Art books and sketchbooks: Bring an improvisational spirit to your art making
In 2009, I took an improvisational comedy class.
I thought it might be a helpful life skill. Back then I was more reticent and self conscious. I was hoping I might pick up some nice ideas on how to be more confident about public speaking or thinking on my feet. The class didn’t help me be less awkward. And I certainly was not very funny.
But it did give me something useful. A way of thinking about the creative mindset that I still find extremely helpful.
The word improvisation comes from the Latin improvisus, meaning unforeseen, working with what you couldn’t have planned for. A good philosophy to bring into our art making: embracing the unplanned and responding to it, rather than resisting it. Accepting what is there and working with it.
The foundational rule of improvisational comedy is: “yes, and....”
When your scene partner makes an offer, basically says something, does something, introduces an idea, you accept it, and you build on it. You, “yes and…”
You don’t reject it. You don’t shut it down. You don’t criticise it. You are generous. You say ‘yes and...” and then you add something of your own.
The opposite of this is called blocking. Blocking is when you reject the offer. More like a “No, but..” response. You shut down the idea. Momentum diminishes. The collaborative energy dissipates. The scene dies. Nothing grows or develops.
These simple improvisation rules apply to the act of art making too.
Sketchbook pages made with acrylic paint
Drawn sketchbook pages
Most of us don’t say yes and… nearly enough. Instead, we say no, but. No, but that bit is wrong; no but that bit doesn’t look right; etc etc… The inner critic can be a chronic blocker. Criticising what is on the page. Shutting down ideas before the ideas have had the chance to become something good.
I try to bring a “yes and...” attitude to my art making, perhaps it may be helpful for you to use or think about this philosophy too.
Be generous with yourself. Simply: yes, that exists. And now I’ll respond to it. I’ll add something. I’ll follow it somewhere. I’ll see where I can push it or how I can move it forward.
It’s a different relationship with the process of making. You stay in conversation, you keep the scene going. You build something. A sketchbook is a brilliant place to be improvisational and to practice being more accepting of what is.
By bringing a “yes and...” spirit to your practice, you'll foster a more open and generative artistic process.
It is less critical and more fun….
Books shown in the video
Rex Ray, Author: Griff Williams, Chronicle Books 2020
Mixed media sketchbook pages
Pencil drawn sketchbook pages