"It will never be perfect but that's perfect" really resonated with me as I try to get over the fear of not having a pristine sketchbook as a beginner. Thank you!!
I"m glad it helped. There can be a massive fear of the blank page, worried about it not being good enough and what will people think. I think we all get to caught up in the final product and forget to enjoy the act of drawing.
I have been sketching daily for 12+ years, and the sketchbook I carry with me at all times has gotten smaller and smaller over time. I'm now down to A6 size. I finish compositions much faster, and I am less likely to hesitate in starting a sketch because I know I can finish it quickly. It's also less intrusive in public. Now when I occasionally bring along an A5, it feels too large and cumbersome. So my tip would be: go small!
That's great advice Tina, scale is definitely something that you need to get right. For a long time I used A5 with pages I could take out easily so I could scan them all. Now I have a few on the go, a smaller A6 that I take with me and an A4 & A3 that sit on my desk.
I use the tiny square Royal Talens 12 cm x 12 cm or similar. This is also the trick that finally got me sketching daily! I use bigger books when needed, but the small size feels so much more approachable/less intimidating.
For some reason, I always thought that sketchbooks for art needed to be separate from a diary or scrapbooking…I feel like I received permission to combine all of these and want to thank you for that!
I use mine for everything, drawing, lists, ideas for running an art school, stuff I forgot to do, drawings my kids have done.. It's a true reflection of my life rather than just a bunch of perfect drawings that build pressure to keep them all looking good.
I loved seeing your sketchbooks in the video! They are far from perfect which is exactly how mine are. Sometimes I get a bit disheartened with all the perfect sketchbooks on youtube and instagram becuase it doesn't seem achievable for me. It's nice to be reminded it doesn't have to be like that.
That's good to hear. I felt it was important to make sure people saw the pages that were real too. Editing things or being so controlled that it all looks perfect doesn't really show the creativity I'm looking to bring out in people. It's not how I work, I'm more interested in lateral thinking, trying stuff and learning from it.
Thank you for this! I agree with them all, though I haven’t written in my sketchbook, but I have a separate notebook in which I write all my ideas etc. the only tip I would add is to make sure you put a contact number in, or email address , so if it’s lost hopefully you’ll get it back. Your video is very helpful, thanks
8 Tips to kickstart your sketchbook practice: (00:34) 1. Make It yours (01:11) 2. Take it everywhere (01:34) 3. Embrace your drawings' imperfections (02:05) 4. Draw everyday and date it (02.27) 5. Use it as a canvas to experiment. (02:48) 6. Pre mark a page (03:06) 7. Use it for everything (03:35) 8. Write in your sketchbook #6 Is great advice to get over the "blank page" fear.
I have my grandmother’s sketchbooks. It’s encouraging to look through them and see the bits and bobs she put down - some quick sketches, parts of things, line drawings, “mistakes”, and full sketches. She used everything from wire bound note pads to bound sketchbooks. She drew with oil pastels, pencils, pens, markers, and occasionally watercolor. Some of her sketches became full works. I need to get back to the practice of daily art. Thank you for your channel.
What a gift that is! It must be a really nice way to get to know her and how her mind works. I love the thought that one day one of my family would look back at my work in the same way.
I’m a grandmother and this is exactly why I do sketchbooks. My young grandkiddos love my sketchbooks and are already fighting over who gets to keep them. It’s because of them that I use my sketchbooks to visually document my experiences and interests. All four of my grandkids have been inspired by me and love to do art. And one of my granddaughters asked to do a sketchbook collaboration where she draws incredibly detailed drawings of fantasy creatures and I do the backgrounds. We pass the book back and forth between us. I love it!
@annes7926 I"m sure she'd be absolutely delighted. I believe art is always an iterative process and we all build on what other artists have done before. Having work your grandmother has done now being integrated into your own practice is a precious gift. Well done.
What a wonderful role model you are for your grandkids and an amazing way to create work together. Have they asked you to create a fantasy creature back again yet?!
Great advise 😊 I have one in my car one in my bag one beside my favourite seat looking outside … the hard part is when you mentally freeze and just cannot pick up a pencil or a brush … your vlogs are helping this beginner to go again thank you 😊
That's great to hear. When you get blocked I find just drawing without looking is a good way to unblock it. Just see it as a process rather than making a product. Good luck and keep in touch.
I have a combination of things: illustrated journal ... so maybe semantics but I love both writing and am new to drawing and watercolor (including watercolor pencils and brush pens). I have kept a blog: writing and photography for 17 years. Also a hand written journal ... more sporadic but sometimes I wanted to write :) ... and then as I recently began watercolor decided to add the illustrated journal. I also have some "sketchbooks". Another item is a Rocketbook which has pages that work like a whiteboard ... erasable. I started using Rocketbook as a scratchpad for my work as a software developer and sometimes for "brain storming" ... but as I started drawing and painting, I found it was an easy thing to do quick sketches. Even though I erase the sketches, I first take photos and those photos are in a RocketbookSketch album on my phone (and iCloud). I date and caption them. I also photograph, date and caption anything I draw or paint on "loose" paper or in the sketchbook. The idea is that there is a record by date as well as all are searchable. My illustrated journal and handwritten journal are in Levenger Circa notebooks ... the small size. I have a punch so can cut watercolor paper to fit if I need that. I also use the standard blank and lined pages. Bottomline, I am incorporating handwriting/sketching/painting with digital so that I can see progress, find things I might want to do again ... whatever and not really "official" sketchbook. I am new to this but currently am enjoying my options.
Usually when I purchase sketch books, yet i feel as though each drawing has to be perfect. I realize the sketch book is sort of like a dojoe to get ideas. Ive been into drawing cartoons since my early teens. Now im 47 years young. This video came at a perfect time. 😊😊😊😊
I love the phrase dojo of ideas! I use mine as a brain dump and then try find time to look back at it to remember where my head was at different points. Glad you’re still drawing too. 47 is a great age. 😉
These are great tips and reminders, thank you. Generally I carry a little 12cm x 12cm sketchbook and a couple of pencils and pens with me for sketching opportunities. The paper can take watercolours if I decide to put on some colour later.This a jump-start to use it more often and be more playful in it 😊
thank you for this video ! i'm a firm believer in the gospel of "McFreakin' Losing It" in the sketchbook, and i get a little bummed out at seeing online art culture gravitate towards clean, almost sanitized "aesthetic" sketchbook videos and it makes me worry for emerging artists taking cues from them. i used to try to fill out a whole page daily, but i realized i couldn't keep it up (my current sketchbook is 9x9"/22.9x22.9cm) I still work in it daily (or nearly so)! cheers from new york!
I love the phrase McFreaking Losing it! I really agree with that and the perfect sketchbooks I've seen when people create their videos. Even after being an artist for 20 years and running The Art Academy as Principal for 7, I was concerned about showing some of these pages in the film, worried about exposing my lack of perfection. Maybe we all need to embrace the McFreakin' Losing it mantra a bit more. What I want from my film is to give people permission to be themselves, and not worry about emulating others.
Yeah it's a nice thing to do sometimes. Either colour / color or a midtone with pencil is cool too. Then you can use a putty rubber / kneaded eraser for the lights too. That's great fun as well.
Wow, i really enjoyed this video and was so inspired by it! I paused to grab my sketch book, I even sketched Rob while he was talking, it was so imperfect! I loved it! thanks for this video ❤
Thank you for such a motivational video! I have a sketchbook that my 4 year old grandson drew in, but I still use the sketchbook, each time I open it to sketch, his little drawings are there to remind me of him and that specific time!
I love this. I have most of my sketchbooks now with something my kids have drawn in. It’s part of what we do and having their marks is such an important part of them now. Glad it’s something you love too.
Love these tips…thanks Rob😊….I keep an everyday drawing diary and have recently started using a little sketchbook and taking it out with me. I’ve really been enjoying that, especially trying out different materials.
Thank you for these tips! Very useful. Just an observation: I think you are pointing your microphone in the wrong direction if you're looking for a focused vocal sound as it's pointed at the window or maybe your waist, depending on which side(s) of the capsule is active
1make it yours no rules of paper size, use different materials 2take it everywhere- pocket size best 3shouldn't be perfect 4draw every day and date it 5experiment 6premark with color 7use it for drawing observation collections etc 8write in it
@@katsmith8263 Lovely! and today Rob already has 867 subscribers. Yesterday I was so inspired by his video that I took a notepad and sketched my dream that I had at night. :) I came back today for inspiration.
timely confirmation...ty...seems I've got 7 art journals in play & loose paper (zentangle tiles, gelli prints, etc) ongoing...the most used three...go ahead & laugh...a repurposed ginormous wine spectator mag art journal, a school composition quad rule book for everything brain/art dump + swatches, & a kids black doodle pad loaded with collage using colorful paper toweling, waxed painty papers, & paint brush offload bits & white pens marks...my happy-ignore-the-trolls practices...
@@Rob-Pepper my housemate receives a monthly Wine Spectator magazine, 10" x 13". ii worked on 2" x2" zentangle tiles (aka twinchies), traditional 3.5 " x 3.5 " tiles since 5/2014, & started grid journaling in December (23)...& suddenly felt ii had to work bigger...much bigger...so...i started to glue two pages together, or folded a page in half & glued it, then cut out bits ii saw as collage fodder and created 'windows', pockets, split pages sort of mix & match with neighboring pages, added craft paint, or gesso, or matte medium for recreating pages, using odds & ends, and am learning abt composition, color, texture...there's a wonderful book titled Spectrum, that uses the CMYK color percentages for their color plates, so ii've been practicing those percentages with colored pencils, acrylic paints & inks, cutting papers like a puzzle ... & no matter how ii begin...my pen or brush takes off on its own...so ii am learning by copying as a starting place but the result is so not what got me started...ii get long winded, sorry...not...
You are very welcome! I actually think perfect sketchbooks are probably quite paralysing. The pressure to make every page perfect so that it looks good on social media will just end up stifling the creative process.
Decide on before hand not to show your sketches, it makes u feel freer and less concerned about the outcome (and then you can show it to a friend anyway….)
I agree. I think we’re taught that we always have to show others and sometimes that can be paralysing. But maybe we need to talk and respect the process more than a product and then we can support the journey rather than focussing to much on the destination.
"It will never be perfect but that's perfect" really resonated with me as I try to get over the fear of not having a pristine sketchbook as a beginner. Thank you!!
I"m glad it helped. There can be a massive fear of the blank page, worried about it not being good enough and what will people think. I think we all get to caught up in the final product and forget to enjoy the act of drawing.
@@Rob-Pepper Yes very much so! Thank you again. 😊
I have been sketching daily for 12+ years, and the sketchbook I carry with me at all times has gotten smaller and smaller over time. I'm now down to A6 size. I finish compositions much faster, and I am less likely to hesitate in starting a sketch because I know I can finish it quickly. It's also less intrusive in public. Now when I occasionally bring along an A5, it feels too large and cumbersome. So my tip would be: go small!
That's great advice Tina, scale is definitely something that you need to get right. For a long time I used A5 with pages I could take out easily so I could scan them all. Now I have a few on the go, a smaller A6 that I take with me and an A4 & A3 that sit on my desk.
I use the tiny square Royal Talens 12 cm x 12 cm or similar. This is also the trick that finally got me sketching daily! I use bigger books when needed, but the small size feels so much more approachable/less intimidating.
My sketchbooks keep getting bigger.
For some reason, I always thought that sketchbooks for art needed to be separate from a diary or scrapbooking…I feel like I received permission to combine all of these and want to thank you for that!
I use mine for everything, drawing, lists, ideas for running an art school, stuff I forgot to do, drawings my kids have done.. It's a true reflection of my life rather than just a bunch of perfect drawings that build pressure to keep them all looking good.
One thing I really liked drawing recently, were bookcovers of books I was reading. Just a quick drawing with felttips
That's cool. When you look back at the drawings does it help you remember what happened in the book?
I loved seeing your sketchbooks in the video! They are far from perfect which is exactly how mine are. Sometimes I get a bit disheartened with all the perfect sketchbooks on youtube and instagram becuase it doesn't seem achievable for me. It's nice to be reminded it doesn't have to be like that.
That's good to hear. I felt it was important to make sure people saw the pages that were real too. Editing things or being so controlled that it all looks perfect doesn't really show the creativity I'm looking to bring out in people. It's not how I work, I'm more interested in lateral thinking, trying stuff and learning from it.
Thank you for this! I agree with them all, though I haven’t written in my sketchbook, but I have a separate notebook in which I write all my ideas etc. the only tip I would add is to make sure you put a contact number in, or email address , so if it’s lost hopefully you’ll get it back. Your video is very helpful, thanks
That's a great idea! I’ll definitely do that.
After watching a couple of your videos I started my daily sketching. Planning to keep this channel as my motivational coach. 😊
That's really great to hear and I'm glad you found it useful!
8 Tips to kickstart your sketchbook practice:
(00:34) 1. Make It yours
(01:11) 2. Take it everywhere
(01:34) 3. Embrace your drawings' imperfections
(02:05) 4. Draw everyday and date it
(02.27) 5. Use it as a canvas to experiment.
(02:48) 6. Pre mark a page
(03:06) 7. Use it for everything
(03:35) 8. Write in your sketchbook
#6 Is great advice to get over the "blank page" fear.
I have my grandmother’s sketchbooks. It’s encouraging to look through them and see the bits and bobs she put down - some quick sketches, parts of things, line drawings, “mistakes”, and full sketches. She used everything from wire bound note pads to bound sketchbooks. She drew with oil pastels, pencils, pens, markers, and occasionally watercolor. Some of her sketches became full works. I need to get back to the practice of daily art. Thank you for your channel.
What a gift that is! It must be a really nice way to get to know her and how her mind works. I love the thought that one day one of my family would look back at my work in the same way.
@@Rob-Pepper I think she would be pleased to see what I am doing. I’ve incorporated photocopies from her sketchbooks into my mixed media work.
I’m a grandmother and this is exactly why I do sketchbooks. My young grandkiddos love my sketchbooks and are already fighting over who gets to keep them. It’s because of them that I use my sketchbooks to visually document my experiences and interests. All four of my grandkids have been inspired by me and love to do art. And one of my granddaughters asked to do a sketchbook collaboration where she draws incredibly detailed drawings of fantasy creatures and I do the backgrounds. We pass the book back and forth between us. I love it!
@annes7926 I"m sure she'd be absolutely delighted. I believe art is always an iterative process and we all build on what other artists have done before. Having work your grandmother has done now being integrated into your own practice is a precious gift. Well done.
What a wonderful role model you are for your grandkids and an amazing way to create work together. Have they asked you to create a fantasy creature back again yet?!
Great advise 😊 I have one in my car one in my bag one beside my favourite seat looking outside … the hard part is when you mentally freeze and just cannot pick up a pencil or a brush … your vlogs are helping this beginner to go again thank you 😊
That's great to hear. When you get blocked I find just drawing without looking is a good way to unblock it. Just see it as a process rather than making a product. Good luck and keep in touch.
I'm in my 60s still have sketches from high-school
What a cool thing to have and connect with.
Just found this video, thanks for these great tips ❤
You're so welcome!
Thank you for the reminder and inspiration!
You are so welcome!
I have a combination of things: illustrated journal ... so maybe semantics but I love both writing and am new to drawing and watercolor (including watercolor pencils and brush pens). I have kept a blog: writing and photography for 17 years. Also a hand written journal ... more sporadic but sometimes I wanted to write :) ... and then as I recently began watercolor decided to add the illustrated journal. I also have some "sketchbooks". Another item is a Rocketbook which has pages that work like a whiteboard ... erasable. I started using Rocketbook as a scratchpad for my work as a software developer and sometimes for "brain storming" ... but as I started drawing and painting, I found it was an easy thing to do quick sketches. Even though I erase the sketches, I first take photos and those photos are in a RocketbookSketch album on my phone (and iCloud). I date and caption them. I also photograph, date and caption anything I draw or paint on "loose" paper or in the sketchbook. The idea is that there is a record by date as well as all are searchable.
My illustrated journal and handwritten journal are in Levenger Circa notebooks ... the small size. I have a punch so can cut watercolor paper to fit if I need that. I also use the standard blank and lined pages.
Bottomline, I am incorporating handwriting/sketching/painting with digital so that I can see progress, find things I might want to do again ... whatever and not really "official" sketchbook. I am new to this but currently am enjoying my options.
That all sounds incredible and very creative. Well done!
Usually when I purchase sketch books, yet i feel as though each drawing has to be perfect.
I realize the sketch book is sort of like a dojoe to get ideas.
Ive been into drawing cartoons since my early teens.
Now im 47 years young.
This video came at a perfect time.
😊😊😊😊
I love the phrase dojo of ideas! I use mine as a brain dump and then try find time to look back at it to remember where my head was at different points. Glad you’re still drawing too. 47 is a great age. 😉
These are great tips and reminders, thank you. Generally I carry a little 12cm x 12cm sketchbook and a couple of pencils and pens with me for sketching opportunities. The paper can take watercolours if I decide to put on some colour later.This a jump-start to use it more often and be more playful in it 😊
That's great to hear, I hope it keeps you going for a little bit longer.
thank you for this video ! i'm a firm believer in the gospel of "McFreakin' Losing It" in the sketchbook, and i get a little bummed out at seeing online art culture gravitate towards clean, almost sanitized "aesthetic" sketchbook videos and it makes me worry for emerging artists taking cues from them. i used to try to fill out a whole page daily, but i realized i couldn't keep it up (my current sketchbook is 9x9"/22.9x22.9cm) I still work in it daily (or nearly so)! cheers from new york!
I love the phrase McFreaking Losing it! I really agree with that and the perfect sketchbooks I've seen when people create their videos. Even after being an artist for 20 years and running The Art Academy as Principal for 7, I was concerned about showing some of these pages in the film, worried about exposing my lack of perfection. Maybe we all need to embrace the McFreakin' Losing it mantra a bit more.
What I want from my film is to give people permission to be themselves, and not worry about emulating others.
And I like the idea of pre-applying colour, I'll give that a go ...
Yeah it's a nice thing to do sometimes. Either colour / color or a midtone with pencil is cool too. Then you can use a putty rubber / kneaded eraser for the lights too. That's great fun as well.
Wow, i really enjoyed this video and was so inspired by it! I paused to grab my sketch book, I even sketched Rob while he was talking, it was so imperfect! I loved it! thanks for this video ❤
That’s lovely to hear I’m glad you started to do some more drawing!
Thank you for such a motivational video! I have a sketchbook that my 4 year old grandson drew in, but I still use the sketchbook, each time I open it to sketch, his little drawings are there to remind me of him and that specific time!
I love this. I have most of my sketchbooks now with something my kids have drawn in. It’s part of what we do and having their marks is such an important part of them now. Glad it’s something you love too.
Great tips! I’m trying to get in the habit of carrying my sketchbook everywhere with me. Thank you for sharing!❤
You are so welcome!
Love these tips…thanks Rob😊….I keep an everyday drawing diary and have recently started using a little sketchbook and taking it out with me. I’ve really been enjoying that, especially trying out different materials.
It’s a pleasure and I love hearing people’s stories of drawing daily and the impact it has on people. What’s your favourite new material?
@@Rob-Pepper I’ve been enjoying using watercolour graphite 🙂
Thank you sir, I needed that ❤and I shall commit to all points 🦋
That's great and I'm pleased you liked the films. Even if you take on one or two points then that would be fantastic!
Great tips thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Just found your channel. You’re very informative and motivating. I’m starting a sketch book. Thank you 🙏🏻
Have fun!
Thank you for these tips! Very useful. Just an observation: I think you are pointing your microphone in the wrong direction if you're looking for a focused vocal sound as it's pointed at the window or maybe your waist, depending on which side(s) of the capsule is active
Thanks for the tip! I'll have a play with the microphone, maybe you could give me a "Musicians 8 tips on how to record sound properly!!!"
@@Rob-Pepper it's the least I can do after your great sketchbook advice!
So helpful
Thank you for sharing your tips 😊
My pleasure 😊
1make it yours no rules of paper size, use different materials
2take it everywhere- pocket size best
3shouldn't be perfect
4draw every day and date it
5experiment
6premark with color
7use it for drawing observation collections etc
8write in it
That sums it up!
Gracias por esta explicación tan ilusionante
It's a pleasure.
I am your 649th subscriber. From snowy Moscow.
That’s great to know. Thanks for subscribing
🎉702 from Vladivostok
@@katsmith8263 Lovely! and today Rob already has 867 subscribers. Yesterday I was so inspired by his video that I took a notepad and sketched my dream that I had at night. :) I came back today for inspiration.
timely confirmation...ty...seems I've got 7 art journals in play & loose paper (zentangle tiles, gelli prints, etc) ongoing...the most used three...go ahead & laugh...a repurposed ginormous wine spectator mag art journal, a school composition quad rule book for everything brain/art dump + swatches, & a kids black doodle pad loaded with collage using colorful paper toweling, waxed painty papers, & paint brush offload bits & white pens marks...my happy-ignore-the-trolls practices...
This is wonderful to hear, however I'm not sure I know what a wine spectator mag is? I need to see pictures!
@@Rob-Pepper my housemate receives a monthly Wine Spectator magazine, 10" x 13". ii worked on 2" x2" zentangle tiles (aka twinchies), traditional 3.5 " x 3.5 " tiles since 5/2014, & started grid journaling in December (23)...& suddenly felt ii had to work bigger...much bigger...so...i started to glue two pages together, or folded a page in half & glued it, then cut out bits ii saw as collage fodder and created 'windows', pockets, split pages sort of mix & match with neighboring pages, added craft paint, or gesso, or matte medium for recreating pages, using odds & ends, and am learning abt composition, color, texture...there's a wonderful book titled Spectrum, that uses the CMYK color percentages for their color plates, so ii've been practicing those percentages with colored pencils, acrylic paints & inks, cutting papers like a puzzle ... & no matter how ii begin...my pen or brush takes off on its own...so ii am learning by copying as a starting place but the result is so not what got me started...ii get long winded, sorry...not...
That’s great. I’ll take a look at the Spectrum book too. The wine spectrum sketchbook sounds fantastic!
using a magazine as a sketchbook is so cool and i'm definitely going to have to try it!!
Thanks for showing real sketchbooks. It is discouraging seeing only sketchbooks that look like they could be coffee table books.
You are very welcome! I actually think perfect sketchbooks are probably quite paralysing. The pressure to make every page perfect so that it looks good on social media will just end up stifling the creative process.
Start cheap-cheap paper and cheap tools-ballpoint pens, a cheap pencil and eraser that you already have, cheap paints that you already have.
I agree this is a great place to start.
Decide on before hand not to show your sketches, it makes u feel freer and less concerned about the outcome (and then you can show it to a friend anyway….)
I agree. I think we’re taught that we always have to show others and sometimes that can be paralysing. But maybe we need to talk and respect the process more than a product and then we can support the journey rather than focussing to much on the destination.