Nailed it.
Hey guys, we got a new one of these today, and it is a sketchbook.
I haven't done too much with a sketchbook the last couple months, because I... lost
mine.
Let me... let me just open this up.
Alright, I'm gonna talk to you guys about how to start a sketchbook, and how to actually
finish it and fill it.
That's the most exciting part, right?!
It's also pretty intimidating just to even do the starting part.
I think a lot of people kind of have this fear of these things... that, like, what if
I make something bad, and then ruin this book that I just bought?
The first thing you can do, is set up a happy atmosphere, or go to one.
So whether that's cleaning off your art desk to make it seem organized again to motivate
you, or going to a coffee shop, lighting candles, watching Netflix while you draw... maybe even
just going outside.
Whatever helps you feel like there's less pressure and more motivation happening...
hey, that's good!
Right?
If you are somebody who is afraid of ruining a sketchbook because you paid money for one
of these, and you're afraid your art isn't good enough... buy a cheap sketchbook.
That is right.
Literally just go to the dollar store and buy something cheap.
Because it'll get you in the habit of just using your sketchbook.
You will build confidence over time and be like, "oh this is really not that big of a
deal.
I can upgrade to something nicer in the future."
Another thing you can do is to simply create patterns in your sketchbook.
This one seems pretty silly, but it's actually one of my favorite activities to get me loosened
up and ready to delve into something deeper.
So some things you can do with patterns is simple repeating shapes, different colorful
blobs, or just a lot little things that are familiar to you.
For me, that is flowers and plants.
It just makes me feel really comfortable and, you know, somethings you don't really have
to push yourself all the time.
You can do these therapeutic relaxing things.
And yeah, for me it's definitely patterns.
I love just scattering a lot of flowers and leaves on pages.
Add some splashes of color.
And when you look back to that page, you can think, "wow, it's so colorful and looks so
happy in my sketchbook!"
Do you ever get a new art supply and you really want to use it on a big project?
Well first, you can swatch it in your sketchbook.
This is really nice too, because if you're on-the-go, and you want to look back at certain
colors to use, BOOM you can turn to this page.
I find swatch pages are very helpful, especially when I just kind of want to pick out color
schemes and color palettes for future pieces.
So it's nice, because it's colorful, but it's also something you can use again and again
by looking back at it.
The fifth thing you can do is to draw what you struggle with the most.
This is where you will see a lot of improvement happening.
Sketchbooks aren't always meant to look pretty.
They are meant to help us, and if you want to grow, you are totally welcome to draw the
things that you have trouble drawing.
For me, this is definitely anatomy, and right now I'm drawing noses, because I really want
to get better at them.
So I'm not using fancy colors or anything.
I'm just using a pencil.
But, I just practiced drawing noses from different angles, and I will probably repeat this same
exercise about 3 or 4 or 5 more times in this same sketchbook.
So yeah, pick what you want to improve.
Nobody has to see this.
And if it doesn't turn out okay... that's fine!
At least you tried, and you probably improved anyway.
This is definitely one of my favorite activities for my sketchbook when I first get it.
I love setting goals for myself.
You've probably seen me mention this in other sketchbooks, because that is how effective
I feel these lists are.
Sure, it fills one page, but this goal list carries on throughout your sketchbook.
If you have goals of what you want to improve, those things are always staring back at you
on this page.
So those days that you really want to get better, you want to make art, but you just
don't know what to do... look back at these goals!
The best part, though, when you finish your sketchbook, it is so rewarding to turn back
to your goal page and cross things off.
It feels amazing!
Now, I'm a list person, so I made career goals and miscellaneous goals as well.
You don't have to do this, but feel free...
The next thing you can do are zentangles.
These are basically very therapeutic, mindless art projects that takes simple lines.
It doesn't really involve a lot of thinking.
You can just do different shapes, and spots.
Use really fun colors.
Pens or pencils.
Doesn't really matter.
But the nice thing about it is it is so therapeutic.
So say you had a bad day, and you just want to unwind and relax.
Maybe you're stressed out.
This is a wonderful go-to activity.
Not to mention, if you like doing a Netflix binge, but you also feel like drawing... this
is perfect!
You don't have to miss out on your show because you're focusing on so many details.
You can just kinda... go back to this and stop wherever you really want.
I always find that these look beautiful once the page is completely filled.
They're really fun to look back at later.
The last idea I'm going to leave you with is to draw your day.
Lots of different things happen to us throughout the day, which leaves us with lots of highlights,
or lowlights.
Regardless, it's gonna challenge you to draw a lot of different things... or paint them.
For instance, right now, you will see me drawing avocado toast, laundry, gardening stuff, camera.
Lots of things.
Because this is what happened in my day.
Not only does this push you to draw different stuff, but it's really therapeutic, and it's
kind of fun to record what happens to us without a lot of writing.
Just a lot of pictures.
And I feel like I can remember these days pretty vividly because of that.
It's very unique.
If you're a bullet journaler, you might really like this activity in your bullet journals
as well.
Here's this cheesy little thing I made for you.
Alright, thanks for watching.
I hope you found this helpful, and it gave you some new ideas!
Have a wonderful day, and best of luck working through your sketchbooks!