It is officially the new year, and many of us may be in the midst of setting personal and professional goals for 2016. Your sketchbook is the perfect place to brainstorm how you want to grow this year and can help you map it out. Take some time this week and next to create a visual map of your goals: 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, and the next 30 days to help you break it down into manageable pieces. You might also want to list your 2015 accomplishments! How to create a simple mind map.

SKETCHBOOK COLLECTIVE SCHEDULE – WINTER 2016

Prompts will be posted to the blog and Facebook page every Wednesday. Meetups are every other Sunday. Bring your own supplies and sketchbook (if you have one),  otherwise we do have sketchbooks available. These meetups are drop-in, no skill necessary and all are welcome! They are mostly self-led, as each of us works in different ways, but there will be some direction if wanted, and there are always opportunities for feedback.

Sunday, January 10, 10:00 Vero Café
Sunday, January 24, 10:00 Espresso Roma
Sunday, February 7, 11:00 Café Marche (JSMA)
Sunday, February 21, 11:00 Museum of Natural & Cultural History
Sunday, March 6, 11:00 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Sunday, March 20, 10:00 Brail’s Espresso

We research and explore every day, especially as students. Is there a specific idea, problem, or theme that you have been thinking about often? What things have come up in your classes or activities that have really provoked your interest? What thoughts have continually been on your mind? Why has this subject or idea caught your attention? Start with a word map to explore the area of interest. What connections can you make? Create a visualization about the idea or subject. This might even help you with a research project!

The JSMAC Sketchbook Collective encourages University of Oregon students of all interests and skill levels to utilize sketchbooks for professional development, personal growth, artistic process and creativity, as well as a tool for stress reduction and mental health. Come to our second meetup this Friday, May 15th at 3:00 (after the AAD graduate research presentations) in the JSMA Student Lounge.

This week’s sketchbook prompt: Artist Rick Bartow often uses animal imagery in his work. Create a visual or written representation in your sketchbook or journal in response to an animal you identify with.