A Peek Into My Sketchbook: Rodeo Studies from Abilene, Kansas

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a Friday night at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas. Rodeos have always been a part of my life, but these days I see them with both a spectator’s excitement and an artist’s eye. Instead of just snapping photos, I came home and filled a few sketchbook pages with quick studies. None of them are polished, but that’s kinda the point. My sketchbook is where the raw ideas land. These rough drawings help me figure out what I want to paint.

sketch of steer wrestling

Sketch of horse used for bareback bronc riding and young child on a sheep for the mutton busting event.

Flipping back through these pages, I can already tell which studies might turn into bigger pieces down the line, and which ones will just live quietly in the sketchbook. Both are valuable sometimes a page is just practice, and sometimes it’s the spark for a whole painting. Either way, sketching after events like the Abilene rodeo helps me stay connected to the Western life I paint. I know I’ve talked about it before but sketchbooks are not supposed to be pretty or perfect.

Do you keep a sketchbook or journal for your own work or hobbies? I’d love to hear how you use yours. And if you enjoyed this peek into mine let me know maybe I’ll share more. Also I fixed the comments… took me long enough to figure that on out.

MERC