NICOLA YOUNG

I’m rarely organised enough to get a post out on the first of the month, let alone a few days earlier but this is my February blog post. I have a rather busy February planned so thought I should get my butt in gear.  Today I am kicking off a 30 day sketchbook challenge and along with fellow artist Julia Weston we are leading a group of just under 100 artists who have signed up for the challenge, so we’re expecting the next few weeks to busy. 

I’ve posted before about art challenges, in fact checking my website stats this morning that blog seems to have been one of the most read, so clearly of interest. So, I thought I’d spend some time reflecting on why artists keep sketchbooks and the benefits they have for their art practice.

Artist’s Sketchbooks

Artists have kept sketchbooks for centuries.  If you google you will find so many inspiring images of pages from famous artists books. But I haven’t really reflected on why this is so important to me.

1. Recording Inspirations and Observations

My saving grace was my sketchbook and my phone as I snapped and sketched random scenes that we passed on en route.  One image stands out, the train was stopped unexpectedly and in my viewline I had a rather weird construct with cables and electrical stuff.  It didn’t make any sense but it did have symmetry and an interesting composition, so I captured that in my sketchbook before it faded from my memory. 

Many of my sketchbooks look just like this – random lines and shapes, many of which I’ve completely forgotten the source but when I’m struggling with a painting or wondering where to start, I reach for these for ideas.  They tend not to be the sketchbook spreads I share on Instagram or my website as the books I carry round with me are just small, softback, cheap sketchbooks that fit easily in my bag.  Many of these have been torn apart, pages posted on my painting wall for inspiration but they’re invaluable both as a resource and a boredom killer!

2. A Space to be Free

A sketchbook is a place you can freely express your ideas without fear of judgment. This allows you to experiment with new ideas, techniques, styles, and compositions in an unstructured and pressure-free way. Unlike paintings, sketchbooks are private, so you can take risks.  I choose to share some of my sketchbook pages but definitely not all of them. 

3. A Tool for Experimentation

Sketchbooks are disposal and relatively cheap.  So I don’t really mind if any of the pages end up in an ugly muddy mess.  Worse case scenario you can paint over or glue pages together to hide these.  Although I would encourage everyone to leave your ‘failure’ pages for three reasons. 

1. They are reminder of an experiment that didn’t work out. 
2. You can often spot how you might change that approach so they give you great learnings. 
3. And lastly (the weird one), sometimes when you revisit the page a few weeks later you see it with fresh eyes and actually like what you have created.

This experimentation can help creative growth and help you to discover new approaches or techniques that you can use in larger works.

4. Idea Development Exploration

I often use my sketchbooks when I’m starting to work through a new idea for a painting project.  In many of my books I have pages of scribbled notes on new ideas or different themes and compositions. And when I’m in an in-between period, as I am right now, they are the first place I go for ideas.

5. A Visual Diary

I don’t keep a diary in the conventional way.  I have a bullet journal which captures my dates to remember and things to do and a whole lot more – probably a subject for a different blog.  But my sketchbooks are a bit of a visual diary.  When I revisit them they show my creative growth and how ideas have evolved over time. And some of them are even more of a diary with sketches of places I have visited – check out my travel journals.

6. Improving Technical Skills

As an abstract artist most of my sketchbooks are quite expressive but I do also draw and my drawing are more representational.  When I have periods of time where I am not drawing I notice that this skill gets a bit rusty.  So, I am making more effort to balance the abstract, my painting and actual sketching.  The regular sketching has really helped my observational skills but also my hand-eye coordination, understanding of form, perspective, etc.

7. Recording Artistic Growth

I recently did my 2024 review – if you haven’t completed yours check out my FREE artists guides.  Part of this exercise was looking back through my sketchbooks which led to a bit of rabbit hole day.  I found sketchbooks I had years and years ago and it is amazing to see my progress over time.

If you’re ever in a bit of a creative slump it’s a great way to boost your confidence to see how your skills and style has evolved.  And I ended up with a few ideas for this year’s work, things I’d jotted down but never followed up on.

8. Stress Relief and Mental Clarity

There are a load of books and articles, written by professionals on this point and it’s a subject that fascinates me.  The act of drawing just seems to engage my brain in a way that relaxes me.  Sketchbooks are to me what a spa day is to others – a personal retreat, offering a moment of calm in a hectic world.

Conclusion

Sketchbooks are so much more than just a collection of drawings.  They are a powerful tool for growth, creativity, and self-expression. Whether used for practice, exploration, or relaxation, keeping a sketchbook is a habit that benefits artists at all levels. If you’re an artist—or aspire to be one—consider picking up a sketchbook and allowing yourself the freedom to create without limits. You may be surprised by how much you grow along the way.