Actual notebooks.
Paper bound together in some fashion to, well, keep notes.
These days, my notebooks are used for various things, but there is a special reason why I keep one in my back pocket everyday...
Not too long ago I painted.
I would sporadically have a notebook with me. For sketching sessions, to-do lists, paint supply shopping lists—somewhat normal notebook things when it was needed. Sometimes a specific notebook was used for a "trip journal." I had notebooks, but never considered them essential.
About 3 years ago, while I was taking down my art display at a coffee shop, a woman approached me about my paintings. She asked me if they were mine.
She then asked for pen and paper...
Her main means of communicating are writing and sign language.
Thankfully, the coffee shop had some pen and paper that we could use. After communicating with her for a bit, she ended up buying one of my paintings on the spot.
After that, I made sure I had some sort of pen and paper with me at all times. I had some pocket notebooks—Moleskines to be specific—at the time and they started to occupy my pocket.
Before Field Notes, I used Moleskines
Two months later, the same woman attended my next art show's reception. It was my first time displaying any form of photography in a venue (along with my paintings in this case). I was honored that she came to another display.
Communicating with her that time was easier. Yes, it was essentially the same method as last time, but it just seemed comfortable. Possibly because I provided the pen and paper this time.
She ended up buying a photograph that night.
I'm glad I had a notebook that evening, and am very happy that I still have that notebook and every notebook thereafter to look back on.
My collection so far...
My last 4 sets of Field Notes.
Ever since then I keep a pocket notebook (currently Field Notes, but looking to try others) in my back pocket. For a daily journal, grocery list, thoughts, techniques, recipes, directions, doodles, trade-offs (more on that later), inspirations, and most importantly, a way to communicate. Whether it be to someone next to you or to your future self, it's important to write things down.
Actually write.
As archaic as it's starting to feel, it can be a great way to learn and progress.
A trip journal I took to San Francisco a few years ago.
The stickers are two shops that changed my life:
North End Skateshop & Art Primo
A small binder I had in grade school to write down assignments...the love started early.
A special Vans OTW Moleskine I won via Twitter.
All photographs were taken on an iPhone 4S with the VSCOcam app (all but the first used filters).
