Sketchbooks

DEFINITION

Books with blank paper pages used by artists to sketch ideas for artwork with pencil, chalk, watercolor, charcoal or oil. Usually the sketch is not detailed. Sketchbooks are interesting because they often function as a sort of diary of the artist's thoughts and experiences leading to the creation of a work of art. The Fogg Museum at Harvard University has an extensive collection of Sketchbooks, which was on exhibition from August 1 to October 22, 2006. Museum personnel did a five-year cataloguing project of all the Sketchbooks in the collection. The exhibition reflects that work and features the more famous artists. Source: Editor, 'Famous Sketchbooks on Display', "Drawing Magazine", Summer, 2006, p. 6 (LPD)