53: Thoughts on the Diversity of Diaries and Recent Drawings
And a donation of books to victims of the LA fires
If writing is a form of drawing, then every diary can be seen as a sketchbook. And if all artwork represents a moment in time captured by the artist’s hand, then every sketchbook is, in essence, a diary. This connection between writing and drawing reveals why there is no single right way to keep a visual diary. It’s something I emphasize every time I teach—I’m not here to show students how to draw like me; my way is just one of many.
Recently, this idea became even more personal as I accompanied my son on visits to potential colleges and universities. He’s been strongly encouraged by the schools he wants to attend to keep a sketchbook to show process, ideas and exploration, yet ironically, even with me as his mom, he doesn’t keep one himself. Coaching him on what this practice could mean—beyond what he’s observed me doing his entire life—has been a challenge. He’s resistant, which is understandable. I’ve shown him examples of how sketchbooks can take countless forms and how his process doesn’t have to mirror mine. Still, I’ve come to realize that the push to embrace this practice has to come from within him, not from me.
My fascination with illustrated diaries extends beyond my own work and teaching. When I visit galleries and museums, I find myself drawn to the sketchbooks and preliminary works of artists as much as, if not more than, their finished pieces. There is something deeply inspiring in seeing scribbles, notes, and raw thoughts on paper—especially when accompanied by the artist’s own handwriting. I have a particular love for old handwriting, and the unfinished quality of sketches often feels more intimate and revealing than a polished final piece. A recent visit to the Royal Academy of Art in London reminded me of this as I admired a tiny book of Leonardo da Vinci’s filled with his intricate sketches and thoughts.
Despite my experience, I often find myself unsure of how I want my own sketchbooks to look and feel. As a result, each spread ends up wildly different from the next. Perhaps this is why my sketchbooks offer a wide variety of styles—none of them perfectly executed but each capturing a different facet of my artistic journey. This diversity allows me to share examples that, I hope, can inspire people of all skill levels, tastes, and goals to embrace their own way of visual storytelling.
In 2018, I was invited to speak on a panel at the British Library alongside writer and humorist David Sedaris and Helen Fielding, author of the Bridget Jones series. It was an experience I will never forget. Not only was I honored to be in such talented company, but I loved the deep dive into what a diary can mean and look like. From transforming personal diaries into novels, as Fielding has (which then became a whole cultural phenomenon), to using small personal tidbits to inspire jokes and creative stories, like Sedaris does, each of us shared how diaries shape our creative process. Unfortunately, I can’t share images from the evening because Sedaris has a strict no-photography rule, but here are links to the other artists I spoke on the panel with and shared my work alongside: Kev F. Sutherland (My 1970s Diary) and Patti Keane. One of my favorite David Sedaris books that many people don’t know about is David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual Compendium.
Ultimately, illustrated diaries are as unique as the individuals who create them. Whether they are filled with precise sketches, messy scribbles, or detailed notes, they serve as a reflection of personal experiences and perspectives. There is no right or wrong way—only the deeply personal act of capturing life on paper. Here is another nice piece I found on the topic.
On that note, here are some of my recent pages:
My super talented friend,
, hosted a drawing class on Zoom all about Colette, and the page above is what I created during the session.
This Friday I will be joining
for a drawing session all about drawing people. Below is a post with some of my quick tips and thoughts on the topic. If you want to join us, the link and information is also in the post below!
And looking ahead to the next Draw Your World meetup—we’re lucky to have my friend
join us. Paid tier subscribers, stay tuned for the invite link soon.A Book Donation Sent to LA Fire Victims
I am thrilled to be able to donate two big boxes of my books to LA fire survivors. I had been wondering what I could do to help, and then a friend from high school, out of the blue, texted me to tell me he sent a friend who lost everything in their home a copy of Draw Your Day. I realized that my methods can really help people process hard times by recording their thoughts and experiences through drawing.
Dear Donors,
I can’t tell you how much it means to me, a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, that you’ve contributed to Samantha Dion Baker’s book drive for our displaced community. It was so kind of her to arrange this and so generous of you to help out. Books are healing. Art is healing. And I know Sam’s books will help people of all ages through a really difficult time.
I wanted to let you know where the books are going. I have been asking book lovers in Los Angeles to fill out a questionnaire if they’ve been displaced by the L.A. Fires and are separated from their books. Books will go to people who have filled out the form, specifically asking for art books or books to calm their minds. For example, one participant shared that she’s an elementary school art teacher and her entire school burned down. Any leftover books will be split evenly between victims of the Palisades fires and victims of the Eaton fires through book drives happening at local, independent bookstores.
Thank you again so much for your generosity and thoughtfulness and especially to Sam for organizing this.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Caloyeras
If there is a need for more books to be sent, I will let everyone know so that we can do another round of donations!
Draw & Paint Brooklyn with Samantha Dion Baker and Ohn Mar Win
A few spots left!
I am so excited to share that my friend and super talented artist Ohn Mar Win is coming back to Brooklyn to join me in teaching two full-day workshops this coming May! Ohn Mar came to the US in 2022 and we hosted similar events, and they were a huge success.
Date and time:
You can choose from either Thursday, May 8th, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM OR Friday, May 9th, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location:
Creatively Wild Art Studios in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY—98 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Join me and Ohn Mar in the heart of DUMBO, Brooklyn, for a day of immersive sketching and painting. This workshop is perfect for artists of all levels who want to capture the charm and character of urban landscapes in their sketchbooks.
We’ll explore a range of subject matter, from sweeping cityscapes and cobblestone streets to iconic street signs and the quintessential view of the Empire State Building framed by the Manhattan Bridge’s arches. You’ll also learn how to incorporate storytelling into your sketches, focusing on capturing small, meaningful urban moments that bring your artwork to life.
We suggest booking as soon as possible to ensure you have a spot.
Here’s what we’ll dive into:
Sweeping cityscapes: The Manhattan Bridge, cobblestone streets, and the iconic Empire State Building framed perfectly.
Storytelling through art: Learn to capture those small, meaningful urban moments that make your sketches truly come alive.
Techniques: Foundational skills like perspective, simplifying shapes, adding texture, color, and finishing touches to tell a cohesive story on your page.
We can’t wait to meet you!
Ambassador and Affiliate Codes
If you’d like to try out Blackwing pencils or just order some new items, please shop using this unique link: blackwing602.com/sdionbaker. When you purchase using my link, there’s no additional cost to you, and I earn a small commission. I appreciate your support!
Most of my Skillshare classes feature my favorite Caran d’Ache art supplies. My relationship with the US distributor, Creative Art Materials, started back when I wrote Draw Your Day in 2018, and they saw how heavily I featured their art tools—many that I have been using since I was in grade school. Click here to find some my favorites on the Orange Art website.
All Canvas lights and accessories are 10% off with my discount code: SDB10.
I can't thank you enough for being so generous with your book donations! They will all go to great homes with people who can start the healing process through art! Thank you thank you thank you! And thank you so much to everyone who contributed!
I always enjoy your posts! 😀 Also, I just read Draw Your Day and enjoyed it so much I read it twice in a row and then recommended it on my blog last week (https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/p/paulas-positivity-packed-post-part ). It's one of the best art books I've read in a long time! 👍