The other day, I was flipping through Sabrina Ward Harrison’s Spilling Open for the 100th time. I’ve loved that published sketchbook for years, and I notice something new every time I peruse it! As I was looking through the pages, it occurred to me that I have a lot of sketchbook pages to share, too: 16 years’ worth, in fact. You can find those sketchbook pages in Sixteen Years of Sketchbooking.
Why I Made 16 Years of Sketchbooking
When I began high school, all art class students were issued a sketchbook and loose instructions to work in it throughout the year. We didn’t have any prompts, but books like Spilling Open and Artists’ Sketchbooks and Journals were kept in the classroom for inspiration.
Throughout the years, I’ve found sketchbooking to be such a valuable tool for trying out new art techniques in a judgment-free zone. Time and time again, my sketchbooks have also served as a valuable place to record memories and process emotions.
In 16 Years of Sketchbooking, I am showing you my sketchbook pages — past and present — for a few reasons:
- I want to share that sketchbook pages don’t have to look super polished and professional. Some of my recent pages do look nice, but the bulk of the pages were created when I was younger. Somehow, they manage to convey more emotion despite being less polished.
- I want to show you lots of different page examples. There are a few sketchbook page tutorials here and there on the TPK blog, but this eBook lays out 93 different sketchbook page scans for you to look at.
- The pages are interesting. When I flip through Spilling Open, I see Harrison’s artistic and emotional growth, which is striking to observe. I believe these sketchbook pages function in a similar way.
How to Use This eBook
First, look at all the pages of 16 Years of Sketchbooking. This will help you to find pages that inspire you for your own sketchbook. If you’re particularly intrigued by a certain page and you want to know more about it, go to the back of the book. There, I’ve written a short explanation of every single page.
Next, get out your own sketchbook and start creating! Remember that a sketchbook is a work in progress, and there’s no pressure to fill yours up at any particular speed. Keep the eBook open to a specific page for reference, if it helps to do so.
Other Information
Due to all the color-rich graphics, the eBook is a fairly large file (170 MB). Some email providers are a little weird about large files, so I recommend downloading the book from the order confirmation page — or your account — after checking out. (You will also receive an order confirmation email with a download link.)
This eBook comes to you in PDF format. If you would prefer an EPUB file, shoot me an email after placing your order, and I’ll be glad to send it to you! Note that the EPUB file is much larger (300 MB). While the photos show the eBook on an iPad, you can read it on any device that supports PDF files, like a computer or a smartphone.
GET THE 16 YEARS OF SKETCHBOOKING EBOOK
Free Sketchbook Inspiration
At $6.75, this new eBook isn’t a free product. But, you can find a lot of sketchbook inspiration and instruction here on the TPK website for free. Click here to see all of TPK’s articles that pertain to sketchbooking.
I hope that this new eBook gives you some fun weekend reading material and inspiration! If you have any questions or experience any problems with the download, just shoot me an email ([email protected]). Happy creating!
Warmly,
