I tend not to wait for New Year to make resolutions but the period of calm between Christmas and the end of the year provides a perfect opportunity to reflect and make decisions. Some of those decisions are appropriate to share, others not. This one is public. I've decided to keep a sketch book this year and to investigate both how it may help me and also how it may help those with whom I work on workshops. The sketchbook is a staple of Arts courses and I was talking to an artist in North Berwick on Christmas day who despite the passing of over 30 years still has all his sketchbooks dating back to A-level. The use of a sketchbook as an aid to reflection is well documented as is it's value in recording development over time. The final influence came from Karl Mortimer who wrote an excellent article on the use of a sketchbook in photography. I browsed a facsimile of a sketchbook belonging to Gauguin and was reassured that they do not have to be things of beauty in themselves. Mine will be private, completely so. I don't believe I could think as honestly if I knew it might be seen by others. That view may change of course.