The SketchBook Project
For all you artists and sketchers out there, you have to check out "The SketchBook Project". This is a global art project where sketchers and artists from all around the world participate by completing a sketchbook that is provided to you. You simply have fun with your sketchbook doing whatever art project inspires you and send it to the SketchBook Project headquarters in Brooklyn NY. The sketchbooks are then digitized and put online and then taken on a tour. This year’s project will be touring eight cities: Brooklyn, Austin, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The sketchbooks will then return to Brooklyn where they will remain in the Brooklyn Art Library as part of their permanent collection.
The SketchBook Project is the brainchild of co-founders Steven Peterman and Shane Zucker. The Brooklyn Art Library, which they created, now is home to 18,000 sketchbooks from 130+ countries with a community of over 60,000 artists. Now that is some Power Networking! The SketchBook Project has evolved over the years and now includes weekly theme projects, photography projects, memoir projects ........the list goes on. They have no shortage of cool ideas for inspirational and creative projects.
This is the first year that I have participated with the SketchBook Project and it certainly will not be my last. You can check out my 2013 sketchbook on the SketchbookProject digital library here: "Greg Manley Sketchbook"
And as far as the tour, Janice and I have already booked our trip to Toronto where the Sketchbook project will be on display at the Gladstone Hotel. The Gladstone - the absolute perfect venue! This is one seriously cool turn of the century hotel that has been recently converted to an Art Hotel. They have studio spaces, gallery spaces and the Gladstone even has the longest running life-drawing class in Toronto. They have been holding weekly drawing classes since 1957! This past week they held an event “Brushes in my Wine” - pretty self descriptive - Painting and wine.... Hmm - Good combo! As far as the hotel itself, each room has a custom theme designed by a local artist and/or designer. Needless to say we are looking forward to checking out the sketchbook library offerings when they hit the “Big Smoke!”
So my recommendation to you: Contact the Sketchbook Project and order your sketchbook. You will have 30+ pages to fill with anything you want. Then you can brag to all your friends when your sketchbook goes on next year’s multi-city tour and becomes part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library!
Convinced yet??
www.sketchbookproject.com
