Introducing the Studio Journal
An Artist’s Blog
Creating art is, for me, a daily necessity. It is not a choice or a pastime, but a discipline I rely on to make sense of the world. This site and its accompanying journal are an extension of that practice—a place to document progress, record observations, and reflect on the process of making.
My name is Philip Alexander. I am a multidisciplinary artist working in charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, pastel, clay, and wood. My work is informed by close study of the natural world and the human form. I am drawn to the structures of leaves and bones, the movement of light through trees, the subtle shifts in posture that reveal character. My pieces often explore these subjects through botanical illustration, figure drawing, sculpture, and woodworking.
This journal will serve as a record of ongoing work. It will include works in progress, completed pieces, notes from museum visits, and profiles of artists who have shaped my perspective. It will not follow a fixed schedule, but will be updated consistently over time, in keeping with the steady rhythm of my studio practice.
Purpose of the Journal
There’s no shortage of ways to share artwork online. Social media, email newsletters, gallery sites—they each serve a purpose. But they rarely leave much room for thoughtfulness or depth. The pace is fast. The format is limited. And nuance often gets lost in the scroll.
Here, I will have space to write about the process behind each piece, the challenges encountered, and the choices made. I will share insights that cannot be captured in a brief caption or a single image.
This journal is not a place for tutorials or promotional material. It is meant for those who value the discipline of drawing, the repetition of study, and the commitment to refining one’s craft over time. It is for readers interested in understanding how an artist thinks, works, and develops.
What to Expect
The Studio Journal will include:
Works in Progress – Documentation of early stages, sketches, material experiments, and revisions.
Finished Works – Explanations of intent, technique, and the development of individual pieces.
Museum and Gallery Reviews – Reflections on exhibitions that inform my practice or challenge my approach.
Artist Profiles – Brief studies of artists, past and present, whose work has influenced my own.
Entries will vary in length and format, but each will be grounded in a commitment to careful observation and a respect for the craft of making.
I won’t publish on a strict schedule, but my goal is consistency over time. My own creative rhythm is daily, though not always predictable, and I hope the blog reflects that steady undercurrent.
You won’t find tutorials here, and this won’t be a platform for self-promotion. I’m not interested in content for content’s sake. Instead, my hope is to create something useful—to share ideas and insights that might resonate with fellow artists, collectors, or anyone interested in the quiet act of making.
On Repetition and Daily Practice
Much of my work is built on repetition. I draw the same subject many times, examining variations in line, form, and proportion. I return to familiar landscapes or figures to study what has changed, what remains, and what new understanding can be gained. This daily engagement with subject and material is what sustains my practice. It is also what I hope to convey through this journal: that art is not the product of sudden inspiration alone, but of persistent, attentive effort.
Moving Forward
This first entry serves as an introduction to the journal and to the intentions behind it. Future posts will address specific works, visits to museums, and observations drawn from the studio. Over time, the journal will become an archive of process and progress—a record of how work evolves through attention and repetition.
For those who are interested in the discipline of art-making and the study of form, I invite you to read along. My hope is that these entries will offer insight into the work itself, and perhaps encourage a slower, more deliberate engagement with the world around us.
