Contained in the Sketchbook of Richard Ayodeji Ikhide

Richard Ayodeji Ikhide is a Nigerian-born artist primarily based in London. He joins us within the Jackson’s Studio to supply a glimpse inside his sketchbook, laden with mythic symbolism. For Richard, sketchbooks are like spellbooks of artistic concepts – areas for gathering inspiration and training abilities in an virtually ritualistic means. On this article, he describes the significance of moveable supplies and shares knowledge about drawing every single day, regardless of how small the hassle.

For the time being I take advantage of one sketchbook at a time. Throughout my research, I might have a number of sketchbooks on the go, dipping out and in of every. However I discovered this too distracting, and I ended up with many half-finished sketchbooks. It wasn’t till I discovered the small sketchbooks I take advantage of now that I started to consolidate my sketches into one sketchbook. This felt way more environment friendly, permitting me to focus my efforts in a single area whereas nonetheless exploring numerous concepts.

I’m at present utilizing a softcover sketchbook, which is a recycled paper pocket book. It’s fairly light-weight and straightforward to hold round – it’s A5 dimension, so it could possibly match right into a small sling bag or massive pockets in a jacket or pair of trousers.

It has a tan cowl, which I normally embellish with some vinyl stickers that I minimize out in circles, largely as a means of marking my sketchbook. I see the sketchbook as a kind of visible grimoire, so it’s virtually ritualistic, and one thing I’ve performed for all my sketchbooks earlier than I begin to attract in them. The paper inside the sketchbook is light-weight and skinny, however surprisingly takes water-based media and inks fairly nicely.

By way of the supplies I at present use in my sketchbook, for effectivity, I take advantage of a Uniball Jetstream ballpoint pen as my go-to. Being a mother or father, and in addition being busy with educating and my studio follow, I don’t have a lot time on my arms. So I take advantage of one thing that pushes me to decide to the marks I make in my sketchbook.

Alongside the ballpoint pens, I take advantage of a couple of different supplies in my sketchbook, together with Koh-I-Noor Black Drawing Leads with a Cretacolor Clutch Lead Holder. I’ve discovered these to be the most effective lead holders for sustained durations of drawing.

If I’m at a museum doing research, I additionally use a spread of Pentel Water Brushes in broad, medium, and high quality, in addition to the Pigment Brush Pens. The water brushes I take advantage of alongside the Winsor & Newton Sketchers Pocket Field – these are helpful for after I need to add some color to sketches, or I could also be considering of sketches which may probably grow to be massive work within the studio.

Whereas the comb pen is nice for filling bigger areas and in addition for extra expressive drawings, the Winsor & Newton Sketchers Pocket Field is nice as a transportable possibility to hold round. I take advantage of these on lengthy journeys or when drawing in museums. Paired with Pentel Water Brushes, the Pocket Field is a good, compact possibility for working rapidly with color in restricted areas.

My sketchbook use goes by completely different durations. Once I’m getting ready for a present or in an intense studio section, I take advantage of it loads to construct concepts earlier than they grow to be work and to work out compositions. Throughout quieter instances, and now as a brand new mother or father, it will get much less use, however I like that there’s no strain to carry out or show something in it; it’s a refuge.

When I’m engaged on items within the studio, some sketches are immediately translated into a bigger format. However within the technique of drawing a composition bigger, I’ve to adapt to the big area, so sure components of the composition may shift and alter whereas I’m redrawing it.

Different instances, a bigger piece is likely to be made out of an amalgamation of varied sketches from a couple of completely different pages in my present sketchbook or earlier sketchbooks. I see my sketchbooks as a kind of visible library for myself, the place I gather info I may have sooner or later.

Sketchbooks are vital to me as a result of they’re a spot to fail with out strain. They permit me to experiment and construct my very own visible vocabulary, and to trace the progress of my drawing follow through the years.

From an academic perspective, they’re a terrific useful resource for displaying college students learn how to method composition, figuration, and the method of working by concepts. Additionally they function an area for notes to myself – issues I need to keep in mind later or concepts round topics I’m concerned with on the time.

Even when I’ll not have entry to the supplies in my studio that I might use for a bigger portray, my sketchbook is at all times available and readily available in these cases. I’ve at all times saved sketchbooks since I used to be a younger youngster, so I discover them immensely useful and vital to how I see my artistic follow and the way I specific myself as an artist.

By way of the recommendation that I might give to artists desirous to benefit from their sketchbooks, I believe initially, taking the strain out of performing. The sketchbook ought to be a spot for you because the artist, not essentially for the general public or to be proven as a testomony to your skill.

It may be a spot to hone sure abilities. And if we’re speaking about practicality, I believe utilizing it to establish your pursuits as an artist is a good method. What kind of topic do you get pleasure from drawing? How may you go about drawing that topic? These are some questions I ask myself after I’m utilizing my sketchbook.

Considering of the sketchbook as a spot to develop your personal visible language is one other helpful means of approaching it. Are there explicit motifs or symbols that might help your follow? Alongside these extra sensible concepts, I additionally encourage artists to have enjoyable of their sketchbooks.

One philosophy that helped me was shared by Japanese illustrator Katsuya Terada, referred to as Rakugaki, which suggests drawing one thing every single day, regardless of how small. For me, it speaks to the concept little drops make a mighty ocean – every sketch contributes to the sluggish enchancment of 1’s ability.

Supplies

Muji Recycled Pocket book

Uniball Jetstream Ballpoint Pen

Pentel Water Brushes in Medium, Broad, and High quality

Winsor & Newton Watercolour Pocket Field

Pentel Brush Pen

Koh-I-Noor Black Lead

Cretacolor Lead Holder

Pentel Signal Pen

About Richard Ayodeji Ikhide

Richard Ayodeji Ikhide is a London-based artist working primarily with large-scale watercolours and drawing. His follow explores concepts surrounding fable by the usage of fantastical, symbolic imagery – drawing inspiration from a wealthy pool of artefacts and histories.

Richard studied Textile Design at Central Saint Martins, specialising in Printed Textiles. He later accomplished The Drawing 12 months on the Royal Drawing College, London, to additional develop his follow inside a high quality artwork context.

Richard’s work has just lately been the topic of solo exhibitions at CPM Gallery, Baltimore, and Victoria Miro Initiatives, amongst others. He has additionally introduced in group exhibitions within the UK and internationally; together with Prospect and Refuge, Sim Smith, London; ASSEMBLE, V.O Curations, London; No Horizon, No Edge to Liquid, Zabludowicz Assortment, London; Bloomberg New Contemporaries, South London Gallery, London. His work has been acquired by the Royal Assortment Belief.

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