Scanning an Old Sketchbook

I spent my evening scanning a grad school sketchbook - the one I used for cadaver sketches in the fall of 2000.

This is my favorite so far (below) - a section of the jejunum (small intestine) and some of its blood vessels. Look at that incredible architecture... to think I dissected that, laid it on the body just so, and sat my scrubs-clad booty on a tall stool, sketchbook perched on my knee, and drew this. With a pencil.

Back to the present - It was immediately obvious that, if I am struggling to create new stuff (I am... so badly), there’s a lot of value in surrounding myself with SOMETHING related to my work. At least I feel connected to it. The label “artist” started to feel appropriate and valid again.

And, on top of that, it gave me a bunch of complex feelings to mull over... starting with a realization that they are *beautiful* drawings. Like, there are “chef’s kiss” moments in some of these. The sensitivity to detail in them. *I* did that.

I have no memory of feeling any sort of this way at the time they were created.

So, that’s sent me down the path of contemplating what my two art schools/programs did for me, both good (there was a lot!) and nooooottttt so good (which I’ve been remiss to admit, until now).

You can see everything I’ve scanned here: http://www.meganlovestodraw.com/grad-school-sketchbooks