This was first presented as a panel at Animazement in Raleigh, NC May 24, 2018
Hello! I'm Eli and this is this is my approach to working in sketchbooks. This is designed for artists who have become stuck in their books and are seeking ideas. It's a fairly universal concept that many artists work in sketchbooks, yet I haven't seen much in the way of what to put in sketchbooks. If left to browsing social media, you might get the impression sketchbooks are only for clean polished illustrations, but that isn't the reality for most.
So who uses sketcbooks? Not just artists and designers, but sketchbooks provide a unique blank page separate from lined journals, or diaries, or ledgers. Sketchbooks are a place where you can make your own lines and problem solve tasks outside of purely writing. Whether that's designing an outfit, installing shelves in a room, or mapping out a travel plan. The simplest of doodles can help bring clarity to whatever you want to achieve. Personally, I've found great improvement in my organization and clarity through problem-solving in sketchbooks. Whether this is your first sketchbook or tenth, perhaps this workshop can provide some new approaches to working.
Start Small
If you've never drawn before, or maybe you took a decade break and getting back into the habit, a great way to start and feel accomplished is to start small. I like the Moleskine Cahiers Journals, they come in a pack of three in both 5x8" and 3.5x5.5" sizes. It's easy to fill up the smaller page size and shorter page count. It's a great way to build up confidence to tackle bigger books down the road. The smaller books also travel well and make for good note-taking books.
Make Your Book Home
Your sketchbooks aren't graded by quality. They should be a place to make notes, working through ideas, and experimenting. How do you take a fresh clean book and turn it into a place for your ideas to live and grow? Start by making it yours. Think of your new book as an empty room ready to be decorated. It's true what is important is the work you do inside but it certainly helps to foster a positive environment first.
- Sign your name, add contact info in case it's misplaced. Add the date you're starting the book.
- Paint the cover, add stickers, or paste in other memorabilia
- Fill your book with stuff that sparks joy
- Paint chips in colors you like, leaves you find in nature
- Lists for stuff you want to draw, ideas you have, etc
- Ask a friend to draw in your book or write you a note
Nothing in, nothing out
If you sit down with your book and have nowhere to start, start by playing some music, pulling up a video, podcast, or interview with someone you admire. Fill your book with a quote, lyrics, and ideas that inspire you from other sources. Start scrapbooking by printing out images. Personally, I also love to watch people drawing and that can inspire me to start working.
Work Daily
Straight up, this is something I don't do but shoot for the moon, and you may land among the stars. After you've signed your name, added some joy sparking stuff, making a goal to open your book daily and adding to it will be the fastest way build a strong sketchbook habit and fill up your book.
Embrace Happy Accidents
Many new artists worry about making making mistakes and ruining their books. This is a mindset issue, because sketchbooks are the place to make mistakes! That's how you'll improve. The faster you can fail, the faster you'll figure out what works. Nine times out of ten you you've never actually ruined your drawing or work anyway if you can get creative with solutions. Did you color outside the lines on a marker illustration? Use a blender marker to dilute the color. Did your lineart get to globby and thick? Use white out. Watercolor spill everywhere? Use more water then pick up the excess with paper towels. By embracing accidents, you'll learn a lot more about how to work with your medium of choice. It's much more valuable to know how to adjust when something goes unexpected, than it is to hope and wish and pray nothing ever goes wrong.
Show Your Work
Okay, so you've made your sketchbook a home, and made some drawings. You've even got some work you want to show, now what? I found sharing my sketchbook helpful in maintaining motivation. This can be on social media, in a group chat, or just sending your work to one other trusted friend. You never know who you'll inspire by sharing what you've made yourself!
⭐ DISCORD // Carolina Artist Alley⭐
I am not getting paid for this panel so I've written this out as a labor of love, but if this information has been helpful please consider supporting me with a coffee or two!