Why use Sketchbooks for Finished Artwork?

Hello everyone! I started using sketchbooks when I was a student at university. I did not have a place in my apartment to have and art studio. I also moved a lot during those years so a sketchbook made it convenient for me to create multiple paintings at once without having to sacrifice space.

A sketchbook is to sketch, but for me it is so much more. I can paint full paintings, experiment, swatch, try new supplies and record my life. It is full of possibilities! I guess calling my books “sketchbooks” is not really the correct term. For me these books are more like my art journals, my companions, my art journey. They are a collection of my “failures” and my successes. A way to explore what style I like and what just doesn’t work for me.

When I first started filling these sketchbooks, I wanted to rip out some of the drawings because I did not like how they looked or because I thought they were not perfect. Since the beginning I decided not to do that, instead I decided to keep every single painting and drawing even if I didn’t like it. Now, looking back, I realize how far I have come.

If you have been on the fence about starting painting or if you have started but decided to stop, I encourage you to try using a sketchbook as a learning tool. Use it for completed paintings, to explore and to learn. You can use the pantings as a starting point for a big painting or just leave it in the sketchbook if you like. You will be surprised how much you grow over time. A sketchbook is just for you! You can do whatever you like with it.

If you want to get started, start with what medium you want to use and get a mixed media sketchbook of whatever size you like. The larger ones can give you a lot of space to experiment and explore. If you are not ready for the big ones, start small. These little sketchbooks can be taken anywhere. In a later post I will share my recommendations. You don’t need a lot of supplies to start. Just a pencil or color pencils and a sketchbook is all you need. Oh, and of course an eraser and a sharpener. But really you don’t need a lot. Have the courage to start. Who knows where this journey will take you.

Supporting you in your art journey,

-Luamy