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How to Start (And Keep) A Sketchbook
So, you want to start keeping a sketchbook? Whether you’re starting from scratch or you’ve tried starting before, here are a few tips for developing a sketchbook habit that will have you filling sketchbook after sketchbook.
Figure Out Your Why
Think about why you want to keep a sketchbook.
Do you want to be more present? Do you want to remember more or document your day? Do you want to spend less time online? Are you looking for a way to express yourself and unwind? Are you looking to be more creative, explore new ideas, or improve your drawing skills in a certain area?
Putting into words why you want to keep a sketchbook will help you create a routine that complements your goals and decide what kind of sketchbook you want to keep.
Figure Out Your When
Demands on our time have a tendency to sneak up on us. We tend to think that we will be less busy in the future, and so when we set goals, we assume that we’ll have more time for them than we do. Instead, assume that you’ll be just as busy tomorrow as you were today.
Plan when to draw according to what you can accomplish, even on your busiest days.
Think about what an average day/week looks like for you and decide when it makes the most sense to carve out time to draw. Is there a routine you already have that you could couple or replace with drawing? For example, if you always watch T.V. for an hour before bed, could you doodle while you watch? If you get a lunch break at work, could you draw while you eat your sandwich? Maybe you have to pick someone up from sports practice, could you fit in sketching while you wait?
It’s often easier to alter an existing routine than it is to start a brand new one. Aim to draw for small increments of time, like 10 or 15 minutes, so you can sneak it into your day even if you’re busy or tired. On days when the mood hits you, you can always draw for longer.
Lower the Barrier to Entry
When you’re first getting into the grove fight the urge to overcomplicate things.
Stay away from materials that have a lot of setup or clean-up requirements, that need specific accessories, preplanning, dedicated space, or that use any of your decision-making bandwidth before getting started. Instead, make it as simple as possible to get drawing. Choose the largest sketchbook that can comfortably fit in your regular bag, and one pen or mechanical pencil. Keep them together and visible in the place where you spend your time. This ensures that when you have a minute of free time, you can just open your sketchbook and start doodling, you can take it with you easily, and the tools you need to get started are always on hand.
Once sketching becomes a comfortable habit for you, begin to experiment with additional supplies. If getting started begins feeling daunting, remember you can always scale back.
Constraints Are A Friend to Creativity
Have you ever felt personally victimized by blank page paralysis? You’re not alone!
Once you’ve found 15 minutes to sit down and draw, you don’t want to spend the entire 15 minutes deciding what to draw. Setting a theme for your sketchbook can help. Think of a subject you’re interested in and want to explore further. You can set a theme that is vague and open-ended, like “good things,” or you can set themes that are topical and specific, like “sea creatures”. Procedural themes can be great too, like: “things drawn from life.”
Once you think you’ve landed on a theme you like, test it by thinking of a couple of examples. A good theme should inspire you and generate lots of ideas to pull from. You can keep multiple sketchbooks with different themes if you find one topic getting stale.
Find Community
Chances are you already know someone who likes to draw, invite them for a coffee and a doodle.
Building a community of creative people around you will keep you inspired, help you learn, grow and keep going. Join clubs, go to workshops or attend programs (…like Sketch Club! and Art Journalling… Wink wink.)
Many online art communities share resources and celebrate subspecialties. Don’t be afraid to call yourself an artist, claim the things that you love, and you’ll find others who love them too.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, if you want to start a sketchbook, you should!
Keeping a sketchbook is a great way to feel more connected to yourself and the world around you, build your skill, and tap into your creative side. Keep it fun, don’t be hard on yourself, aim for consistency over perfection and share your interests with others when you can.