Earthling

Note: The below is an archived entry from Earthling, formerly EarthLink's official blog. The blog itself has been decommissioned and is no longer updated, and comments are trackbacks are no longer accepted.

For about a year now, one of my evening rituals has been strolling through sketchblogs. If you're an artist, an aspiring artist or the type of person that likes to lean over artists' shoulders and ask probing questions, I highly recommend mixing some sketchblogs in with your wordy techy reading.

A sketchblog is simply a blog focused on illustrations, paintings, sketches, cartoons or other two-dimensional art. In their purest form, sketchblogs are focused on artwork from one artist or a small group of artists. Some are very diary-like, reporting daily life in sketches or comics. Others are more free-form. In most cases, sketchblogs generally end up being at least indirectly autobiographical. You see who the artist is based on what he or she makes.

These days, I usually jump straight past an artist's online portfolio to his or her blog. A portfolio has a formal, best-foot-forward feeling, like a job interview. Flipping through a sketchblog is more like visiting the artist's studio. The reverse chronological format is perfect, because you can see how the artist is improving and experimenting over time.

Here's a round-up of excellent sketchblogs to get you started: