Years ago I kept scrapbooks. I would call them inspiration books. Since I was a fashion director I would always be tearing, cutting sketching and taping things into sketchbooks. I had over the years about 15 books filled. It was always fun to go back thru them and see what inspired me. Then I moved to Florida 16 years ago and the box that held all my books had been ruined by a broken water heater and out they went.
I really miss those books as I would always go back for inspiration.
So over the years I kept a file box abs would toss pictures and things in the box but it was not the same. I miss turning the pages and sketching in the margins and just looking for inspiration.
So back to basics and starting my inspiration books again.
Years ago I kept scrapbooks. I would call them inspiration books. Since I was a fashion director I would always be tearing, cutting sketching and taping things into sketchbooks. I had over the years about 15 books filled. It was always fun to go back thru them and see what inspired me. Then I moved to Florida 16 years ago and the box that held all my books had been ruined by a broken water heater and out they went.
I really miss those books as I would always go back for inspiration.
So over the years I kept a file box abs would toss pictures and things in the box but it was not the same. I miss turning the pages and sketching in the margins and just looking for inspiration.
So back to basics and starting my inspiration books again.
As a fellow artist, I also create books like these. I find it easier to use 3-hole punched sheet protectors with a piece of white copy paper slipped inside. I can then tape small sized content onto both sides of the white paper. If I’m saving an entire article, I can just slip it into one side of the sheet protector. I keep a couple of 3-ring binders with tabs in them in which to put the new content. Tabbed sections are titled: Perspective, Watercolor, Encaustics, Media Info, Mechanical Ideas, Photography, Pastels, Pen & Ink, Ideas, Drawing, Framing, Marketing, Competitions, Use & Care, Copyright, Internet, Miscellaneous, etc. I have another binder for reference photos set up in the same way, with sections titled: Architecture, Animals, Ocean, Landscapes, etc. I have a wall bin near my desk in which I collect new input for these binders. When the bin gets full or I get the urge, I put the bin’s content into the binders in one sitting. I find this system allows me to remove a page to work with its content at my studio desk without having to deal with the whole notebook. The sheet protector also keeps the content clean while I’m working with it. Sorting the content into tabbed sections allows each section to grow as needed and makes it easier to find the content I’m seeking. When one binder gets full, it is also easy to split the content into two binders and keep them growing. You might find this system useful, and if you get another flood, the sheet protectors might keep the content from getting ruined! ;o}
WOW, Kristi, I wish I could be that organized. When I was an art director I had what was called an Artist’s morgue, all reference material categorized so always able to find what I needed. Then I went digital and had all my references scanned into the computer with a system, but I did have an assistant that took care of this for me.
I prefer to go the organic route and I just cut and tape, I tend to make each page a theme (sometimes), like an mood board.
Thanks for the comments and ideas.