ordered marks.
• Use text as a design component. Use a poem you've written, or print one out, and create a collage based on it.
• Illustrate a favourite text. How do you envision the scene or the characters? What atmosphere has the author created?
• Respond to a text without actually illustrating it. How does it make you feel?
• Look for some interesting philosophers to read. Try Ludwig Wittgenstein, Friedrich Neitzshe, Bertrand Russell.
• Read some poetry in translation. Rainer Maria Rilke, Odysseas Elytis, George Seferis, and the Japanese collection 'Ogura Hyakunin Isshu'
• Start off with a photocopy of a realist image, and deface it. Tear the surface with tape, add layers of texture with restoration paper, thick pencil, and collage. Be aware of copyright issues with collage materials.
• Re-interpret some famous images. How would you have painted the Death of Socrates?
• Look at Anselm Keifer, Paul Klee, Jasper Johns, Tom Roberts, just for starters.