I think its also very important to embrace whatever subject you want to draw or paint, every artist has different things that appeal to them, but I think there's sometimes a pressure to draw the "right things" Yes, you should obviously practice anatomy and the essentials but if you feel a calling to paint or draw a specific thing you shouldn't ignore it. I've always been drawn to more weird, surreal or dreamlike drawings and paintings and I used to be afraid of what people will think so I would kind of censor myself. You don't have to try to make people understand, You don't have to show anybody, you should first and foremost be drawing For Yourself, not others, if you draw something you think others will like or you want to show off a painting you're super proud of, by all means go for it, but you should always take time to do some painting or drawing that only you see, of whatever it is that makes your brain happy.

Here's an advice on breaking into a new sketchbook: draw something stupid on the first page. Doesn't matter how fancy that sketchbook is - just draw something silly. Draw a meme, draw your favorite character in a silly costume, draw a goofy self-portrait, etc. For me it's the best way to make a new sketchbook less intimidating.

Biggest advice I have is to please, please, PLEASE let go of the expectation that your sketches need to be good in your sketch book. A sketch book is designed for you to try new things out or warm yourself up, so you’re bound to make a lot of mistakes when you’re drawing in there, and you need to feel free to do so. I used to be petrified of drawing in a sketchbook (still am sometimes!) because I’ll watch sketchbook tours and think about how terrible my sketchbook looks compared to theirs. Sketchbooks aren’t meant to be the prettiest. If you obsess over that, you’ll make yourself sick with anxiety and stunlock yourself from ever drawing inside of it because you’re pressuring yourself so much!

One of my favourite artists once said “A bad sketchbook is an unused one” and I think that really helped me get more loose with mine. I’ve been flip-flopping between a digital sketchbook on my iPad and I’ve since had a few physical ones, both are a mishmash of subjects, thumbnails, concepts, studies and finished pieces. One day I’ll feel like drawing birds and it’ll be full of birds and the next day I’m practicing poses for a piece of fan art I want to do. I’ve used the traditional one to test new art supplies and techniques and I’ve been forcing myself to erase less and less. Just fill it in with whatever you want and it will be a little piece of art all on its own - wonky lines and all

The thing about sketchbooks being time capsules of progress is so true. I have over 30 sketchbooks in storage numbered chronologically dating back from middle school. It’s good for finding patterns in terms of your strengths and weaknesses and what you need to practice and I think it’s essential to my art.

as someone who used to love drawing but has been straggling with depression for years, this video was really refreshing and made me want to draw more freely. Thank you!

The tip about not erasing is such a good one. I've been using erasable coloured pencils, which allows me a little erasing but not as clear as pencil, which means I have a 'limited amount' of erasing. I find this helps me be freer with my sketching. Also I love those long nosed dogs that popped up here and there in the video! They're adorable

I also recommend putting things like stickers, sticky notes and washi tape to help boost ur creativity and does add a pop of color/ interest to ur sketches~ I like to see my sketchbook as a scrapbook lol

My perfectionism had really been getting in my way lately and this video helped me shift my perspective a bit, so thank you!!

Learning to accept my sketchbook as a space to learn and mess up and practice is still a work in progress but I've gotten so much better over the years. Something I have been doing a lot lately is having a separate smaller and cheaper sketchbook to warm up in or just to put pencil to paper when I feel like if I don't draw something immediately I will explode lol. It may not be a very good habit when thinking about the end goal of letting go completely, but I feel like it's helped me to accept that my work does not have to be visually pleasing and perfectly constructed 100% of the time

"Not thinking and just doing" is so useful because as someone who battles with depression, sometimes I catch myself ruminating over absurd things which just leads towards a kind of paralysis. But to just draw for the sake of drawing is truly liberating. When I don't know what to draw I take a stack of magazines from the coffee table and just flip to a random page and draw whatever is there, I don't make any preliminary sketches, I just draw. This helps to build confidence as well as free one up from expectations. Social media is detrimental as well and I'm so thankful to delete my insta because of how much time I've wasted on there and not surprisingly, after that, I noticed I had a new desire to draw that was not contingent on how many views or likes it received. Wonderful video and very inspiring.

on the matter of "no idea what to draw", I usually do two things: I always make notes of ideas for art when I can't or don't want to draw at the moment. Either in a dedicated notebook, an Word-document or the sketchbook itself. So when I want to draw and am out of ideas, I just flip through these idea notes and there is usually something that inspires me. The second thing is hoarding reference pictures like a dragon ^^ I have so many pictures I cut out from calendars, magazines, I collect artworks I like and scenes that look nice. And I flip through these as well when I need inspiration. Both helps really well for coming up with ideas when I want to draw.

I needed this so bad rn, I've been really hard on myself telling myself I need to make perfect drawings that I often psych myself out of making art for myself that aren't art assignments from school. Im going to try and take your advice so that I'm not afraid of making bad drawings anymore. Thank you. 🥰

Great tips!! I do some of these but quite a few reminded me of things I can do as warmups. A tip I have is just a basic ‘don’t draw on the first page if it’s intimidating’ just put notes, reminders, tips, stickers, etc. there. The tip of putting recipes and such in your sketchbook is so good too! I have recently been putting pieces of packaging from things I really liked. Like gold embellishments from a mystery pop art box I got! Anything where you’re like ‘I want to keep this but why, there’s no reason to but I like looking at it’ just throw it in your sketchbook yooooooo!! Mixed media sketchbooks are best for this as the pages are thicker and can hold onto glue better without warping/tearing easily. Love your videos!!❤

I still can't get over how cute the otters are 🥺 These are some good tips as well, I've been sketching recently, but have been afraid of messing up (which always happens), and that always demotivates me. Thanks for the tips !

As always I really love your videos, they're really relaxing and your tips are one the nose. ^^ I also started to see progress in my sketches when I stopped using an eraser (I still do, just less frequently). For those who have troubles switching to a non erasable tool, my tip is to simply have different colors for your sketch and your "clean-up". I sketch a lot with pencils. I do my sketch in a lighter color, and then do a "clean up" (more like a lineart) with a darker color over it. Like that, it was still a sketch (so no stress), but it looked cleaner. I can also add blocks of colors with the lighter color I used for the sketch, or a third accent color to make the art pop! And if I'm not satisfied with the sketch, I simply leave it without adding the darker color, so I don't erase it, but my eyes don't focus on it when looking at the page either. (Dual pencils with red and dark blue are one of the best tools for those kinds of sketches) Hope this helps ^^

This is one of those things you think you know but have to remind yourself now and again.

The days I want to sketch I’m in bed with pain, and the days that are ‘good’ then I don’t know what to draw and end up just scrolling social media. Lately I like sketching in the bus while going to a painters studio. On my way there I have a ton of inspiration for a piece I want to create that day. I sketch them on printer paper, and glue them in my sketchbook later. Thank you so much for helping other with your tips !

Another little tip that works for me is going to a museum, seeing art just makes you want to replicate them!!

You hit most of the things I would have suggested for a sketchbook practice. My only add-on is, to try setting a timer and scribbling something down in that time. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece, it can even just be squiggly lines but getting your hand moving and getting into the habit of drawing even for 1 minute a day can be beneficial in progressing as an artist.

My tip is to just carry around scrap paper and double sided tape. If you mess up a drawing, just cover it up. And then you can draw more on top of it too! Really, you can also just tape whatever you want in there. Envelopes, scrap drawings, stickers, etc. Another thing that helps me is to get a small sketchbook. I dunno why but I find that it’s easier to be creative with a small book. Hope that helped at least a little bit :D

Great video. This advice is very helpful. It’s hard not to want to make my sketchbook “perfect” that perfectionism mindset can be so crippling to creativity

Hi To All! I Loved this video! So encouraging and inspiring!!! One thing I like to do is -when I’m in front of our tv, I will go to the Disney/National Geographic documentaries, and when I see anything ( usually animals or landscapes-marine life is my favorite!), I will pause the tv and draw away in my sketchbook! I challenge my self to sketch quickly as well, before the screen saver comes on! 😁 it’s so fun and I find much Joy in it!

I used to sketch and draw so much as a kid and in my teens. Now I am not sketching at ALL! BUT for 2024 I now started to sketch every day, even if it is just a little thing. My old sketchbooks were often full of blank pages or space, somehow I never managed to draw more than one sketch on a page and often not even using the left side. I somehow developed the idea that sketches need to be perfect. Seeing all your sketchbooks (and also the ones of other artists) I realize I never thought of the idea to draw over something if I don't like it or glue something over it. I will definitely (and already have!) do that from now on. I hope in the end of the year I have filled some nice pages, without worrying so much, and find my happiness back in drawing - as it got lost the last years sadly. thanks for all your inspiration.

This was so helpful, thank you! I opened my sketchbook yesterday when I got home and just started drawing in a colored pencil (they're harder to erase) and 1) the colors used looked cool against the page 2) the drawing even though it was a sketch and not totally complete came out pretty nicely. I was like holy crap is this what happens when you don't force perfection?! 😅 It's a constant battle with me so I'll keep working at it until I can be more aware of not letting perfectionism get in the way of me enjoying art (hopefully that made sense).

Mushroom!!!!!, one way i have warmed of recently is drawing small simple cartoon like mushrooms, it really helps with coordination. Just leave all the lines as well since then you can look back and see how you did them and things like that. Btw i love seeing lines when i sketch, i just think of them as guidelines for the future

So, I have quite a few years combined of experience using sketchbooks (Had a 10+ years gap in the middle where I haven't drawn at all because reasons). There are a bunch of rules that I give myself to reduce my levels of stress since I'm a ball of anxious : 1. I don't tear a page, no matter how ugly it looks. This way when I feel bad about my art I can get back to "that one time when it was absolutely awful" and compare it to better works. I used to tear the bad ones before but then I didn't have a reference for when I'm drawing at my worst. 2. I always keep various sizes and types of sketchbooks nearby, this way if I want to draw I don't have the excuse of "yeah but I have to find that specific one" to procrastinate. :v 3. My 90gsm sketchbooks are the "ugly ones to practice and try new things", therefore I can and will use alcohol markers and other markers that will bleed onto the next page, and I can and will draw on those dirty pages. 4. To avoid procrastination "because I'll have to find where's the next empty page", since I use spiralled sketchbooks I mark a diagonal at the corner of each page, number the pages properly, and then when I'm finished with a page I can just chop the corner off with scissors or my exacto. Also it helps with blank page since something has already been written on it so I can mess it up it's fine.

I've been trying to make myself continue drawing for an art contest prompt, and I lose steam pretty quickly, so I figured I should watch some helpful art videos first. This video popped up (while I was distracted scrolling through youtube). This is very helpful, thank you for reminding me that I don't have to feel pressured to make things perfect or be afraid to try something new! Also, your drawings are so cute! :3 God bless you, and whoever may be reading this! You are so loved by your Creator, you have worth and purpose. Have a great day! :)

This does help Thank you I like using my sketchbook as a journal of sorts.

Watching your videos has definitely helped me to be less precious about my sketchbooks. I tried your suggestion of layering doodles and not being so neat and I really had fun with it. 😊

Great tips and tricks!! Thank you for this awesome video!!😁

I love your approach to what a sketchbook is 'about'.

Thank you I needed this 😊

thank you so much i needed this

This is actually some really good advice! Thank you so much 👏🏻

Thanks for the awesome advice. Very helpful as per usual. 😊😊😊 keep up the good work!

❤❤❤❤ thankyouu so much for these! take care always!🤗

This was exactly the encouragement I needed, thank you! Great suggestions. Also, I love your little "Tea please!" bird. Tea makes everything better!

This video was really awesome! I’m a young artist and I keep setting high expectations for myself even though I’m still trying to figure out my artstyle. I am going to try and have a more relaxed mindset on art now so thank you!

Seeing all the kitties you drew made me realize I've been meaning to study them! I've been thinking about trying to fill up a small sketchbook as quickly as possible because I've been bad about doing regular sketches and I want to get into it.

I’ve never had this problem before, but these videos always inspire me so much, so thank you for making this :) I can see by the comments that this has helped so many people

Thank you for this video! After my first year at art college, my depression and anxiety have made it so hard for me to draw and improve :( seeing this is so validating :D ❤

Great video ❤ I sketched while watching.

this video is exactly what i need right now. i paint from reference all the time and i've been wanting to try painting from multiple references but its not going well (my goal is painting from imagination). i feel like i'm not letting myself be creative and free enough by keep depending on references. thank u for sharing this method of yours def worth to try!

This is awesome, it came just when I needed it. Thanks!

Great tips! Thank you ❤

Super helpful video! I felt so alone and now I know everyone struggle every once in a while. I have no "artists" around me so I can't really share my feeling about all this. And your tips are really good. Thanks a lot ❤️

my favorite page in my sketchbook was literally done with a black ballpoint pen and highlighters. i can be SO fun and freeing to draw with something with no undo, because it really forces you to just shrug and move on if you mess up. i've reached a point where more than half my sketches are done in the cheapest pen possible, eraser no where in sight.

it really did help, thank you sm

This is the best video about this subject that I've watched so far! Love how you share your personal experiences as well.

I'd love your opinion about writing in your sketchbook, that helps me warm up most days ❤ thank you for the refreshing tips! I feel pumped 😁

thank you for this video was very helpful. i always get stuck of what to draw

This video helped me a lot. I had some issues on my mind which I couldnt solve and your pice of advice was very needed

Solid advice! ❤

Thank you I struggle with this alot

sketching is art to me dope vid

Thank you so much

I'm so terribly precious with my sketchbook, and I've been trying to get better recently. I think I see it too much as my showcase and not enough as my safe space. It's so satisfying when a piece turns out well that it's crushing when it goes poorly, but not everything can be good unfortunately. I did just finish something that I like, so I'm riding that high right now, and I'm looking forward to implementing your tips. Thanks for covering this topic Jel, it comes at such a good time 😅

Thank you ❤

I just got a new sketchbook nd I've been kinda just not drawing cause I'm so intimidated by all the pages, so this really helped because I'm kinda a beginner nd im always freaked by making "bad art"

As an artist who has a bunch of blank pages or barely drawn on pages, you can cut out any sketches you’ve done on other things that arent your sketchbook and glue/tape them on the page, that rlly helps me

Sometimes I find using a different medium helps too. If I've been using the same pencil for a while I find I can get bored of it, and that hinders my drawing abilities too. So I'll switch up from a graphite pencil to an Inktense pencil for example, or a watercolor pencil just for funzies. OR if I'm tired of watercolors in my journal, there's gouache or maybe different brands of watercolor can spark inspiration. It can be really fun also to gesso a page in the sketchbook, then sketch on it. If you like that, you can go in with acrylics, or acrylic inks and not damage the page after. I Also like watching shows when I'm doing art stuffs, or listening to music on my playlists. That's how I tend to do my warm ups, especially if I'm feeling stale and crusty for a day or so.

Hey! Really missed watching your videos. Your art’s always so cool and pretty!

for me personally my sketchbook is like an art gallery and though I haven't found a way to get rid of that mindset, I have found a way to sketch freely I draw on lose paper, on napkins, on anything I can find and if I like it, I can glue it in my sketchbook if I don't, that's fine! it was just a little piece of paper =) additionally I've gotten used to ripping up pages as a way to give it a more interesting shape which means I know I can always rip out art I don't like or cover it by gluing something over it I know it isn't as great as being able to keep the bad art there and be okay with it, but I find it a lot better than leaving it empty =)

When i was younger, i had countless sketchbooks where i drew anything. Today i don't even know where all that creativity came from lol, I'd draw during classes, then I'd go home from school and draw more and more for the whole day. I don't know where or when i lost that drive, i feel a huge blockade whenever i open a sketchbook now. I think back then i had absolutely no fear of failing. I know I don't need to have this fear today but i just feel stuck... I think social media might have something to do with this. I wish i could go back to that time and revive all those feelings i had when i was making art. I miss that

Back when I was super afraid to start a sketchbook, I followed the advice to just rip out some pages, crumple them up, throw the sketchbook around, drag it across the floor, even using it as a foot rest, etc. - it really took the pressure off from making it perfect! 😂

Wow, yes, the exploration is the goal of a sketchbook! I’ve watched a sketchbook tour on KZfaq from another artist (ugh can’t remember their name sorry!) but they were saying that people tends to forget that a sketchbook ISN’T an artbook. With a lot of sketchbook tours made to show finished spreads and nice sketches etc, it feels like sketchbooks are becoming more like artbooks…and the pressure that comes with it, and it shouldn’t! :)

Those are such buttery-looking markers❤❤like while i was listening i couldnt help but focus on the flow of the pinks and browns😂

Would love to see more portrait or a character design!

THANK YOU for the encouragement, silly how I haven't drawn anything because I'm scared of not producing something great. You are so inspirational, I've been following you for years now thanks :)

i like to listen to your videos over my reference tab when im drawing,its so soothing lmao >

I love drawing with really cheap pens because it forces me to accept the lines I draw. It makes me so much more free because what happens happens! Great tips all around ❤

What an amazing video!! Seriously, super helpful. I'm struggling to finish my current sketchbook. It's my second one and the paper is very thick, which makes me feel like I have to do special things in it. But the paper is also TERRIBLE and doesn't work well with any of the mediums that I like to use. So I'm in this paradox situation, like, I know the paper is bad, but I still feel like it's "good" because it's thick, then I don't want to waste it but whenever I try to make something nice in it, it doesn't work because the paper is actually bad and I get frustrated. I'm nearing the end now, I have like 10 pages left and I'm determined to push through. And I've already bought a new sketchbook that I'm super excited to start (hopefully the paper in it is better, even though it's much thinner)! So long comment short, I'm saving this video to watch again when I start my new sketchbook. I really want to start a new mindset with it too! =)

I think it's important to start off with one of those basic composition notebooks you buy every year for school, I didn't start there I started with stickey notes when I was real little but composition notebooks helped me with breaking down shapes somehow, I guess it was because of the certain angles I drew at and the way they lined up with the lines lol, but a simple notebook or something similar is a great way to start off

Yt has not put you on my recommended in a while. Nice to see you again!

I watched this about a month ago but wanted to come back because I've been able to draw more regularly in my sketchbook and really enjoy making art again! Thank you so much for this video!

Thank you so much for your videos Jen, you're one of my favorite drawing KZfaq EVER

I needed to hear this today. I've been really psyching myself out of creating cos i feel guilty for making art using cheap supplies that dont need the thick, good quality paper of my sketchbook. I bought a mixed media one so i had the choice to use whatever medium i wanted, but it means i feel guilty to create anything that isnt a fully-fledged finished piece with expensive supplies. I've also felt like i have to have one sketchbook for everything and sequentially number them cos that's what's all over youtube, but this video has made me realise it might be best for me to have a cheap sketchbook where i don't feel precious about the pages. The expensive one can be for when i want to do full paintings.

The thing that made me get more loose was just going with the flow. Putting the pencil on the page and just going. Putting myself in the mindset of "this is just practice" helped a lot too. And also thinking that there can be many tries and not all of them will look good but you WILL find something you are satisfied with. Honestly I don't even care how my drawings look at this point because all that's important is having fun!

I just watched Myriam Tillson's most recent sketchbook tour, and her sketchbook had so much more messy, unfinished sketches in it than what I usually see from artists on youtube--it looked a lot more like what mine does, and that made me feel good. I definitely have that perfectionism when it comes to my nicer sketchbooks, and even with the cheaper ones, I have fear about 'wasting' paper. It's something I need to work on.

This is a tip for beginner artists who wants to have this kinda of Sketchbook, to achieve this sketchbook style you should trust yourself using straight up colored pencils and pens, don’t be afraid to make random arts, from time to time you’ll realize sketchbook isn’t about colors and Serious arts, sketchbook is free, Make sample drawings, Wobbly, Random, Simple, or any other stuffs, sketchbook is for helping you how to draw better with shapes and Lines you make.

Thanks for this, I always stare down at blank pieces of paper at school wanting to draw but wondering if it'll look bad, then wonder why my other friends have such amazing and shameless drawings in their sketch books. But now that I think back on it, who cares? It's not like I'm gonna enter it in a museum anyway. Also can I just say that your doodles are adorable!

I see ur videos and get inspierd to draw anemols.

I used to start my sketchbooks on the last page and work my way backwards so if anything looked bad someone wouldn’t see it right off the bat

The thing I do when I’m bored or I have no ideas what to draw. Is I find two random things it can be an animal, a plant, your least favorite thing to draw or your favorite thing to draw. It can be anything! But the challenge is that you have to combine them together and see where your imagination takes you. Anyways I hope this helps!

I miss sketching but I work from Monday til Saturday and when I get home I just want to rest.. but I want to get back to my sketchbook and my digital art too!

This (and all of your other sketchbook tip videos!) has been so dang helpful. I'm realising that my biggest issue is how weighed down I've become by all the the 'good artists do this, bad art ' advice I picked up over the years. Art-making discourse some years back was all about 'skill issue, git gud' and I think so many of us got tangled up in wanting to prove we're hardworking as opposed to the 'lazy artist' myth that was floating around at the time. I sure am glad creative people are talking more about how important it is to approach art from a place of enjoyment and love. Can't be creative when chronically afraid.

honestly, for the last few years (a bit before the pandemic started) i think ive lost all my passion for drawing, to a point where whenever i pickup a pencil i cant even start the sketch, its overwhelming, i get anxious and want to cry, so i just shut the skecthbook entirely, idk what hapenned, i just want to draw again any piece of paper has become intimidating to me... but im tired of it, i miss drawing, i miss loving to draw, i miss those earlier days where i didnt know how to draw anything but i didnt care and i drew things just for fun, i want to pickup my pencils again thank you for this video, really

I usually keep a few papper clips attached to my scetchbook so if i have a doodle that i really like on a different peace of paper thats not in my sketchbook, i can just stick it in the paperclip.

I’ve enjoyed doing all those dumb fast doodles that are awful, weird, and amazing in notebooks or composition books, those ones you can get for $0.25 to $2.00 during Back to School season. Or this $2 sketchbook at Walmart that’s pretty great for the price? If you use markers in it it starts to tear up pretty quickly but the paper is a decent thickness and white, and it does okay with colored pencils. Having something that “disposable” at least for me makes it feel perfectly acceptable to “waste” the paper. If you’re frustrated with what you’ve made, you can just scribble around for a page. :) Sometimes I start thinking like oh, I should reserve the nicer, more expensive sketchbooks for finished pieces, but what I bought them for was the fact that they were enjoyable to use, not that they’re nice to look at.

I really struggle when it comes to filling sketchbooks, or at least completing them. I still have one sitting in my drawer that I haven't used. I still plan to use it once I can get past my own nerves in regards to that first page. In the meantime, though, I have found it helpful to doodle in a notepad, just something really cheap that you know isn't going to last that long. I keep this notepad on me and I use it for practice and although it is REALLY badly crumpled due to hanging around in my pocket, 😂 it helps me since I don't feel as anxious using it. Bottom line is, push comes to shove you can use a really crappy or cheap notebook until you feel confident or comfortable enough to fill up a proper sketchbook.

Hello there your an amazing artist love your attitude and you look so fun , may i ask what you search on Pinterest to find your art / doodles xxxx

I am loosening up by drawing random things in ballpoint pen. I love washi tape, stickers, and random things that interest me, like designs on junk mail, ticket stubs, pamphlets, photos, whatever comes my way. It doesn't have to make sense or be aesthetic. Highlighters, cheap colored pencils, cheap watercolor, acrylic, sometimes I gesso a page and put oil pastel or oil paint. You can seal an oil pastel sketch if you carefully paint matte or gloss varnish over it. I like Liquitex Basic varnish because it's cheap and does the job. Oil paint, on the other hand, you just have to let dry to the touch before you can close the book. Acrylic is a lot faster. Lena Danya, Chris Fornatero, and Scott Christian Sava are some of my favorite YT artists.

I've known about the tip for using cheap Sketchbooks for some time but didn't really consider what kind of materials I've been using. My first thought was to just by some new pens, but then I looked at what I had and realized I could actually use all the pens I wouldn't normally use to just play around and experiment with them.. I'm using them in a sketchbook I made that I can easily fill with different kinds of paper so it feels a lot more experimental seeing how the materials react with each other. Thank you for this video. I've been struggling a long time with picking up the pencil again and feel like this has gotten me one step closer again :)

i figure that even if every page has the same subject on it, then i've done good with the sketchbook and hopefully improved

what youtube stuff do you watch while you draw or do art business stuff?

Something I like doing is using Scrapbooks. The one I’m using now has paper quality that is as good, if not better, than some sketchbooks I’ve used in the past. But even so (because of its very nature of being a scrapbook) I feel comfortable using different papers from pads and sticking them in with some nice washi tape. This allows me to use whatever paper type I want: I have one page with smooth Bristol paper with an ink drawing, and the next drawings on watercolour paper, then a few pages on I have some pencil on toned paper - it’s very freeing being able to jump around materials without worrying about the paper or how big my drawing is as I can have a couple of little drawings on one page. If I really don’t like a drawing, or ruined it somehow, then I simply have the choice NOT to put it in my Scrap-come-Sketchbook, so there’s no pressure of the dreaded ‘oh, I’ve ruined this entire page now!’ *I like to use my washi tape like a frame, its can look real neat 😁

honestly when I realized that I could paint over a "bad" drawing or glue a piece of paper and draw on top of it my sketchbook anxiety became SO MUCH easier to deal with

Discussion about how to use a sketchbook overlaps with discussions of how to organize work/hobbies in a more general sense. Like, some of the most practical things you can have are basically methods of storage, and books are a particularly common kind of storage. If you want to make a simple, cheap sketchbook, you can get a manila folder and a binder clip, write on the folder to label it, clip some printer paper into it, and that's your book. The folder divides up the space into inside and outside the book, and the clip binds the paper together into pages. Doing it this way doesn't use good quality materials, so it's a bit like using kids' art supplies - it makes it a play space. And I do advocate for having kids' art supplies, too. When you buy the sketchbook off the shelf, and you get the high quality supplies, it's convenient, it means the work lasts longer, but I think that actually adds to the intimidation factor. On the other hand, unless you already know the materials well, it always ends up with some page of the book being test swatches, and I like having those - there's a sense of "getting that out of the way" so you can just use the rest of the book. What I actually put in the sketchbook lately is 80% warmup, blind contours while I watch videos. I just cover the page in it. When it gets illegible I change materials, until I can't add any more. So in those pages there is both nothing to see and a lot to see. And then suddenly I'm like "oh, this one I'll finish" and then a complete drawing appears there. I also have a collection of grid notebooks that I bought in one big bundle, and I will use those for project notes and various other journals(one tracking finances, one tracking health, etc.). With those, the grid is used for sketching some of the time to ease designing proportions, and other times it's for diagrams, comic layouts and such. For this more symbolic kind of stuff I like going in with a multipen and switching colors to give it some visual organization. I'll also use sticky notes to track the progress of something, and throw away the note when it's been done. That helps get it out of my head. Having a bunch of books for writing and drawing in can make it be like, "when I open this book, I do this kind of thing" - it creates a space for a certain task. Also applicable to all your art supply storage, workspace, etc. - finding ways of dividing and binding these spaces that match how you want to use them, will reduce the friction to doing art. Sometimes you just need the whole workspace on a tray so that you literally take it out and put it away.

I always doodle little things of my OC's lol, and funny situations with them. Sometimes i just do random shit