A New Hello and Starting a New Sketchbook

Do I have any new visitors here? Hello and happy new year! I'm Elizabeth Alley, creator of Sketchwork, which is now going into its 18th year - what! I didn't even realize that until I started typing that sentence. (You can see 2006-2018 here.)

I am a painter and sketchbook artist from Memphis, TN. I show my work locally and regionally, sketch a lot on my own and with Memphis Urban Sketchers, give talks to non-sketchers about "practical sketching," and sometimes teach sketching to adults.

This blog is about sketching and making art and other things that go into that, like travel and art supplies and books.

Thank you for being here! Now let me tell you about the new sketchbook I started this month...

I started a new sketchbook this month - I usually go through about six sketchbooks a year, but last year I only used four. My goal this year is six to eight? Just to sketch more, because it brings me so much joy.

I've been sketching at home a lot lately because that is where I usually find myself. Often my sketchbook is next to me and I just pick up whatever pen or pencil is nearby to sketch with. 

I love to sketch while waiting somewhere out in the world, too! Just making lines and seeing where they will intersect can keep me interested for a long time.

This page spans a few days last week. It was a weird week! Lots of late nights and early mornings. Lots of trucks on my street as neighbors get work done on their houses, which is fine with me because it just gives me more to draw!
Most of these were done with a Sakura Pigma Graphic 1, and my everyday sketchbook is a Stillman and Birn Alpha, 8.5x5.5.