Pat Scheurich -- a Sketchbook Conversation

This week's Sketchbook Conversation is with Pat Scheurich. I'll let Pat take it from here, sharing her story in her own words:

Hi, my name is Pat Scheurich and I am an artist, illustrator and designer. I’ve been in the field for many years, have a BFA and taken many art classes as well. Most of my work incorporates much of what I’ve learned over time and I can achieve great backgrounds full of texture and imagery. I like looking through layers of a painting to see the history, so to speak. I’ve been using sketchbooks since I was 12 years old because I love drawing!

Here are some pictures of my studio with all the shelves full of supplies and some tables set up to paint and sketch.

I’m lucky enough to have a very nice space that I am in most of the day.

My sketchbooks are often journals as well, and I document the layers and steps I take to achieve certain effects. Still, no two paintings are the same, which is the beauty of them! The world around me is motivation to keep drawing. There are always so many interesting things around me every day. I am a collector of things and images are part of my collections.

I sketch lots of subjects that I want to put into paintings whether from life or a photo. That way, I have everything easily accessible when I’m ready to paint. Here is one of my large sketchbooks with flowers I later used in a painting which I show a detail here.

Here is another sketch page which later was a reference for a painting.

I use any kind of pencil, from 2H, 3H, HB, 2B and so on. I like to be able to erase, so I don’t use charcoal pencils, unless I want the lines to show up in the paintings, which I often do. I love using acrylic paint and Inktense pencils as well. My favorite is sketching on canvases that later turn into finished paintings to hang or sell!

I do lots of doodling in my sketchbooks and even take notes during workshops I attend, complete with all the instructors’ inspirational words!

Most of works' outcome is determined by previous steps I take like; pouring, collaging, dripping and drawing, so it’s hard to sketch a finished painting.

My advice is to sketch every day. Try to work on objects, people, doodles and any design ideas you have. They can start out very simply and increase in complexity as you feel more confident. You don’t have to show it to anyone.


Thank you, Pat for sharing your sketchbook story with us today.

Dear readers, you can view more of Pat's work on her website: www.patscheurich.com She also posts regularly on Instagram as @pat_scheurich_designs


Missed the other Sketchbook Conversations posts? You can catch up here. And for more inspiration, don't miss out on my Artist Interviews.

*Photos in this post © Pat Scheurich. Used with permission.