This is one of my self-made concertina sketchbooks.
Sketchbooks are great because you‘re not confined to just drawing. You can use it as a place to explore mediums, study different techniques, create color palettes, design pattern, and keep a collection of visuals that inspire you.
Using a variety of mediums in a sketchbook also helps to grow creativity.
When I started using sketchbooks, I found those clean, blank pages completely intimidating. But I really wanted to give it a try so I started with tiny little booklets. And to overcome mental blocks I now think of a sketchbook more as a „workbook“. A place to jot things down, keep doodles, scribbles, found papers as well as a place to explore color and mark making.
Another reason that kept me from creating in sketchbooks over years was “the ugly page”. One ugly page and I would give up. So obviously I didn’t really know how to start these pages or what I wanted them to look like.
But then one of the things that I learned was that one ugly page might be discouraging, it might be disappointing. But the more pages you add, the more times you work in your sketchbook you realize this page is only one of many other pages. And it don‘t really matter.
I experimented with different book formats and I also made my own books to find out what I like to work with.
The lovely thing about a sketchbook is it’s just for you. Nobody else has to see it if you don’t want them to.
Looking for ideas and inspiration for your own sketchbook?
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