Fine Art Tutorials

40+ Sketchbook Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

Are you looking for sketchbook ideas to help jump start your creativity? Get inspired to draw and paint with these 40+ fun sketchbook ideas. Find tutorials for each idea so you can create the perfect sketchbook spread, whether you are a beginner or professional artist. 

From nature sketches to figure drawings, there is something for everyone in this list. Get started on your next masterpiece today!

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Sketchbook ideas for complete beginners

For complete beginners, a sketchbook is a place to doodle, improve and express yourself without the pressure of creating a polished looking painting or drawing.

If you don’t know how to get started with a sketchbook, try starting with some simple objects. Find some fruit, or a plant and try drawing what you see in front of you, focussing on the broad shapes and forms.

A good tip is to use some pages for free form expression, some pages for drawing exercises to help you improve and some pages to plan compositions and create studies for larger works you plan to complete.

Drawing sketchbook ideas

Pencil drawing is the easiest medium to get started with. All you need is a pencil, eraser, sharpener and a sketchbook and you’re ready to go!

There’s no end to the possibilities of sketchbook ideas when using pencil as a drawing medium. Here are just a few ideas to get you going:

Draw a portrait with charcoal

Portrait drawing goes hand in hand with charcoal. This is because it’s a blendable medium that can appear soft and subtle, or you can apply pressure to achieve dark shadow values. Charcoal can get quite dusty and potentially transfer onto other pages, so make sure to get some fixative to preserve your drawings . If you’re interested in improving your skills at charcoal drawing , check out our guide!

Draw a charcoal landscape

Drawing a charcoal landscape is a great sketchbook idea, whether you find your references on the field or from photos in the studio. This artist uses charcoal pencils and a tortillion to blend. The great thing about charcoal is the deep values that artists can achieve, without the pencil marks being distorted by a sheen, unlike graphite pencils.

Use brush charcoal

One way of creating incredibly smooth looking blends with charcoal is to get some charcoal powder and brush it on the paper. This technique is especially useful for portrait drawing. To emphasise the shadows, get a charcoal pencil and draw them in. For the lightest highlights, get a small eraser, like the Tombow Mono Zero or a kneadable gum eraser to reveal the brightest areas. 

Draw a tree

If you want to improve your landscape sketching skills, you could practice drawing individual elements like trees or plants individually first. In this video learn how to draw three different trees, including fir trees with graphite pencil.

Draw a rose

A beautiful and easy sketchbook idea, is to fill the page with a rose drawing. Roses are delicate and complex, but also have a lot of symmetry which makes them ideal for beginners. Follow this tutorial to create your own rose sketch.

Start by drawing a simple oval shape in the center of your page. Then draw the petals curling outwards, gradually getting bigger further away from the centre. Shade the inner corners of the petals, where petals above are blocking the light and casting a shadow to give the drawing depth and realism.

Draw a cityscape

Cityscapes are an incredibly fun sketchbook idea, however they are challenging. Use your perspective drawing skills to achieve the correct proportions in the buildings. Choose any city you like, whether that’s a street scene in New York, or your favourite building in London. To draw buildings, you may need some additional tools to help with geometry, like a ruler. 

In this tutorial Alphonso Dunn shows artists how to draw a panoramic city skyline, using ink pen and the hatching technique to create the impression of light and shade. Use an ink pen, like a pigment liner or a fountain pen to create the same effect.

Architectural sketchbook ideas

Teoh Yi Chie creates a wonderful sketch of the Basilica of Superga with a fountain pen and washes of watercolour. He shows artists how to observe the reference and accurately draw angles of the building, to achieve a realistic perspective.

Create a realistic sketchbook drawing with coloured pencils

Oil and wax pencils such as Polychromos and Prismacolors are excellent for creating detailed drawings. They are highly pigmented, layer wonderfully and artists can create clean colour mixes. This is why this particular drawing medium lends itself to realism. If you’re new to realistic drawing, start by drawing a relatively easy subject, such as a leaf. 

One of the most challenging sketchbook ideas is to create a realistic piece. Realistic drawings take time and work, but the results are worth it. If you want to create an ultra polished looking sketchbook that you will keep on a bookshelf for years to come, you can justify spending more time on each of the drawings. Of course, if you really like a drawing you make, you can always remove it from the sketchbook, or scan and print it out to hang on the wall.

Create a pineapple drawing

Create a drawing of a pineapple ! Pineapples have an interesting form, with long leaves and small diamond shaped fruitlets, so they make excellent subjects for practising your drawing skills. For this sketchbook idea, I used a Strathmore Toned Tan book , which has a velvety smooth soft cover and thick pages. The toned paper provides a wonderful base to draw on, it speeds up the drawing process as the mid tone values are already established on the paper. I used a burnt umber Polychromos pencil for the shadows and a white Polychromos pencil for the highlights.

Sketching from photographs

This tutorial from Draw Awesome and Art Tutor aims to help artists simplify a reference by playing down the amount of detail. This is an approach that can save heaps of time whilst drawing. 

When it comes to sketching from photographs, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is that you should always use a reference photograph that is high quality and has good lighting. This will help you avoid any frustration later on when trying to recreate the image.

Another important tip is to start with the big shapes and work your way down to the smaller details. This will help you create a more accurate sketch and avoid getting bogged down in the small stuff.

And finally, don’t be afraid to experiment! Try different mediums, paper types and techniques until you find something that you love.

Nature sketching

If you love hiking and being outdoors, why not keep a nature journal. Track the plants and animals you see year round, with quick sketches. This is a great way to feel in touch with your surroundings. You can label the flora and fauna you see too! One art supply that is great for travelling with is watercolour markers . The markers pack away small in a case, but you can wet the marks with a brush to create wonderful watercolour effects when you’re on the go, without cleanup or mess.

Create a wildlife drawing with coloured pencils

Because coloured pencils layer so beautifully, they are the perfect medium for creating wildlife drawings. Draw an photo of an animal you find online, draw your pet, a bird, or you could even take a trip to the zoo and draw an animal there. 

Drawing fur is tricky, so watch how Amie Howard Art layers red, orange and brown tones with short pencil marks to create the impression of squirrel fur. 

Fill your sketchbook with gouache paintings

Gouache is a wonderful medium for sketchbook work. It behaves in the same way as watercolour paint, but is is more pigmented and opaque. This means that you can layer paint a bit like acrylic, leaving some of the highlights until last. The benefit of using it for sketchbook work is that it is fast drying and easy to clean. Here are some fun sketchbook ideas to try with gouache paints:

Create a gouache mountain painting

I created this gouache landscape painting from a reference picture I had taken in New Zealand around Queenstown. The Strathmore Visual Journal made for a great cold pressed sketchbook, as the paper is thick and doesn’t buckle under washes. I also used the Introductory set of Winsor & Newton gouache colours .

gouache landscape painting

I started by blocking in the midtones, then working in the shadows and highlights, whilst also building texture of the plants and grasses with the dry brush technique.

Paint a series of tonal portraits

Paint a series of quick portraits and try to use a limited palette for each. Paint in whatever style you like. Use the gouache paints with water to create transparent looking washes, for soft looking gradations in skin tone. Use titanium white for opaque highlights to layer on at the end. 

Paint flowers in your garden

Get outside to your garden, to a park, or you could even buy a bunch of flowers to paint a still life. 

Watch how James Gurney blocks in the broad shapes and tones with gouache, then refines details. Colours that work well for painting bright flower tones include cadmium yellow, cadmium red and magenta or rose red. Mix your green shades from blues and yellows, or buy viridian and sap green tubes. 

Paint a mountain lake reflection

Follow this tutorial to create a mountain lake reflection painting. I start with washes of colour, then build up details, shadows and opaque highlights. To create the texture in the trees and the clouds, I use the dry brush technique. This is a pretty simple technique, where the artist loads their brush with colour, then removes excess moisture on a paper towel. The dry brush will pick up the texture of the paper, creating organic and broken looking brush strokes. For optimum results, if you want to try using this technique, get cold pressed or rough textured sketchbook. 

Paint nature scenes

Paint along with YouTuber Dadozilla and paint some small, cosy nature scenes. If you’re a beginner gouache painter, starting by working on a smaller scale can be really beneficial. This is because you’ll complete the paintings faster and therefore get more practice at painting a variety of scenes. For more gouache painting ideas , check out our guide.

Create a series of illustrations in your sketchbook

Make a series of small illustrations, whether that’s character designs, typographic sketches or other types of graphics. Get creative, drawing a mixture of wildlife, portraits, or sketches entirely from imagination. You could also sketch some fun, bright objects, like a pair of red roller skates or packaging of your favourite sweets. Sometimes with illustrations, the more obscure the sketchbook idea the better. It can help to think of themes, for example, draw a series of haunted houses, or a series of characterful cats.

Try a sketchbook drawing challenge

A great sketchbook idea, if you’ve got a bit of creative block, is to join a drawing or art challenge. You can find drawing challenges online, for example on Instagram by following hashtags. Challenges like these will give you daily prompts, however, if you want to start a daily sketching practice, you can make your own prompts list too!

100 heads in 10 days

Draw 10 heads per day for 10 days. Use whatever medium you like, for example, charcoal, graphite, oil pencils or even marker. You can be as detailed with these head drawings as you like and draw them in whatever style you like. Whether that’s a cartoony style, or more realistic. 

Inktober is one of the most popular drawing challenges, that artists take part in every year in the month of October. It’s super easy to take part, head over to the Inktober website and look at the drawing prompts for each day of the month. Then draw your own interpretation of the prompt. The challenge was set up to encourage artists to improve their skills and start regular drawing habits. However, if daily drawing is too much for you, you could try completing a drawing every other day, or even one per week. Of course, you can use any medium you like, it doesn’t have to be ink pen. Some oil painters take part in Oil-tober, which is a similar daily art making challenge, but with oil paints. Track your progress through the month in your sketchbook and share your results on social media if you feel like it!

Plein air sketchbook ideas

Painting and drawing en plein air is a great way to get inspired and motivated to create. It can be challenging at first, but the results are so worth it.

Here are some tips for painting en plein air:

  •  Choose a subject that is simple and not too busy. A landscape or cityscape with few buildings or people is a good choice.
  •  Find a spot where you can set up your easel and have a good view of your subject.
  •  Start by sketching out the scene with light pencil strokes.
  •  Once you have the basic composition down, start painting in the sky first.
  •  Work on the middle ground next and then the foreground.
  •  Add in any final details and highlights last.

By following these tips, you will be well on your way to creating beautiful en plein air sketchbook paintings. So grab your drawing supplies and head outdoors!

Watercolour sketchbook ideas

Watercolour is a beautiful medium to use in your sketchbook. It can be challenging, but the results are so worth it. Here are some watercolour sketchbook ideas to get you started:

Paint a seascape

Seascapes are mesmerizing and peaceful, making them perfect for relaxing and de-stressing. Paint this moody deep blue seascape, using multiples washes and the layering technique. If you want a clean line around your paper, use some masking tape.

Ink and watercolour painting

This is a fun and easy painting technique that produces stunning results. To create an ink and watercolour painting, start by painting your background with watercolour. Once the background is dry, add in some ink details. You can use a pen, like a fountain pen or a pigment liner. This technique is great for drawing buildings, cityscapes and other features that suit being outlined.

Watercolour pencil drawing

This is a great way to add some colour to your sketches. To create a watercolour pencil drawing , start by sketching out the scene with light pencil strokes. Once you have the basic composition down, you can start colouring in the main areas where you want to create washes. Activate the pencil with water. Then for the final details, you can choose to draw over the painting with dry watercolour pencil.

Acrylic painting sketchbook ideas

Acrylic paints are a versatile and fun medium to use in your sketchbook. They can be used for a variety of effects, from bold and bright to soft and subtle. Here are some acrylic painting sketchbook ideas to get you started:

Paint an abstract acrylic piece

Abstract paintings are a great way to experiment with colour and texture . Acrylics dry fast and are water resistant when dry, so layers will not reactivate as they do with watercolour and gouache.

abstract acrylic sketchbook ideas

To paint an abstract acrylic piece, you could first choose a colour scheme . Abstract pieces can look quite effective with limited colour palettes. Experiment with dripping, flicking and scraping the paint. Check out our acrylic painting techniques guide for some alternative ideas.

Paint a relaxing cloudscape

Paint a relaxing cloudscape with acrylics. Acrylic paint is fast drying, so it can be tricky to blend unless you use a medium to slow the drying time. Use this open working medium to increase the working time of the paint. Use a clean soft synthetic brush to blend cloud textures. 

Paint the forest with acrylics

Forests are complex subjects with lots of leaves, trees and foliage details. Approach a complex painting like this by blocking in the broad shapes and colours. Then gradually work in the details and highlights. You don’t need an extra small brush for the leaves, work with a medium square brush to avoid focussing on details too heavily. 

Pen and ink sketchbook ideas

When drawing with marker pen and ink, make sure to get a thick sketchbook that pen won’t bleed through. Smooth paper works best with pens as it allows artists to create fine details and delicate line work.

Create a portrait drawing with copic marker

Create a portrait with copic marker , or Winsor & Newton’s Pro markers . Colours blend beautifully into one another and are best layered from light to dark, similar to watercolour. If you want to create small highlight details you could use a white gel pen. 

Urban sketching with pen and ink

Watch this tutorial to learn how to create accurate urban sketches. Discover fundamental skills like how to compose the drawing, to frame buildings to create areas of interest.

Draw from imagination in your sketchbook

One of the most rewarding things you can do in your sketchbook is to draw from your imagination. This could be any kind of fantasy scene, from a series of characters in a book that you’ve read or some characters that you’ve made up.

If you get stuck, try looking at some reference images to help you get started. Once you have the basic idea down, let your imagination run wild and see where it takes you!

Keep a travel sketchbook

travel sketchbook ideas

If you get the opportunity to travel, take a sketchbook with you! Drawing in a sketchbook in a new location is a great way to make you feel grounded and in touch with new surroundings. It can also attune your artists’ eye and make you look out for interesting scenes.

Pack a sketchbook and some gouache paints while you’re out touring a new city, find somewhere comfortable to sit with your sketchbook and draw or paint scenes you find inspiring. If you want some tips and ideas about how to keep a travel sketchbook , check out our guide.

Create a double page spread

When creating a double page spread, the format of your sketchbook and the binding will affect how your sketchbook page looks. For example, landscape format sketchbooks are great for panoramic scenes. In a spiral bound sketchbook, the wire separates each page. Make sure to get a thread bound book so that the pages sit perfectly next to each other.

Also, think about the composition of the piece. When creating a double page spread, you will want to make sure that the composition of each individual page works well with the other. This means that you should avoid making one page significantly busier than the other, for instance.

Once you have considered all of these factors, you are ready to start creating your double page spread! There are endless sketchbook ideas for double page spreads, including vast cityscapes, imaginary scenes and more!

Warm-ups, drawing and painting exercises

One of the benefits of having a sketchbook is that you can use it to do warm-ups, painting and drawing exercises .

Warm-ups are a great way to get your creative juices flowing and help you to avoid artist’s block.

These exercises are designed to help you improve your skills and techniques, and can be anything from life drawing to trying out different mediums.

There are many different types of warm-up exercises you can do, but some simple ones include:

Speed drawing

Drawing a series of quick sketches of random objects, people or scenes is a great way to get your hand moving and help you to loosen up.

This exercise is also a good way to warm up before starting a more detailed drawing or painting.

To do a speed drawing, set a timer for one minute and then draw whatever comes into your mind.

You can also try two-minute or five-minute drawings if you want to challenge yourself to create more detail in a short space of time.

Once you have completed a series of quick sketches, take some time to review them and see if there are any patterns or themes that emerge.

You can also use these sketches as inspiration for future drawings or paintings.

Gesture drawing

sketchbook spread ideas

Doing some gesture drawings is a good way to improve your figure drawing skills.

To do a gesture drawing, start by finding a subject. This can be anything from a photo in a magazine to a live person or animal.

Don’t worry about getting every detail right, just focus on capturing the overall gesture and motion of the subject.

Create colour swatches

sketchbook spread ideas

A colour swatch is a chart that contains the pigments in your palette painted in a series of small boxes. Label the boxes with the pigment number and colour name for the pure swatches. Optionally, you can create tints and shades of the colours by adding white or black.

Colour mixing chart

Create more colour swatches by mixing pigments together. Colour swatches are a great way of practising colour mixing and getting familiar with the pigments you are using. To create the colour mix swatches, mix up your colours in differing quantities, then label the proportion of colours mixed. You can use these swatches as reference points for when you come to make larger pieces.

Contour drawing

contour drawing exercise

Contour drawing is a great way to improve your observation skills and learn how to capture the essence of an object or subject.

To do a contour drawing, start by finding an object with interesting shapes. It can be anything from a vase to a leaf. Place the object in front of you and look at it closely.

Then, start drawing the outline of the object, starting at the top and working your way around. As you draw, pay attention to the small details and try to capture the essence of the object.

Once you have finished drawing the outline, fill in any details that you see.

Create a composition sketch

A thumbnail sketch is a small drawing that contains the basic elements of your composition. They are generally no bigger than an inch square.

To create a thumbnail sketch, start by brainstorming some ideas for your composition. Once you have come up with a few ideas, begin doing some quick sketches of each one. Think about how you will create a focal point and lead the viewer’s eye in with the positioning of the subject.

Don’t worry about getting the details perfect, just focus on capturing the overall idea of the composition.

Once you have a few thumbnail sketches, take some time to review them and see which one you think has the most potential. You can then use this sketch as a starting point for your larger piece.

Sketchbook cover ideas

Your sketchbook is a reflection of you and your creativity, so make sure to choose a cover that represents that! You can go for a simple and classic look with a black or white cover, or get more creative with patterns, colours and textures.

If your cover has a cotton texture , you could even acrylic paint over it! Prime the surface first with sealant and gesso, then paint your custom design. Wait for it to dry and optionally varnish it.

Mixed media sketchbooks

Creating a mixed media sketchbook is a great way to explore your creativity and experiment with different mediums.

To create a mixed media sketchbook, start by finding a sketchbook that is made from high quality paper. This will ensure that your sketches don’t bleed through to the next page. Once you have found a suitable sketchbook, gather together a selection of mediums that you would like to use. These could be anything from watercolour paints to pastels.

Experiment with different techniques and mediums, and see what you can create! There are lots of mediums that are compatible with one another. For example, you can use oil pastels or soft pastels over watercolour paint. Pastels also go well with matte acrylic, gouache and acrylic gouache.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as this is part of the learning process. The most important thing is to have fun and be creative!

How to use a sketchbook

A sketchbook is completely personal and unique to each artist. Certain artists will want to put more thought and time into each of their drawings and perhaps only use one medium throughout. Whereas other artists will use their sketchbooks for warm up exercises and to doodle to their heart’s content.

The best way to use a sketchbook if you have art block, is to just get started and not worry about messing up! A sketchbook is a place to learn and improve and you don’t have to show anyone else the contents. Your art will improve quickly, if you create a deliberate, focussed and regular drawing practice, with the help of your sketchbook. If you commit to a regular drawing practice, you’ll finish many sketchbooks over the years. Keep hold of your sketchbooks to track your drawing progress. Each sketchbook page doesn’t have to look like a masterpiece when you first start out, but as your skills improve, more pages will showcase your skills and techniques.

Pick the right sketchbook for your art

It’s important to pick the right sketchbook for your needs. If you want to use watercolours , choose a paper that is heavy enough to withstand the wet media without warping or buckling. For pen and ink drawings, you might want a smooth paper so that you can draw details without them being obscured by the paper’s texture. Find the best sketchbooks for artists in our guide.

I hope you found these sketchbook ideas helpful and that they inspire you to create your own art. Happy creating!

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Wow! So many ideas that I haven’t tried before. I will have to save this and return to it.

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Urban Sketching World logo

How to Design a Dynamic Sketchbook Spread

What is a sketchbook spread.

Urban sketchers use their sketchbooks in various ways. Some sketchers like to do a big sketch per page of their book.  I think I fall into this camp 90% of the time.  However, some sketchers create a series of sketches on one page, or across a double page. This creates a sense of fun, it’s like a collage, the sketches can tell a story or a give an overall impression of a place.  The sketches could run in a linear timeline, offering a narrative of a day.  Or perhaps they are a collection of sketches of the same or similar items that the artist has come back to over time and added more and more to.

Why Create a Sketchbook Spread?

First of all, this is not something you need to do.  This is just a suggestion of how to use your sketchbook in a creative way.  The sketchbook is a unique format.  It can be used to record ideas, as a playground to explore different mediums or techniques, as a means to practice and as a place to exercise. More often a sketchbook is almost becoming a handheld gallery.  With more and more of us offering up our sketchbooks to be flipped through physically by family and friends but also virtually by millions of strangers. I have a few of my own sketchbooks you can look through on my Youtube channel , such as the one below.

Sketchbook spreads can be a fun way to tell a story using sketches over time, such as the course of a day or a week for example. Collecting sketches of the same or similar items also creates its own compelling story, telling us as the viewer (if you choose to share your sketchbook) what you find interesting and visually appealing.

A sketchbook spread containing a series of sketches can communicate a narrative.  Experimenting with spreads can also help build your compositional and layout skills. Learning how to connect disparate sketches and place them in a visually pleasing way across a page is an important design skill that’s worthy of practice in its own right.

Do you want to learn how to sketch your own adventures in ink & watercolour?

Get 50% off for a limited time only.

I will show you my  exact sketching process in ink and watercolour . I have travelled around the world in the last 3 years and this is my go-to system of creating beautiful yet quirky illustrations to capture the magic of my discoveries.

We will work through  3 projects, step by step (pictured below), all of which are real-life examples of things I have sketched along my travels. I provide the photo references you can work from. We will start by choosing a composition, laying in the initial pencil sketch, adding ink lines, layering watercolour and adding the final touches. This and much more are included in my course, Sketch Your Adventures , click the button under the image to find out more!

Sketch your adventures modules

Storytelling

There are many ways to tell a story with your sketches, here are a few ideas from other urban sketchers as well as myself.

Create A Collection of Items

Marc Taro Holmes mentions this in his Travel Sketching in Mixed Media course on Bluprint. You may find pleasure in sketching certain things and over time you may build a collection of these items.  It looks great to have this collection on one sketchbook spread.  You can start the spread and come back to it over time as you come across new items to add to your collection.  It does not always have to be the same item many times over, it could also be a collection of items that fit a certain theme.  

Urban sketcher, Pete Scully, collects sketches of fire hydrants as he comes across them. 

Here are a few more gorgeous examples from urban sketcher, Santi Salles. Tiny houses, condiments and Polaroid cameras.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pete Scully (@pwscully)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Santi Sallés (@santisalles)

Travelogue / Travel Journal

This is very much a type of spread I am used to creating.  Sometimes I will make a collage of scenes or angles of one place such as the spread below of Persepolis in Iran which runs across a double page of a landscape-format Moleskine watercolor album.

sketchbook spread ideas

In fact, I used this method for a few of the cities in Iran I visited, it was super fun to make a series of little sketches to give an overall impression of the place.  This is also useful if you are short on time and travelling with other people.

sketchbook spread ideas

Graphic Novel/Comic Book

Split your sketchbook spread into boxes and fill each box with a different element of the scene you’re sketching.  Miguel Herranz demonstrates this in Sketchbook Skool’s Urban Sketching Course. I love the idea because it really helps to make a scene less overwhelming, capturing just the parts that interest you, such as the way a roof slants, a decorative street lamp or some curious pigeons.

You could take this a step further than just using the layout device of a comic book and include snippets of conversations you hear or thoughts you’re having while sketching or about your sketch. I love sketches that include annotations or notes within them.

Deconstruction

You could draw a deconstruction of an item, close up sketches of certain angles, sketch the various parts, how something works or fits together, almost like a manual or scientific illustration.

Check out my ebooks with hundreds of ink & watercolour travel sketches from all over the world. Get some inspiration for your next trip…

sketchbook spread ideas

Another way to create a spread is by documenting a certain building, location or project over time.  Perhaps you live in a city where the skyline is ever-changing, things are constantly being built and torn down.  You could keep a record of this evolution by keeping the spread available to go back and add to over a period of time.

sketchbook spread ideas

If you would like more information on the art supplies I use and recommend, head over to my Recommended Stuff page. In addition to art supplies I share my favourite books and courses too!

How to Layout a Sketchbook Spread 

There are some well-established design principles when it comes to layout. I was made aware of these elements from my own minimal design education (a short course in Graphic Design at Central St Martins in London). These elements are universal across the visual arts and as such can be useful things to think about when creating your sketchbook spread – especially if you are trying to make it dynamic.

Composition

When composing a sketchbook spread it is always important to keep composition in mind. There are certain rules you can follow to help with this, such as the rule of thirds.

Other factors to bear in mind are elements such as scale, repetition, symmetry and colour as ways to create visual harmony in your layout.

Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds concept is as old as the hills…ok, not quite, more like 1797. The rule of thirds is used across all visual arts, such as photography, film and design, to create a harmonious and visually pleasing image.

You will most likely find a setting on your smartphone that allows you to switch ‘grids’ on when taking a photo. The image will be split into thirds both vertically and horizontally.  The idea is then to place key elements where the lines intersect.  For example, if you are taking a photo of (or sketching) a landscape, you may place the horizon line on the bottom horizontal line.  In this case, the bottom third will have land and the remaining two thirds will be the sky.  Or you could place the horizon line on the next line up meaning your sky will take up one-third of the sketch and land (or sea) will fill two-thirds of the image.   

sketchbook spread ideas

Likewise, you can place important elements on the vertical lines too.

sketchbook spread ideas

For the most dynamic composition, place the elements you wish to emphasise in one of the four areas where the lines intersect. Notice how the photo of the lighthouse above places the top of the lighthouse in the top left intersection and the base of the lighthouse where it meets the land is placed on the bottom left intersection.

You do not have to place things in all 4 intersections. Just one or two would work well.

Also, notice how the railing leads your eye in from the bottom right of the image to the bottom left intersection at the base of the lighthouse. Leading lines drawing the eye into a picture is also an important and widely used compositional tool.

When dividing your sketchbook spread or deciding where to place things, an appreciation of such a well-established and effective compositional tool such as the rule of thirds is important to consider in order to make your layout feel more harmonious. It also helps to prevent you from plonking things right in the centre of the page.  Sometimes this can work but more often than not, having elements placed according to the rule of thirds is going to look far more interesting.

Visual artists use the concept of scale to help create dynamic work.  The size and proportions of one item next to another, especially if unexpected can create real visual tension.  You can also play with zooming into certain details and then a wide-angle or zoomed-out version. Scale can help build a sense of hierarchy too – elements that are larger on the page have more emphasis and lead us to feel they are more important or significant.

Some of my favourite online classes

  • Pictorial Sketchbook with Gouache – Maru Godas
  • Watercolor Portrait Sketchbook – Carlos Rodriguez Casado
  • Sketchbooking For Beginners: Learn to Draw Your Surroundings – Maximilliano Vera Herrera
  • Urban Sketching: Capture You City in Motion – Inma Serrano
  • Certificate in Urban Sketching- Ian Fennelly

Repetition & Rhythm

Repetition can be used to connect elements throughout a layout and help to create overall harmony.  You could use the repetition of a certain colour or technique or theme.

The concept of rhythm (in design) takes the idea of repetition a step further and refers to the repositioning of design elements to create a flow. Elements are not repeated in the same way as their first iteration or in the same sequence.  You can repeat elements by playing with scale, placement and colour, just as an example. The idea is to create a flow throughout the spread.

In the sketch below, by Inma Serrano, you can sense a rhythm of how she repeats her figures across the spread.  She doesn’t repeat the same people but the style and sense of humour link the sketches together as she places the figures across the page.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Inma Serrano (@inmaserranito)

Symmetry & Asymmetry

Symmetry is everywhere when it comes to design, you can see it in architecture especially, as well as many other fields. Symmetry helps to create a sense of balance. There are three types of symmetry: reflection, rotational and translational.

Reflectional symmetry is probably what most people think of when they think of symmetry. This is where an element is reflected or mirrored across a central axis.

Rotational symmetry is when an element is repeated and rotated around a central point. Translational symmetry is where the element is repeated exactly as it is along an axis, this links in with the section above regarding repetition and rhythm.

Asymmetry is the absence of symmetry. In design, asymmetry can be used to create tension and drama. Asymmetry is when elements on either side of an axis are unbalanced, for example, they differ in number or size. Even though the elements on either side differ, it is still possible to create a sense of balance. Using asymmetry effectively is a bit more complex to master but can lead to more creative freedom. Likewise, using symmetry can also appear boring and uninspired as it is an easy and expected way to lay elements out. It’s a fine line to tread but something worth experimenting with.

White Space / Negative Space

Keep in mind that the space you don’t fill is just as important as the space you do fill.  You can create beautiful minimal spreads with lots of white space giving your elements breathing room.  You could deliberately do the reverse though.  I love seeing super busy sketchbook spreads with things overlapping and a cacophony of colour.  I don’t know where to look first but trying to figure things out keeps me drawn to the spread.  I have not done this much in my own work, I think it takes quite a healthy dose of confidence but now I have given it some thought, perhaps its something I will try soon in my own sketchbook!

[Side note: This is why I love writing these posts, it gives me some many new ideas to try out – I hope you feel the same about reading them! ]

Colour is such a powerful tool to tell a story with.  An urban sketcher who springs to mind is Inma Serrano.  She uses colour so effectively and vibrantly. She uses fluorescents, singular or accent colours to tell stories with her sketches. Think about how you can use colour in your sketchbook spread as a layout tool.  Perhaps you could create monochromatic sketches and use one additional accent colour throughout.  Or you could use a limited palette of colours for each of the sketches.  Or take a leaf out of Inma’s (sketch)book (sorry – I had to) and use some fluorescent yellows or pinks to tie everything together.

Final Thoughts

As you can see there are a lot of factors you can play with in order to create a dynamic sketchbook spread.  Don’t get carried away with worrying about all of these things, just pick one storytelling device and perhaps one layout element to focus on and see how that turns out.

Of course, you can totally ignore all of these factors. They are well-established design principles but you are an artist and you officially have permission to through the TV out of the hotel room window and do whatever you want! The aim of this post is to highlight some areas to think about and to inspire you. I hope you can use the ideas and principles discussed as a jumping-off point. It’s your sketchbook and your art. Go wild. 

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100 Ways to Fill Your Sketchbook

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

Figuring out what to do when you sit down to create can sometimes feel overwhelming. Keeping a sketchbook is a great way to cultivate your ideas and turn them from seeds into something inspiring. I did that recently, as I set out to use the letter U 100 different ways in my art journal. Here’s 100 ways to fill your sketchbook, using just some watercolor squares, a pen, and one letter of the alphabet. And yes, you can do this too!

How to Create Your Own Challenge in Your Sketchbook

  • Set a goal number. This could be a goal for the number of art pieces, pages, or days. Make a goal that feels exciting, not daunting.
  • Set parameters. Define some simple parameters for your project. This might mean using certain materials or techniques. You may brainstorm your ideas before settling on one, or just go with your gut.
  • Pre-prep your sketchbook page(s).
  • Carry your sketchbook in your bag and use it.
  • Use your sketchbook project as a tool for generating art ideas, not as a way to strive for perfection. You are likely to get better art this way!

Here’s my parameters for my U project:

  • Watercolor blocks in earth tones, one 2 – page spread (initially)
  • Micron pens
  • Use the letter U to create a variety of patterns

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My idea was to use the letter U any way I could to create a variety of patterns. I loved the idea that a letter of the alphabet, which anyone who can write can make, could be the basis for art. Here’s my parameters:

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling ideas, sketchbook ideas

Clearly, I ended up expanding past one page, but given my personality, I knew I would feel hemmed in if I set a huge goal, so I started small, and added as long as it felt fun.

how to art journal, how to keep a sketchbook, art journaling supplies

I’m a big fan of “flexible structure.” I set myself a goal that serves as a general guide, and I can change it slightly as I go along depending on what works for me.

If you like this idea, but want some more help creating your flexible structure, check out m y class, Paint, Pattern Repeat where I’ll lead you through this process step by step.

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling for beginners

There were a lot of different ways to stretch this idea.

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling for beginners, art journal ideas

Look at all the variations! It boggles my mind how many different ways (over 100 in the end) I could use the letter U to make patterns. You can do this too. It just requires stretching your mind a bit.

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling for beginners, art journal ideas

Coming Up with Ideas for Your Project

When I struggled for ideas to fill more blocks, I started writing about it to brainstorm, talking to friends and family about their ideas, and looking in nature and textiles to see where else this shape was appearing. This led to new pattern ideas I loved. There is pleasure in giving yourself permission to dive deeply into an idea.

For example, I noticed that a stone arch is an upside down U. Hair pins are squiggly U’s. Birds in the sky can look like a series of U’s. Sagging nets make U’s, and waves are a series of connected U’s. After a while, you start to see the connections everywhere, and it always boggles my mind how much nature repeats itself.

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling for beginners, art journal ideas, art patterns, pattern design

After I reached over 100, I decided I was ready to move on, at least for a while. I’ve used some of my favorite U patterns on art journal pages like this one.

100 ways to fill your sketchbook, 100 art journal ideas, best journal for art journaling, how to get better at drawing, art journaling for beginners, art journal ideas

I hope this helps you create your own fun challenge in your sketchbook. I’d love to hear about your ideas in the comments!

43 Comments

Meggan Keohane

Thank you so much. Your suggestions are always simple and do-able. I am new to art journaling, but the inchie challenge helped me finally understand the process. Fo me it is like mini paintings that I can work on even if I only have 5 mins a day on a busy week. So thak you. You are amazing.

Amy Maricle

HI Meggan! YES – you’ve totally got my approach to helping people get started. It’s also a great way to get creating when you feel too pressed for time. I can’t wait to see this continue to develop for you! XO

Tacy Marsh

What great ideas, Amy! Thank you!

I’m so happy this speaks to you, Tacy! Xo

Michelle Mickle

After a few weeks or months?? I’ve taken this on and am having much fun. I’ve played around with the background colors because “They are the unimportant part” – says the gasping tight part of my brain. Of course, they have lent much to the process and because my focus is on the u pattern I’m finding more room to noodle and play with the color. I love it when I find I like a piece! My “art police” are exacting and sneaky- for now though they are napping.

Michelle – I’m thrilled this is working for you!! It’s great to work in series for all these reasons, right?

Lita Doesken

Love just looking at your work. Great suggestions to help stimulate myself

Oh Lita, that’s great to hear! Have fun creating! xo

Elaine Rich

It’s very cool!

Thank you so kindly, Elaine! xo

Lynn

So happy you like it Lynn! Xo

Carmella

Thank you for this helpful suggestion. I teach a high school art class. We just recently made sketchbooks. I can see this as a good warm up.

Hey Carmella: Oh yes, this would be amazing with students – I can only imagine where they will take it! XO

Tania Guillaume

Absolutely great! Easy and doable… my inner critic is astonished to see how it looks and I love how it feels light to do! Thanks for these suggestions!

It feels light to do. YES> I like how you put that. Happy creating Tania! XO

Nel Wisse

The more simple the idea, the better it works. You are the personification of those words. Thank you so much for sharing!

Nel – I’m thrilled that this gets you excited to create! XO

Almah

Super-inspiring, thanks!

YAY! So glad to hear it Almah! Xo

Kathy Peroutka

Thanks Amy, I was just thinking about reaching out as to where to start, as I am finding myself overwhelmed as a newbie exploring art. I look at the different mediums I have, the different instructional books, the different paper I have, and think where in the world do I continue with what all I have started. True to my nature when I start something I dive right in, going wide in the experience, then overwhelm myself, back out, and may not continue. I knew you would know how to guide and simplify the process that I was overcomplicating. I personally like “S”, so am taking off with that letter. ThankSSSSSSSS ~~~~~~ Kathy

Kathy – Thissssss issssss sssssso fun to hear! I’m thrilled that this concept speaks to you! happy S’ing. Tag me if you post so I can ssssse!

Emily

So inspiring! And also manageable! I’m going to challenge myself to do something similar. Thank you, always, for sharing.

Emily – I’m so happy this speaks to you! And I so appreciate you taking the time to comment too! XO

Lin Hermanson

Never thought of U as such an interesting letter!

Hi Lin: HA! Funny right? I don’t know that I necessarily did either. I’m not sure I gave it a lot of thought except that I knew it could look like a letter or look like other things. It got me thinking of other good options: S, T, M, V, C, H, I, J, L….there are so many good choices. It was a great exercise to stretch the creative boundaries of my mind! I hope it is for you too! XO

cbdo48@gmail.com

This is just great for the days when I need to decompressed ans simply play with my art supplies. It’s the perfect mindful practice and besides: 26 letters, 10 numbers….one can play a long long time 😊 Merci, Amy, for your wonderful creativity 🤩

So happy I could inspire! Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Xo

A.M.

Hi Amy, cool post!!! What kind of sketch books do you use?

Hey A.M. I’m so glad you liked the post! I had a link, but it was rather subtle. Here’s my current favorite sketchbook . xo

Rosa

It’s quite amazing what your artist mind comes up with. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration – I’m going right to my sketchbook! And thank you for sharing with us.

Hi Rosa! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the ideas! Have fun in your sketchbook! xo

MªElena Gutiérrez Luque

Hola, Amy!!!!! Buenos días!!!! Después de estar años leyendo sin parar libros de arte de todas las técnicas , contigo estoy encontrando un sinfín de ideas para crear por mí misma ….cada vez que veo algo tuyo en vídeo o leo alguna de tus páginas , siempre acabo diciendo ” Uau, esto es genial!!!” y la cabeza empieza a imaginar todas las posibilidades que tengo, mas ahora que estamos tanto tiempo en casa. Gracias por ser tan divertida y amena , es un lujo leerte y escucharte. Un besico desde Albacete, España. Lna.

Es un muy buen proceso esto. Ya es hora de jugar con tu arte, disfrutar del proceso sin expectativas. xo

maddiepanda3219

this is awesome now i know what to draw finally.

I’m so glad I could help, Maddie! xo

Heather. Riley

Hi, such simplicity and such depth to your approach. I am grateful that you shared your passion and skills so generously . Not just a window but the doors to my creative world have burst open. I am looking forwards to my creative journey. Thank you Amy.

Oh Heather, this means so much to me. Thank you. I’m so so excited for you! Can’t wait to see what explorations happen!

Donette

Thank you so much! How wonderful that I discovered you! I’m looking forward to this journey. My husband passed away a few months ago. I will find great benefit in these exercises. Bless you for being so giving

Hi Donette: Oh I’m so thrilled that this can help you, especially in this time. I’m so sorry about the loss of your husband. Big artsy hugs. xo

Aisha

You are a great artist

I’m so glad you’re here Aisha. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. And…I suspect YOU are a great artist! xo

Broman Candace

This is so helpful and enables me to have a plan that I can feel confident about. Thanks so much!

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How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!)

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Lindsey Bugbee

— 74 Comments

Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, I implore you to create a sketchbook journal! In this article, you’ll find valuable tips on how to get started followed by reasons to keep going.

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How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!)

A sketchbook journal is a great place to play — for artists and non-artists alike. It allows you to relax, think, and experiment with new mediums in a pressure-free zone. If you’re looking for a way to decompress and explore your thoughts/moods, consider starting a sketchbook. It’s an activity that you’ll continue to enjoy for years to come!

What is a Sketchbook Journal?

A sketchbook journal is essentially a blank book that you use to record memories, explore themes, and/or try out new art techniques. That said, there’s no set definition for a sketchbook journal … it’s a personal thing, so it can be whatever you want it to be!

How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!) | The Postman's Knock

A sketchbook journal can serve as a sort of scrapbook as well. A sketchbook journal is a great place to put little scraps of paper that mean something to you, especially if they might just be clutter on their own. For example, the sketchbook page above showcases business cards, a yoga studio fob, and illustrations that remind me of the four years that I spent living as a student in Lawrence, Kansas.

How to Make a Sketchbook Journal

Before I tell you how to make a sketchbook journal, I want to reiterate: you do not have to consider yourself an artist to enjoy sketchbooking! A sketchbook is for anyone who likes lettering, drawing, or just organizing his or her paper scraps. Remember: it’s a personal project, so you aren’t working to impress anyone. It’s something you should pursue for your own enjoyment, and without trepidation or reservations.

Sharing My Quarantine Sketchbook Page

1. Find the Right Sketchbook for You

When you go to purchase a sketchbook, look at the weight of the paper first. Try not to buy anything with a paper weight under 70 lbs.; otherwise, the paper will struggle if you use watercolors. Second, look at the size. Think about what will work best for you! I’ve had huge sketchbooks and I’ve had tiny sketchbooks, and I find that something in the middle works best. My current favorite sketchbook measures 8″ x 9.25″ (20.32 cm x 23.5 cm).

sketchbook spread ideas

My friend Jess talks about the concept of a “Goldilocks sketchbook”: the perfect sketchbook for you. A Goldilocks sketchbook fits your size needs, accommodates the mediums you want to work with, and generally makes you feel happy. So: read reviews and do some research on what sketchbook is right for you! Or, think outside the box as I did at university and upcycle an old book into a sketchbook. There’s no wrong way to go about it, really. (My current Goldilocks sketchbook is from Shinola , but it’s never in stock, probably due to supply chain issues.)

2. Decide a Page Theme and Start Creating

You can go theme-less, of course, but I always pick a theme for the page that I intend to work on. (For a list of inspiration-sparking themes, you can click here .) TPK has a lot of sketchbook tutorials that might help you to latch on to an idea!

Making a Pencil Draft

The secret to a great sketchbook page is not to rush it. Sketchbooking isn’t meant to be a quick activity, so if you need a few days or a few weeks to finish a sketchbook page, embrace that. You can add to your sketchbook page here and there as your time and energy levels allow! (Note: I’ve been known to abandon a sketchbook page concept indefinitely in favor of creating other pages. You can always eventually go back and finish a page.) 

Ink on the "perfect summer day" sketchbook page

4. Add Lettering/Designs/Paper Scraps/Etc. Until You’re Happy with the Page

A sketchbook page is finished when you feel satisfied with it. Remember to look at it through kind, non-critical eyes. A sketchbook journal provides a safe space to experiment with techniques, topics, and mediums — no one is going to judge you!

☀️ "My Perfect Summer Day" Sketchbook Page Tutorial

The point of creating a sketchbook page is to hone in on something that you want to focus on. So: maybe that’s a happy day, a memorable trip, or even just drawing something pretty for beauty’s sake (like this botanical letter ).

Why You Should Make a Sketchbook Journal

Different people will experience different rewards from working in a sketchbook journal. That said, here are three reasons that I enjoy working in mine:

1. Increased Creative Confidence

Your sketchbook journal gives you the opportunity to try out new mediums and techniques in a practice setting. You can do whatever you want and find out what works for you! As you flex your creative muscle, you will gain experience and confidence.

How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!) | The Postman's Knock

For example, the left page above marks the first time that I used coffee as a paint/ink. I loved the effect, and I still use strong teas and coffees in my work today (see this envelope and this sketchbook page )! Creating that sketchbook page taught me how beautifully neutrals can pair with bold colors, which is a lesson that I’ve returned to time and time again over the years.

2. Organization

If you tend to hold on to paper (scraps, business cards, notes, gift tags, etc.), then your sketchbook journal can provide an excellent home for them! In 2005, I made the page on the left, below, from all the university pamphlets that I received. (Ironically, I didn’t end up going to any of the collaged universities.) When I look at that page, I remember how overwhelmed I was trying to decide where to go after high school! I also remember the excitement of possibility.

How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!) | The Postman's Knock

Putting paper scraps in a sketchbook journal gives you the chance to preserve them in a thoughtful, artistic way. Just make sure you use an archival glue so the scraps don’t disintegrate over time!

3. Memory Preservation

Your brain is always making room for new information by squeezing out old information, so memories tend to fade. If you have a sketchbook journal, it can serve as a sort of “pensieve” (that’s a Harry Potter reference — here ‘s the definition). Through colors, images, and paper scraps, you can put together an accurate representation of your thoughts and feelings.

sketchbook spread ideas

It’s interesting to go back and look at your pages later. The page above, for example, records what I did on July 25, 2019. When I look at it, I’m reminded of happy memories: finishing up the design of a beautiful calligraphy kit , watching a delightful chick flick, and enjoying my favorite ice cream flavors.

Get Started Today

If you have a few spare moments, I encourage you to start your own sketchbook here in the next couple of days! That way, the motivation and inspiration will still be fresh. Keep in mind that you don’t have to make a full page in one sitting — there’s no time limit.

Sketchbook spread

Better Together

If you have family members or friends who may be interested in starting a sketchbook journal, consider creating together. In high school, my friends and I used to get out our art supplies, sit at the kitchen table, and create as we chatted and snacked. Sometimes, we’d even trade sketchbooks for a few minutes to create content in each others’ sketchbooks! Now, those traded pages are a fun reminder of friendships.

How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!) | The Postman's Knock

As the mother to a young child (and soon-to-be mother to two young children), I haven’t had the time to sketchbook with friends for the past couple of years. But, when my kids get older, it’s something I’d love to do again … maybe even with them! It’s nice to bask in comfortable silence or relaxed conversation and get inspiration from friends or loved ones as you create.

Inspiration

As I mentioned, the TPK blog has several sketchbook tutorials available, which you can browse here . For visual inspiration, you can Google or search Pinterest for “sketchbook pages”. If you prefer books, try Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks by Lynne Perrella — it has a nice collection of different artists’ pages. I also like Draw Your Day by Samantha Dion Baker. For younger people (15-20 years old), Spilling Open by Sabrina Ward Harrison is very inspirational! Again — as far as page themes go, you can find a list of prompts in this free printable .

Pages from Spilling Open | The Postman's Knock

No matter what your artistic level, I hope that you give sketchbook journaling a try! If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contribute in the comments. Thanks very much for reading, and happy creating!

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This article was first posted in January of 2017. It has been updated to include new photos and clearer information.

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Ep 8 Ideas for Sketchbooks to Make Them More Interesting

Today’s episode is to give you ideas for sketchbooks to make them look more interesting. We’ve got lots of sketchbook ideas that you can experiment with to make your sketchbook more fun.

Ep 8 Ideas for Sketchbooks to Make Them More Interesting

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Type of sketchbooks

One of the first things to consider is the type of sketchbook you are going to use. You want the paper to be suitable for the type of art you want to create. So don’t go for something with thin paper if you are going to use water. But also don’t go for a sketchbook that is so beautiful that you are scared to use it, otherwise, your sketchbook ideas won’t see the light of day. Tara has a leather-bound one on her shelf that she is too afraid to mess up.

Choosing a sketchbook

The benefit of a ring-bound sketchbook is that you can pull the pages out. So if you make something you really don’t like you can pull it out and no one needs to know. You can also flip the cover right back on itself which makes it easier to handle if you’re sketching outside. The only problem is that the rings can get in the way, especially if you’re left-handed. It’s also difficult to make a sketch across two pages as you’ve got the rings down the middle. They are also bulkier to carry and things can get stuck in the rings.

Paperback sketchbooks are useful in the studio for roughing out compositions and things like that, but they’re really easily bent and damaged if you carry them around. That said they are nice and light to carry.

Hardcover sketchbooks can last for years, they can take a real battering in the bottom of your handbag and they are easy to create a double-page spread. They’re much easier to carry around because you haven’t got those bulky rings. The only downside is you can’t easily remove pages, if you want/need to, but you can always stick things over them.

sketchbook ideas

Sketchbook Size

For art challenges , you might consider a small sketchbook which is quicker if you are drawing every day. Alternatively, work on larger paper, but put multiple drawings on a page.

Colour and Toned Sketchbooks

Remember that you don’t have to use white sketchbooks either. You can get toned sketchbooks from Strathmore in tan, grey and blue. You can also get sketchbooks with pale pastel shades of watercolour paper from Bockingford.

Sketchbook Cover Ideas

Creating a unique sketchbook cover is a way of adding some personality to your sketchbook. You can get some really interesting reverse canvas covered sketchbooks made by Reeves. They’ve made them ready to create your own unique cover. The only problem is that the paper may not be able to take anything more than a pencil or pen.

A simple sketchbook cover idea is to wrap your sketchbook in brown paper and then put one of those old fashioned post office tags on it. Then you can write your name and address in case you lose it.

You can also cover your sketchbook with newspaper, pages from a novel, or sheet music. Another idea which sounds a little crazy is to cover it with old shopping lists or other scrap bits of paper you find with handwriting on. You can also doodle patterns on the cover.

Another cover idea is to use napkins with designs on them. Tear off the top layer and glue it down with clear glue. This was an idea we saw on Youtube. If you don’t want to use ready-made napkins you can paint tissue paper and do a similar thing. And of course, the glue will help seal and protect the cover too.

You can also use fabric and fabric paints or acrylic paints to cover your sketchbook. Handmade paper would work nicely as a cover too.

You can also create a bespoke sketch for your sketchbook cover, a silly selfie could be fun.

Don’t forget if you are using a hardback book you can also decorate the spine or write what the contents are.

Create drawing backgrounds in your sketchbook

If you feel daunted by the blank page, you can always create a background on your sketchbook pages first and then draw over the top. These pre-messed up pages are less intimidating to draw on.

Watercolor or acrylic sketchbook backgrounds

You can try laying down a random wash of watercolour, or acrylic before you start, as a drawing background. Make sure you’ve got a book that takes that kind of medium, such as a mixed media or watercolour sketchbook. You can do that to all of the pages before you even start using the book if you like.

sketchbook background2

More drawing background ideas

We have a few more ideas that came from our Facebook Group. You can try using cling film on top of watercolour to create a nice effect. Start by laying down a watercolor wash. While it’s still wet, lay some scrunched up cling-film/cling-wrap over the top and leave it to dry thoroughly. Once it’s completely dry, remove the film and you’re left with a lovely effect.

You can also try sprinkling salt onto watercolor to give interesting ‘sparkly’ effects. Ideally use something coarser than table salt, such as salt flakes. Again, make sure it’s thoroughly dry before brushing away the salt.

You can use stamps in your sketchbooks to make backgrounds. You can get all sorts of patterns. You can also get ones with dates, or you can make your own. You can also try covering bubble wrap, lace or string with paint and then using that to make marks on your sketchbook pages

Ideas for different drawing surfaces in your sketchbook

You can stick different surfaces onto your pages with double-sided sticky tape and draw over them. For example, try sketching over a music sheet, the page of a novel or on a sheet of a newspaper.

Sandra – I once saw somebody do some beautiful charcoal figure drawings on a sheet of newspaper. Then she framed them and they were gorgeous.

You can also work over patterned papers, like origami or Japanese papers. Coloured paper is another option. Not toned paper like we mentioned before, but brighter coloured paper.

Tara – You can buy sketchbooks that have a variety of surfaces, for example, one I saw contained burlap, canvas, watercolor paper and Kraft paper. You can also make your own with a mix of papers.

Ideas when you don’t know what to draw

If you can’t think what to draw in your sketchbook, make lots of boxes on a page and fill them with all the different marks you can make with your medium. You can learn a lot from that mark-making exercise . Just by changing the angle of your pencil, the mark you make can be very different.

If you’re stuck, doodle something random. Draw an odd shape or squiggle and then use it as inspiration.

Another thing you can try is to take some coloured paper and rip or cut it into random shapes as a starting point. Then stick two or three shapes down on one page of your sketchbook. Create a few pages of those and then come back to them another day. Draw over the top of them with a simple continuous line drawing, based on what you think the shapes can be. Some of the lines can go over the coloured blocks and some over the white paper.

doodles on messed up sketch pages

Draw or paint with unusual tools in your sketchbook

You can also try using something completely different to what you would normally draw with. So for example you can apply paint or ink using different tools like sponges, twigs and feathers . It’s a great way of experimenting in your sketchbook.

Spraying and wax resist techniques

Also, try things like spraying Inktense pencils or watercolor pencils with water. You can also look at using wax resist. Use a candle or white wax crayon, draw on your page and then apply a wash over top. Wherever you’ve got the wax resist, the paint won’t stick. You can do a similar thing with masking fluid as well.

Adding collaged elements to your page

Use sweet wrappers, tickets, or receipts as a starting point, and then work over the top of it.

Overlapping, borders and sticky notes

You can also add more than one drawing on a page and let them overlap. If you’ve got several sketches on one page you can draw a border around each of your sketches. Then fill the space between them with black or a color. That makes each sketch stand out. You can also make your sketches overlap at the border so it looks like it’s coming out of the box. So for instance, imagine a square border that’s been drawn around a plant. Let some of the leaves come out from the border. It can make it look like they’re popping out from the page.

You can also cover sketches you don’t like with post-it notes. For instance, if you have a sketch that you like, but you can see that the eye isn’t right, cover the bad part with a post-it note and draw it again over the top.

Use words in your sketchbook

Flip through a magazine and cut out any interesting phrases or words that you see. When you’ve cut out lots of words, put them together and make an interesting phrase or sentence. You can create a design to go with it too. You can stick the cut-out words in your sketchbook, or if you are good at calligraphy, you can rewrite them.

If your handwriting isn’t great, you can try creating some descriptive text using a dip pen. Then embrace the splodges. Or you can do what I have done before and emphasize your bad writing. Make it even more haphazard and wobbly so it looks more deliberate.

You can also take an ordinary image but make it more interesting or funny by adding words to it.

Tara – So for instance I drew a pair of Wellington Boots. Then I put a line saying, “love is your partner cleaning your Wellington boots…PS if you’re reading this, they’re dirty again.”

You can also use words that mean something to you, or maybe a snippet of conversation that you might have overheard that day. You can do it in bubble form, like the bubbles you get in like a comic book or you can turn it into a journal page and write a bit about your day.

The back cover of your sketchbook

Just like creating a design for the cover of your sketchbook, why not come up with an idea for the back cover of your sketchbook too.

This weeks question

How do you get over the fear of the blank page?

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Inspiration

Aesthetic sketchbook ideas and inspiration.

Aesthetic Sketchbook Ideas and Inspiration

How Do You Start An Aesthetic Sketchbook? | Overcoming Your Fear Of Starting | Ideas and Inspiration

Whether you're a professional artist with years of experience or a beginner just starting out, a mixed media sketchbook is the perfect place to get those creative juices flowing. Though it might seem daunting at first, creating an aesthetic sketchbook can actually be loads of fun. But, just like many other creatives out there, you are probably wondering where to start. Well fear not, here are some tips and tricks to make the process a little less overwhelming.

art-sketchbook

Don't be afraid of your sketchbook

Your sketchbook should be a safe place for you to explore and express your creative ideas. Free yourself from the pressure of creating something spectacular and focus more on enjoying yourself and/or growing your art skills. No art sketchbook is perfect and that is the brilliance of having one. Creativity thrives in an environment where "happy little accidents", as Bob Ross called them, are welcomed.

aesthetic sketchbook ideas

Overcome first page anxiety

The first page of a new sketchbook can be one of the most exciting, yet terrifying struggles that every artist faces. The thought that this page will set the tone and success for the pages to follow can seem quite scary. Believe it or not, this is one of the main reasons artists procrastinate or just end up not creating in their sketchbooks at all. 

aesthetic sketchbook drawings

However, the solution to first page anxiety can be as simple as planning out what your page will look like. You can do this by creating small thumbnails to test out various compositions to get an idea of what you'd want your sketchbook drawing to look like. Play around with your design and once you are happy with it, jot it down in your art sketchbook. As simple as that!

Some artists even suggest starting on page two, or for that matter, any other page in your mixed media sketchbook . Somehow this helps to overcome the mental block and pressure associated with the first page and makes it easier to start your succeeding journal sketches. You could even take random pages in your sketchbook and fill them with washes of color or snippets from magazines and books. This allows you to start creating with color and variety from the start. 

Have multiple sketchbooks

If you are going for a certain sketchbook aesthetic with a cohesive look and feel, it might be useful to have multiple sketchbooks dedicated for different purposes. Cheaper sketchbooks can be used as private art journals where anything goes and you have more creative freedom. Use these mixed media sketchbooks to jot down ideas, scribble and have fun without limits. In fact, these books can even be used to plan out the sketchbooks journals that are shared with the public. Remember, you have total control over what is shared and what is not! 

On that note, it is always handy to have a journal allocated to practicing your art skills. Use this journal to practice art fundamentals, such as composition, color theory, perspective, or light and shadows. This journal can be used to practice drawing subjects that you struggle with. Remember, practice makes progress!

art sketchbooks

Start an art journal

Many artists find it very relaxing and therapeutic to use their sketchbooks as art journals. These journals could even have a theme, such as a travel journal, a nature journal (used to study nature), or even a day-to-day journal that you always carry with you. Whatever the case, an art journal is the perfect way to stay creative.

Live studies are typically popular in art journals and can be a very interesting change of pace for you as an artist. Since there are no rules when it comes to a sketchbook, use your sketchbook as an art notebook to write about your day, combine it with poems, whatever floats your boat. Make it your own! 

journal sketches

Follow like-minded artists

On days when inspiration is low, works of other like-minded artists could spark your creative flame. Find your own tribe of artists that inspire you and purposefully scroll through their works to gather some ideas and inspiration for your next page. 

aesthetic sketchbook drawings

Challenge yourself

There are many trendy challenges out there to help creatives improve their artistic abilities. If you find yourself in a place where your well of creativity has dried up, partaking in art challenges could help you to not only fill the pages of your sketchbook, but also to grow your skills as an artist.  An example of one of the challenges is the 100 heads challenge created by Artist Ahmed Aldoori. The goal of this challenge is to draw 100 heads in 10 days. 

Below is the finished drawing from our How To Draw 3/4 View Face article. If you're interested in learning how to draw faces, I suggest to start with our How To Draw A Basic Portrait . You'll find step by step guides and illustrations showing you how the face can be simplified and tackled.

sketchbook aesthetic

Another very popular sketchbook challenge is the well-known Inktober, where artists around the world draw one ink sketch every day in October. Swapping your pencil for a pen can prove valuable in gaining confidence in your drawing abilities: learn to work with your mistakes and incorporate them into the final piece. 

Another useful way to challenge yourself is to practice your creativity with drawing prompts. In fact, there are even drawing prompt sketchbooks created specifically for this purpose. This takes the "what to draw" out of the equation, and the artist can now only focus on being creative.

If you feel like you're drawing a blank, check out our Sketchbook Ideas: How To Find Inspiration For Art blog post. You might find other ideas or inspiration that'll help spark your creative flow.

Draw every day

To get into the groove of drawing in your sketchbook, set aside 10-20 minutes of drawing time each day. This is a tip that is especially useful to overcome artist/creative block. The secret of a successful aesthetic art journal lies in drawing both on the days that you feel inspired and also on the days when inspiration is running low. 

aesthetic sketchbook ideas

Do some quick sketching of things you find around you or practice basic sketching techniques . They can keep you going even on those days when you don't feel like it.

Make a mess in your aesthetic sketchbook

While aesthetic sketchbook drawings might feel rewarding, it shouldn't be the sole focus as it could put a lid on your creativity. An aesthetic art journal is not necessarily a sketchbook filled with mini Van Gogh's, but rather a journal filled with a vast variety of sketches and ideas. 

art notebook

Creating a mess intentionally could help you overcome the fear of doing it accidentally. Some artists pride themselves in journals that look messy, with a variety of color schemes, mediums, and themes on each page. Some even rip and tear, splash color and scribble as ways to express their creative freedom. 

The bottom line is that your sketchbook is yours to do with what you please. You set the standard, no one else! So have a little grace with yourself and remember to enjoy the process of creating art.

We'd love to hear back from you!

What's your biggest obstacle when starting with a new sketchbook? Do you use your sketchbook/s mainly for sketching and drawing or do you like mixing it up? What future content would you like to see from us? Let me know in the comments below! Join our friendly art community Painting Inspiration Daily on Facebook. You can share your art and ideas, watch LIVE tutorials, and be inspired to paint ! 

Here's another interesting article we have if you're looking for some guidance into How To Find Your Art Style . And have a great time exploring and creating your aesthetic sketchbook!

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20+ Sketchbook Cover Ideas: Creative Designs to Personalize Your Art Journal

September 27, 2023 July 24, 2023 | Dee

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Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Dee

Welcome, fellow art enthusiasts! Each journey starts with a single stroke and every sketchbook is a new adventure.

As artists, we know that our creativity doesn’t just stop at the pages within. The cover of your sketchbook should be just as expressive and inspirational as the art it houses inside. And we are here to feed that creativity.

Get ready to turn that blank canvas of a cover into a stunning masterpiece. We’ve curated a tantalizing list of over 20 sketchbook cover ideas that will inspire, excite, and, most importantly, ignite the creative spark within you.

So grab your tools and prepare to imbue your artistic spirit onto your sketchbook cover – your first page of inspiration.

20-sketchbook-cover-ideas-pin-1

Key Takeaways

  • There are countless sketchbook cover ideas that you can use to personalize your sketchbook and make it your own.
  • Exploring different media and choosing your theme are important aspects of creating a personalized sketchbook cover.
  • Personalizing your sketchbook is a great way to showcase your unique style and make your sketchbook stand out.

Exploring Different Media

**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**

When it comes to creating a sketchbook cover, there are many different media that you can use to bring your ideas to life.

Each medium has its unique properties and can create different effects, so experimenting with a few different options is worth experimenting to see what works best for your project.

Drawing with Charcoal

sketchbook drawing ideas: charcoal

Charcoal is a popular choice for sketching because it allows you to create rich, dark lines with a lot of texture. Remember to use fixative spray to keep your drawing from smudging.

One way to use charcoal on your sketchbook cover is to create a portrait or a landscape scene.

You can also use charcoal to add shading and depth to other elements of your design.

Painting with Gesso

sketchbook drawing ideas: Gesso

Gesso is a primer that is often used to prepare surfaces for painting. However, it can also be used as a medium in its own right.

When applied to a sketchbook cover, gesso creates a smooth, matte surface that can be painted or drawn on top of.

sketchbook drawing ideas: Gesso

You can also use gesso to create a textured surface by applying it with a palette knife or other tool.

Ink Pen Sketches

Nature Drawing Ideas_ City Park

Ink pens are a versatile medium that can be used for everything from fine details to bold, graphic lines.

One way to use ink pens on your sketchbook cover is to create a series of abstract patterns or designs.

sketchbook drawing ideas: Ink Zentangles

You can also use ink pens to create a more traditional illustration or sketch.

Mixed Media Collages

sketchbook drawing ideas: Mixed Media Collage

Mixed media collages are a great way to create a unique and dynamic sketchbook cover.

You can combine different materials such as paper, ephemera , fabric, and found objects to create a layered and textured design.

You can also use paint, ink, or other media to add color and detail to your collage.

mixed media collage

Choosing Your Theme

When it comes to choosing a theme for your sketchbook cover, the possibilities are endless. You can choose a theme that reflects your personality, interests, or even your current mood.

Here are some theme ideas to get you started.

Nature Inspired

sketchbook drawing ideas: Natured Inspired Sketchbook Cover

If you love nature and enjoy sketching landscapes, trees, and leaves, a nature-inspired theme might be perfect.

You can choose to focus on a specific type of nature, such as flowers or animals, or you can create a more general theme incorporating various natural elements. Cover your sketchbook in a piece of fabric or pleather. Read this post to get wrinkles out of pleather .

And if you would like to add some mushrooms to your artwork check out my tutorial on how to draw a mushroom on my Youtube Channel.

Consider using earthy tones and natural textures for your cover design. You can also add some hand-drawn illustrations or watercolor paintings to give your sketchbook a more organic feel.

Use these nature drawing ideas for inspiration.

Travel Journeys

hands drawing in a travel sketchbook with a cup of coffee to the left

If you love to travel and enjoy sketching the places you visit, then a travel-inspired theme might be a great choice for your sketchbook cover.

You can focus on a specific location or create a more general theme incorporating different travel elements. Check out these travel sketchbooks .

Character Designs

sketchbook drawing ideas: Character Designs

If you love to sketch characters and enjoy creating unique designs, then a character-inspired theme might be perfect for your sketchbook cover.

You can choose to focus on a specific type of character, such as cute chibi poses , superheroes or animals, or you can create a more general theme that incorporates a variety of character designs.

Personal Portraits

sketchbook drawing ideas: Personal Portraits

If you enjoy sketching people and want to create a more personal sketchbook cover, then a portrait-inspired theme might be a great choice for you.

You can focus on a specific person or create a more general theme incorporating different portrait styles. Draw a portrait in side profile for a more dramatic effect.

Consider using black and white photography or simple line drawings for your cover design. You can also add some hand-drawn illustrations or watercolor paintings to give your sketchbook a more artistic feel.

No matter what theme you choose, make sure it reflects your personal style and interests. Your sketchbook cover is a reflection of you and your art, so have fun and be creative!

Selling Your Sketchbook

personalized sketchbook with geometric pattern

If you’re an artist looking to sell your personalized sketchbooks, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success.

Etsy Shop Tips

Etsy is a great platform for selling handmade goods, including your sketchbook. Here are some tips for making the most of your Etsy shop:

  • Use high-quality photos: Make sure your photos are clear, well-lit, and show off your sketchbook in the best possible way.
  • Write a detailed description: Be sure to include all the important details about your sketchbook, such as its size, number of pages, and any special features.
  • Price competitively: Do some research to see what other artists are charging for similar sketchbooks, and price yours accordingly.
  • Promote your shop: Share your Etsy shop on social media and other online platforms to help drive traffic to your store.

Building Your Newsletter

Building an email newsletter is a great way to keep your fans updated on your latest work and to promote your sketchbook. Here are some tips for building your newsletter:

  • Offer a freebie: Offer your subscribers something of value, such as a free sketch or a discount on your sketchbook, in exchange for their email address.
  • Be consistent: Set a regular schedule for sending out your newsletter, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
  • Include exclusive content: Offer your subscribers exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes looks at your creative process or early access to new work.

Dealing with Ad Blockers

Ad blockers can be a challenge for artists looking to promote their work online. Here are some tips for dealing with ad blockers:

  • Focus on organic traffic: Instead of relying on paid advertising, focus on building your following through social media, your newsletter, and other organic channels.
  • Create valuable content: Create content that your followers will find valuable, such as tutorials, process videos, or blog posts about your creative process.
  • Be transparent: If you do use paid advertising, be transparent about it. Let your followers know when you’re running ads, and be upfront about why you’re doing it.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of selling your sketchbook and building a loyal following of fans and supporters.

personalized sketchbook with polka dot pattern

And there you have it – over 20 incredible ideas to personalize your sketchbook cover! Remember, the beauty of creating art lies in the process as much as the outcome. Your sketchbook is an extension of your artistry, a personal space that holds your thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

Let your cover reflect your artistic journey – the trials, the triumphs, and everything in between. The magic of art is that there are no rules – only infinite possibilities. So unleash your creativity and let it splash onto your sketchbook cover.

It’s not just about making art – it’s about creating a story that starts from the very cover. With these ideas in hand, you’re ready to begin.

Here’s to the uncharted territories your artistic expression will take you to.

Happy creating!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some cute and creative ways to decorate a sketchbook cover.

There are many ways to decorate a sketchbook cover! You can use stickers, washi tape, paint, markers, or even fabric. You can also try collage, embroidery, or decoupage. Get creative and think outside the box! You can draw or paint your favorite quotes, characters, or patterns. Check out these cute drawings for ideas! You can also use stencils or stamps to create a unique design. The possibilities are endless!

Where can I find printable templates for sketchbook covers?

You can find printable templates for sketchbook covers online. Canva offers free customizable templates that you can download and print. You can also search for templates on websites like Etsy or Pinterest. You can even create your own template using a blank sheet of paper and tracing your sketchbook cover.

How can I personalize my sketchbook cover?

You can personalize your sketchbook cover by adding your name, initials, or a special date. You can also include a favorite quote or a meaningful symbol. You can use your favorite colors or patterns to reflect your personality. You can also add photos or drawings that represent your interests or hobbies.

What materials do I need to make my own sketchbook cover?

To make your own sketchbook cover, you will need some basic materials such as paper, mod podge, scissors, glue, and tape. You can also use fabric, felt, or leather to cover your sketchbook. You can add embellishments such as buttons, ribbons, or beads to make it more unique. Make sure to measure your sketchbook carefully before cutting your materials.

Are there any tips for covering up mistakes on a sketchbook cover?

If you make a mistake on your sketchbook cover, don’t worry! You can try covering it up with stickers, washi tape, or a piece of paper. You can also use markers or paint to draw over the mistake and turn it into a part of your design. Remember, mistakes are a natural part of the creative process, so embrace them and use them to your advantage!

Other articles you may enjoy…

Best Sketchbook for Colored Pencils

10 Best Black Paper Sketchbooks for Artists to Explore New Ways of Seeing

13 Best Travel Sketchbooks 

How to Start a Daily Sketchbook | 17 Top Tips to Get You Inspired

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