About rules…

It’s good to set some rules for the sketchbook work from time to time.

Sometimes I feel a bit stuck in a rut with my painting style and I look for a change. Then I set myself a specific challenge for my sketchbook pages for a certain period of time. There is something liberating about setting a clearer framework for yourself through rules, so that you don’t have to make as many decisions during the painting process. This also sharpens your perception.

That’s how I got to know the properties of acrylic inks, for example. At that time, I wanted to focus specifically on glazing, or on dealing with the unpredictability of liquid paint. For a few weeks, I experimented daily with acrylic inks on my sketchbook pages. On the one hand, I tried to introduce as much variety as possible into the application of the colors, and on the other hand, I sought to precisely discern which process and which result I liked best.

The rule gave me a clear focus for my work even outside the sketchbook and renewed motivation to continue my daily sketchbook practice.