The Post-it Philosophy
Finding artistic liberation where others see only office supplies.
The Weight of the Blank Page vs. The Freedom of the Post-it
“Ah, the sketchbook! That pristine block of white pages, asking for only one thing: to be filled by the artist’s overflowing imagination!”
That might be how some artists view their sketchbooks, especially freshly bought ones. The crisp paper emits a certain scent, and the urge to blacken the pages with ink is fierce. But for me... sometimes a beautiful sketchbook with premium paper simply paralyzes me.
Imposter syndrome creeps in. I suddenly don’t feel worthy of ruining such beautiful pages. It’s a constant battle, sacralizing an object that should simply be a tool at my service.
Over time, I’ve managed to secure some victories and get more comfortable. I tell myself: I’ve got this.
But relapses happen. When my doubts are louder than usual, I instinctively grab a tiny stack of Post-its. It’s the natural antidote I’ve found.
A Post-it brings zero pressure. It’s a tiny scrap of paper we usually use rather dismissively to scribble down a grocery list, only to toss it immediately after. But for drawing? It is incredibly liberating.
A Post-it has no expectations. I never have to answer to it. If a sketch fails, or if the curves of the figure don’t take the elegant direction I want, I just stop, tear off the sheet, and start over. You can’t easily have that same ruthless approach with a prestigious sketchbook.
Today, I wanted to share one of these moments with you through this video. Unrestricted, relaxed drawing, with no expectations and no strict end goal. What a relief! The tiny format is perfect for a quick, fast-paced execution between two tasks. It feels like a recess, a quick cup of tea you drink just to unwind.
Once the drawing is done, it doesn’t end up in the trash. I’ve put together a DIY sketchbook that I use as a scrapbooking base. I rescue the successful Post-it by gluing it into this little book, surrounded by stickers, textures, and other fragments.
One day, I’ll record a video flipping through those pages to share that specific DIY sketchbook with you.
A question for you
I would love to hear from you: how do you deal with the fear of the blank page? Do you have a secret trick to bypass the pressure of a beautiful sketchbook, or a specific tool that helps you let go? Let’s discuss it in the comments below!
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Finally, thank you sincerely for taking the time to read this and for your continued attention to my work. Sharing these behind-the-scenes moments with you is a true privilege.
Warmly,
Love the post-it + collage idea!