THE VALIDITY OF ONLINE SKETCHBOOKS... A question was asked — on a sketch, no less — by Diurnal contributor, Michael Sieben. Read it here. These are the responses : "It's hard for me to comment on this subject because I see drawing as one of the most important things an artist creates. Drawings hold so much potential and insight to how the artist works and thinks. They can be used as notation to a future larger work or they can stand alone as a completed idea. Drawings are the birth place of all things creative and there are no rules that control how and where they can or should be used. I myself have created drawings just to post on Bend Press cause truth be know, I like to show off from time to time and that's not a bad thing. I show off every time I show people my work regardless if it's a friend leafing through a recent sketchbook over a mint tea with honey or showing my work in a gallery or on a website. I have also posted work from sketchbooks that are years old. Images that were created just 'cause I had to get them out of my head and onto paper. Are those drawings more honest? I don't think so. It's not about why the drawing was done or how the drawing was made, the most important thing is that is was made and that you as the viewer get to see it. At that time you can dismiss it or get a kickout of it. You shouldn't try to shut down people before they even get started. Let them create it and then decide if it was worth it. Spontaneity doesn't make or break a drawing. It's about presenting an idea be it done it 5 seconds or 5 hours. Nobody has all the answers and nobody can make the rules." —Andrew Pommier "The 'end viewer' in mind when drawing is a vague concept. Who does 'the internet' resemble? It is everyone and no one. I believe it is unavoidable to create things from a personal level even if your intentions before you start are to post it. I don't buy into the 'is it pure/not pure?' argument strictly based on the reason of why it was conceived. I look at the art and myself and if it moves me it works. If it doesn't, eh, no big deal. There's always going to be more." —Mark Lewman "Is it me or am I the only one responding to these topics? Hopefully all the art people do are initially for themselves. There is also a personal experience to be had by sharing your work with the public. A perfect example is the Diurnal Drawings or the Fecal Face user galleries. I think the internet gets crumbed on too much. It's opened this vast network of talent and friendships. If it wasn't for the internet I would of probably never met you, Michael Sieben or all the other pencil pusher art types I've met over the years. I agree it might of watered down certain things but not anymore than corporate America cashing in off skateboarding, street culture and art. It all comes down to the individuals experience. Do it cause you want to do it and if you feel your work is suffering cause you lost this sense of self then unplug the computer grab a brew and start doodling." —Craig Metzger, of Engine System I think the author of this drawing is trying to say something about the duality of man ... where the Asian head represents our conscious selves or reality, and the plant like creatures with crazy faces represent our un conscious or our dreams ... and since the Asian head has no body and seems to be floating it means he's on LSD and the creatures he sees are hallucinations... and all the random clamor in the background represents all the small details in life and how we are all just insignificant specks of dust compared to the big picture.... or you know maybe its just a cool picture and we shouldn't write an analytical essay on it... How's this for a nickname —El Flamingo Ahhh, Mr. Flamingo, I think you are referring to the wrong drawing. Click here for the actual drawing/words being discussed. —Andy "Here is page from my sketchbook... mistakes and all... this should satisfy Sieben." —Rik Catlow  back