The Importance of Sketchbooks

[@sakthivelannaamalai3794]

"The worst sketchbook is an unused one" now this is a quote that I'll remember for the rest of my life...

[@amarisjoseph]

Love tht he said tht unused sketchbook book is worst kind

[@TooLittleInfo]

We have a similar saying in photography, because a lot of people ask what's the best camera to buy. We always say, the best camera is the one you have with you. Meaning, it doesn't matter if you buy the most expensive gear, the most state of the art bodies and lenses etc etc. If it's too much much for you to handle, if you're not committed to lugging it around, if you're too scared of damaging it, if you're not committed to learning to use it, if it's going to feel like a PITA to haul it out, it's useless. So, for a very large number of people, the best camera for them is their smartphone.

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Thanks for your perspective

[@alisikdyora7338]

Oh yesss. Cause "a sketchbook ist a place to f*ck up" 🤗

[@li-sm6nf]

I'll tell this to all of the "shetchbooks" I have and never used... they are... here and untouched.

[@sweeetjuicetv]

i think a big portion of the “filled sketchbook” problem can really be boiled down to: people dont want sketchbooks, they want *art* books. instagram has contributed to this of course but yeah sketchbooks dont have to be filled with finished polished art, theyre where you practice and iterate and learn and build your techniques

[@niooshaes232]

exactly!!

[@MelodyxXxx]

Mhm lol plus, we all know how to use a sketchbook

[@reinhartt179]

Hence the word, "Sketch". :))

[@uhhwhateverdude9463]

Right. Sketchbooks are the training grounds for learning and mastering the techniques and experimenting ideas. It’s like a Dojo or gym for your hands! 💪

[@starlight8115]

SO true! Ther'es this one channel I love watching, DrawingWiffWaffles. I love the art she makes, and I love seeing every piece she makes for her sketchbooks, but that's the thing. Everything she makes feels like a fully fleshed out piece of art, while I can barely do the lineart and a bit of color after working on something for 5+ hours, and it still has several errors, shaky lineart and is poorly colored. Most of my drawings are never completed or are just little sketches and doodles. It took a lot of time for me to realiza, but tht's fine! Because I'm still learning. She's way more advanced at drawing than me, not to mention that that's probably just her sketchbook for youtube, but she may have a separate one for practicing, because artists always make mistakes and try to learn and improve further (btw, absolutely no hate to her nor anything, I would actually recommend her channel, she's pretty fun, and this is just the way social media works. You have to make everything perfect)

[@elliesbrains]

"If there's two things in the world I'm afraid of committing to, it's relationships and big stacks of paper." I relate way too much to this

[@hemmm996]

The struggle is real

[@prayinq]

frfr 😭

[@amaraannolim]

yess

[@reginaldforthright805]

I hate to say it but a big stack of paper is what you need. Sketchbooks are actually a bad idea since you inevitably focus on making them look “nice.” You’ll need to burn through tens of thousands of drawings and there’s really no reason to save them as most will be absolute rubbish.

[@reginaldforthright805]

@Sophia B. nice 👍 I just use copy paper, buy it by the case. And do thousands of quick studies and practice drawings. I don’t think there’s any substitute for putting in the mileage. And I hate how sketchbooks feel anyway as holding them open is a problem as well as resting your hand when you get to the edge.

[@Bluebikedoodles95]

"The end goal isn't to FILL a sketch book, it's to use it" This hit so much I hadn't realized how much I internalized making sketchbooks into small art galleries with beautifully finished drawings that could double as a personal portfolio, rather than just a place to practice, doodle and throw some ideas down to paper

[@ilondeliest6085]

The thought "Sketchbook is a journal" was really impressive for me. I always want to turn new sketchbooks into "artbooks", with all pieces finished and tied together, but always end up with shabby sketches and such. But in the end i like to flip through previous sketchbooks because they reflect my life back then. Maybe it's just the way it should be Anyways, thank you so much for uploading! Love your art, voice and overall aesthetic. Your videos seem to be journals too :3

[@люблюсмаженихкацапськихнемовля]

I feel the same. Sometimes I want to make a sketchbook perfect and it seems to me that some works do not fit into it, but turning the pages some time after my sketchbook already finished I realized that they only add a certain color and reflect your emotions and feelings for some period of time

[@g-alicenine]

I have the same thing! There's such a mixture of things in most of those books, and they have so much more personality imo, can really surprise you page to page. It tells a story.

[@felix_christopher]

Think you're onto something there, mate. Used to date a girl and she had these journals for each year of her life. Mostly groceries, random diary entries, ideas just jotted down during a phone call. But there were illustrations as well. Copy text for book-ideas she came up with, illustrations for those. And some pages full blown art pieces, ink and watercolor and all. And it blew me away, it was the most emotional and instantly relatable journal that I'd ever seen in person.

[@X3RNEA5]

I also like to flip around my old sketchbooks and seeing how life was back in the days It's like a time capsule!

[@kittygirl196]

I love when people romanticize their sketchbooks like this. They are special! That's your place just for you! And I think hearing an only bad sketchbook is an unused sketchbook was helpful as well :)

[@carol2742]

Ok I’m a 67 year old female and laughed out loud at “don’t do it, your an adult”. And I just loved this whole thing. Thank you!

[@toastoast]

I used to doodle with my friends where we would create silly things together, and I really think it helped with my creativity. Something that stunted my art journey was when I found out I had to turn in a sketchbook to apply to the illustration program at my university. They expect you to have a sketchbook that is cohesive, finished and, like, nice to look at. I had such a hard time drawing for that purpose that I kind of just stopped sketching altogether. I need to pull out my blank sketchbooks and start doodling again.

[@YourLocalAnonAccount]

I keep on worrying about drawing on my sketchbook because of how I keep on telling myself to not screw up the presentation in it otherwise it'd look crappy - this really stumped me in drawing, especially at times when I have to come up with _flawless_ and _fabulously presented art_ in my school sketchbooks to the point art has turned more into a chore than something to enjoy doing for me :'/

[@ghost_lamp153]

Maybe you can have two sketchbooks. One for doodling and one for the nice artwork.

[@Scarshadow666]

I hear y'all there! I didn't used to have much issue drawing in my sketchbooks until I took a portfolio class where I had to be make things look more polished and presentable (and a lot of my usual artwork in my sketchbooks were messy and experimental). Slowly getting back to using my sketchbook as a place for me to have fun and experiment again, just takes telling myself that my sketchbooks don't have to be for anyone else's eyes, save for my own. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@biancaborba1227]

Here 's a tip I get with my teacher: use two sketchbooks, one for class and the other for yourself so you can do the lessons and have fun. If I need to show something finished I show the class sketchbook.

[@Lunathiel_]

It's such a shame that art schools call this kind of thing "a sketchbook", when in reality, what they expect is "an art book", a book full of finished pieces, something looking presentable and complete. But y'all know it's not what sketchbooks are for, right? I've been through this in college too (not when applying, but a part of my drawing class) and I also remember it as being anxiety inducing. And I second that thought about drawing things with friends just for shits and giggles - cause YES, it does wonders for your creativity when you really don't care how the finished product will look like. I remember that one time in high school (it was an art school too, so we had lots of drawing classes) our teacher arranged this exercise where we started drawing a pose at one easel, and then after 10 minutes or so, we'd swap our easels with the person behind us, then after another 10 minutes swap it again with another and so on. The effects were super weird (as expected xD), but the most important thing is, we experimented A LOT and we had much fun doing this. I highly recommend this to everyone struggling with creativity and "letting go" ❤

[@meatball.9710]

Another good reason to use a physical sketch book is that its really easy to look back at your old work. Occasionally I'll see my old sketch book and just flip through it. Just like you said, its like a journal that shows your journey. Its also a bit of a confidence boost. I remember drawing some of those sketches and think they were terrible, but looking back they arent half bad.

[@Amanita._.Verosa._.]

This advice helped me so much and I just want to say thank you kind soul ❤️

[@Animangagirl27]

"The worst sketchbook is an unused one" is the mentality that I finally picked up a few years back. My sketchbook became an almost-everything book for doodles, practice, notes, agendas, and even for brief thoughts that come to mind. I flipped through mine earlier today and saw how much more personality it had and I'm glad I use it the way I do today.

[@nixon4731]

The most important thing is to stop romanticizing your sketchbook. Get it out of your head that you're going to show it to someone. If I'm getting too precious, I fill a page or two with rubbish that I know I wouldn't want to show anyone. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.

[@Ouhour]

I used to draw a lot when I was younger, it was a passion but I lost it in my way to adulthood. I now look at my old sketchbooks and feel the nostalgia and see my evolution through the years. It just inspired me to draw again after many years and progress further. A sketchbook is important.

[@st.toussaint4632]

It happens to us all, you should continue to produce the work even when you feel like not drawing lol.

[@reginaldforthright805]

I don’t think you’ll be able to just pick up where you left off and “progress” . You’ll likely be starting from square one as skills erode quickly. On the plus side, you probably weren’t that far along anyway 🤷‍♂️

[@clarrybarry1664]

"the worst sketchbook is an unused one" kind of reminds me of another quote ive seen before: "the only thing you cant fix is a blank page." i like the notion that the worst thing you can do is nothing. it brings the motivation to create without caring for the product entirely, just the experience and the progress in making itself. great video man!

[@hellodelightfulrando]

That bit about them temptation of digital to make “perfect” sketches is so real. I love my tablet, I never pull it down so all I have to do is boot up my laptop and turn it on but I unless I’m doing timed gesture drawings I end up spending too much refining sketches instead of just drawing and letting go. I have an easier time doing that with my sketchbook. I can just whip it out, get the idea out of my head and know that if I end up liking it I can always tweak it digitally later, the sketch can look as wonky as it wants to be at least I got the idea on to paper in stead of getting so hung out up the details that I end up noodling for hours on a concept I might not even like in the end

[@StrawberryCakeStudiosYT]

Wow, this comment is so accurate.

[@nathanmirandadasilva1192]

Sketchbooks, just like being an artist in general, gives me a sense of journey. When I look at all the pages I've drawn in my sketchbooks, I remember so many things, I feel so many things, which really makes me realize that my Art is bigger than me. This feeling only appears in sketchbooks, as they are like small windows to different moments of my journey, digital art doesn't make me feel that way...

[@Malaima]

exaaaaactly!!!!!!!!

[@2ArtistsEXPlain]

Great topic and thoughts. I've made a deal with myself that I must 'ruin' every sketch book I buy-- haven't actually ruined one yet, but giving myself the permission to mess up really changed my perspective.

[@wishi960]

a nice video as always. although i must disagree a little on buying a small sketchbook. when i started a decade ago i used A5 and later switched to A4 and i feel like that boosted my overall confidence in drawing a lot and i wonder where i would be now if i had just started bigger. of course everyone should do as they feel most comfortable :) i also have a small pocket sketchbook for travelling.

[@ChromaMoma]

Interesting!

[@hina._.2747]

Oh I see mine went opposite, I started big but now I use a5 and it's the best size for me, a4 doesn't feel good to me. Always fun to see how we all have different experience and opinion about things, hope u are doing great with art

[@coins_png]

@@hina._.2747 i did exactly the same as you. i drew on A4 then A5 because it felt better at the time. but after a year and a half I went back to A4 again. and not only was I better, but I also enjoyed it a lot. so I recommend to not lock yourself onto one paper size. small size will teach you to make the most out of your lines. and once you get good at it and take that skill to the bigger paper you'll have a blast drawing on it again.

[@h0zi3r]

same here, i used to have small sketchbooks and then grew a fear of drawing “too big” when using them, but also depends on what im drawing :)

[@LeosNestingDolls]

I guess everyone has different preferences! My sketchbook of choice is A3 as it gives me plenty of space to explore my ideas and reference other sketches on the same page, plus it's a nice stable drawing surface

[@anam00090]

The committing to digital art and overcomplicating it is very true for me. I've found the best way I can manage to just 'sketch' digitally is opening animation software like TVPaint where the next 'drawing' is an arrow click away and just put down multiple rough ideas as separate frames. Just one layer, every frame is a separate warmup sketch, zero commitment. I never 'sketch' in Photoshop anymore. Have gone back to live sketching in watercolor recently and am really enjoying seeing progress in my technique every week. Physical sketchbooks are a great way to freeze memories as well - I remember what I draw way better than what I photograph

[@ChromaMoma]

That's a great idea!

[@fioledarsenic]

I agree with you on all of this ! especially the binding, i really want my sketchbooks to lie completely flat. I ended up making my own sketchbook it's junky but it feels really nice :)

[@RakanMag]

Damn that was spot on, I have exactly 5 empty sketchbooks sitting on my desk right now. Then again i had 7 the beginning of this year so I’m assuming i might be able to fill all of them by the end of this year. Anyway great content as always Kenn! You keep inspiring throughout the years!

[@mad_hatt]

Dang! I go through like one maybe two a year!

[@admd8765]

Were you able to?

[@RakanMag]

​@@admd8765 I finished the 5th one sometime in July this year. basically I don't randomly sketch like I used to, but rather for a purpose, either for learning or a project. This made my pace much slower on finishing sketchbooks.

[@belluhresto8689]

this kind of made me emotional lmao. i was struggling with the thought of whether or not art is as important to me as it should be for someone looking to go to school for it, and this helped me realize that i really DO love art. i love how it feels to make it, i love how art is filled with personal preferences and styles and i love the way that it captures periods in my life in ways that i'm unable to express in words. great video!!!

[@lusibeth]

I struggled using my sketchbooks because theyre so pretty. So I binded my own sketchbook from leftover newsprint. Since i made it and spent time on making it, it feels worse not using it... proud to say Ive been using it almost daily.

[@lelimone9978]

After watching this , I went to WHSmiths and got the best sketchbook I've ever seen! It lies completely flat on every page, not just the centre, it's a really high quality hardback with amazing texture of paper. (It's Daler Rowney) It was only £6!! It's the best sketchbook I've ever owned! I was so temped to buy two but I think 110 pages will last me a while yet.

[@ChromaMoma]

Great to hear!

[@happyfablesart]

Which one is it. I need one...well I don't but sketchbook buying is a passion

[@lelimone9978]

@@happyfablesart it's WHsmith's: Dealer Rowney Simply A5 hardback sketchbook 100gsm 110 extra white sheets is the name, it's very nice for sketching but a bit prone to bleeding with alcohol markers + watercolour

[@MatsuroPalette]

i just love the sound and feeling it gives everytime i start drawing on paper imagine having a relationship with your sketchbook (me)

[@tinfoilstar]

I feel like it would be great to keep a sketchbook even if your primary interest wasn't drawing & art.. famous victorian writers or scientists always seemed to keep lovely little sketchbooks which are often on display in museums. you could keep one for gardening, baking, films you watched, books you read, sketches from journeys you went on, and it would be such a gorgeous thing to keep for your future self to look thru

[@noellevandijk]

I’ve never seen a more empathetic way of approaching a sketchbook ever before. Bless you and this video!

[@xtraroyce]

“sketchbooks are journals” well heck, I like that perspective. it’s helping view using it as a casual thing and not something that needs to be perfect ❤

[@sori6196]

“It’s special in the way that you are special.” Love that! Thank you for the inspiration!

[@LorenDraws]

I’m so happy you talked about the filling vs using, bc I hate videos saying how to fill… Makes me feel unmotivated and their tips make me feel like it’s a one time exercise I can do

[@junelondon1703]

This was very inspiring! I love the point that the goal shoudn´t be to fill but to USE the scetchbook. 🤓

[@ChromaMoma]

I'm so glad!

[@miiyui]

I agree with the expensive vs cheaper sketchbooks. I had a few expensive sketchbooks and was so afraid of making mistakes that I ended up not using them. Then I bought a cheap sketchbook from an art store so the paper quality was still nice and it felt so freeing to just draw without worrying. I think I finished it in a week and went back to buy more.

[@islandgirl75]

Thanks so much for this. I always watch vids on YT of ppl showing their sketchbooks and it's almost ALWAYS these collections of perfectly finished art pieces. I want to see the frustration of someone trying to draw something over and over again. I find it so disheartening to hear people who are starting with art say that it's so intimidating for them to see sketchbook videos. Great advice and a lot of fun to watch! Thanks so much :)

[@me_malene]

I use a sketchbook from flying tiger, it's ok :) I like it alot! its like 30dkk (about 5 usdollars), but I need it cheap bc I go through one sketchbook in like 1-2 months soooooo.

[@NkuhanaTheUndone]

i'm currently in denmark and oh boi you are a life save. I never thought about looking for sketchbooks at flying tiger

[@me_malene]

@@NkuhanaTheUndone

[@tofutofii3097]

Apparently it's cheapest to actually make them yourself that's what my art school said, just look up bookbinding tutorials/simple ones

[@me_malene]

@@tofutofii3097 I have been thinking about doing tha alot, but then I'd have to make them with least 40 a5 pages each month ,xD But it could be fun to do it sometimes anyway

[@shampoob0ttle]

Yesss, Im in sweden, its the best! So cheap, like 3-4 dollars in here!

[@anavargas883]

Thank you so much for that last line about how a sketchbook tells a story that only you can tell. My parents threw away my sketchbooks 10 years ago when I didn't have a place to store my stuff, and I mourn those stories more than I care to admit to most people. For some reason, this video brought me to tears, and I appreciate you as a content creator! Thank you!

[@tylerrodriquez4184]

You truly are a wizard in both the way you lay ink on a page and every engaging and interesting frame you find to tell your stories. As a beginner in art, your work is some of my earliest inspiration when art gets away from me. Thanks for reminding me to make a memory on a blank page.

[@sielsounds]

You have the best sense of humor. Combined with these gold nuggets of creative wisdom... instant fan

[@TheArtCorner74]

I agree with this 110%, I've gone through so many sketchbooks over the years and at first, I did go for the mindset that I need only good drawings in my sketchbooks, I would try and put a good drawing on each page all the time and then move to another one but later I began drawing random stuff that weren't polishes or anything but I just drew because sketchbooks became a sort of happy place for me, a place where only my imagination and creations existed and were only limited by my limits, then years later I find and go through my old drawings and I can't help but feel so warm inside looking at my old little drawings and seeing how far I came, it really feels like a journey through that happy place.

[@kaiamaseton]

All your videos inspire me to keep at it! I've had such a tough relationship with my art and my perfectionist nature. What I'm trying to say is thanks for keeping me motivated to keep trying.

[@TJtheBee]

Definitely doing the studying and ideation right now. My goal is storytelling with art, and I’m done my studio drawing classes for uni, so it’s time to self-direct.

[@timothystreib4226]

Thank you for inspiring me. I have ordered a bunch of sketch books to transfer all my past drawings into them. I am an old artist who haven't been practicing in a long time and watching your video has motivated me into digging in again. Setting goals to create multiple visions of drawings a week. I also love how organized you were and tend to implement it with my set of sketch books. Thank you again for making this video! I can't tell you enough how much you kicked me in the right direction.

[@katerehurek]

"Artists are fussy creatures" is so true, I have never heard something like this and I love it. Love the vid! xoxo

[@dhara8449]

i love "the worst sketchbook is an unused one". i need to remember that. also your voice is so soothing I could fall asleep to it lol

[@nyandoesthings]

As someone who started drawing at a young age, I've gotten a lot of sketchbooks as christmas presents from people who didn't know what else to get me. It's nice that I won't have to buy a sketchbook for the next eight years (i fill them slowly) but also many of them are far too big. So I learned how to bookbind and whenever a sketchbook is too big I use it to make two sketchbooks that are half the size instead, unless it's hardcover. I don't have the heart to tear apart a hardcover sketchbook. I don't care about the paper too much. If the paper is really too awful even for me then I'll turn it into a journal instead

[@rileslovesyall]

"It's special in the way that you are special" aw I love that

[@keldricharts]

I have colleagues that moved on from traditional to digital. They have all this fancy tablets, and cool digital works. But never once seen them pull it out and sketch on it. A few months later all of them have stopped using their tablets, while I kept telling them that the beauty of a sketchpad is the feel of it. Its light, accessible, and best of all, cheap! I even went as far as to making my own sketchpads out of oslo paper, cutting them in half, punch 3 holes into it and finish with a ring bind. Ive been carrying my sketchpad for years and all the time, I pull it out and just go crazy. Never have I ever seen any of my fellow artists do this, so I hope this video inspires them to reconsider such option.

[@Lalaland_lady]

I love your little “ throw away drawings” as well as the informal review of your sketchbooks. What rendering skill and imagination you possess. I have about 20 sketchbooks, pen, doodles, pastel, watercolor and now mixed media. These range over 30 years, but only recently I began dating them, at the insistence of a family member. Your video made me smile. Thank you and have a great day!

[@an.omelette]

i turned an old partially filled sketchbook into a combo of journal and scrapbook recently, pasting newer art on scrap paper and images i like from magazines to inspire me. normally i keep my old art but for this one it felt right to start over and make it into something i enjoy flicking thru so i feel much more inclined to fill the rest :) great video!! 😊

[@jmjanzen]

Great video. I would add 1 piece of advice: as soon as you buy a sketchbook and you bring it home, "ruin" the first page. That is draw something that is purposefully bad or low effort. Even if it's a big "X" or a scribble or anything really. Just rip that band-aid off, and then you're suddenly free to use the rest of the pages without worrying about keeping up the quality, because hey, the first page is already "ruined" :p

[@irenesaurus]

Oh, yes!! I've just checked your channel an hour ago, and now a new video!!! Thank you for your content!!!

[@ChromaMoma]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@iyedsalhi9743]

Allways remember that Ur first sketch book is gonna be one of many other to yet come so don't stress about making it perfect and eventually even Ur doodles would be amazing art pieces ^^

[@kuwoke8614]

One of my favorite youtube artists that I've come across in a long time. Your videos truly do feel special and I find myself feeling extremely motivated to draw after watching them

[@lionelheisler4887]

Love the message in this video :) Sketchbooks absolutely are visual journals, and the best habit I ever picked up as an artist is dating every single page or doodle

[@casluvs]

Ever since I trained myself to solely use my sketchbooks for practice, and canvases only for finished pieces, it started becoming a lot more fun. I used to have the mindset that I needed to make every spread in every sketchbook polished and something that I liked, and I’m a perfectionist, so that was basically never. If it didn’t work out the way I wanted to and it didn’t turn out as neat and as polished as I planned in my head, then I’d either rip out the page or throw the book away altogether, start a new one, and the cycle would repeat itself. This mindset was so toxic for me and I noticed I was basically never motivated to create art altogether because of it, which really sucked, as I knew I had a passion for it. It always felt like a task to even doodle because I constantly pressured myself into making it perfect. I’m so glad I got out of that.

[@SerenaLewis]

"The worst sketchbook is an unused one". YES! I needed to hear that. Thanks!

[@melcco]

i remember the days when i would imagine myself, relaxing outside on the curb of a sidewalk and just sketching on a sketchbook. Yeah, when i actually tried that it was a horrible experience. Wind was blowing everywhere, The pages wouldn’t stop moving, ants started to crawl on me (I hate bugs.), it started to get dark super quick, and people walked by me wondering what i was doing. So from then on I just never sketched outside the comfort of my home. Though I want to try drawing outside again one day. My favorite kind of paper to work with is large bristol paper. Yeah, it’s not convenient because of the size, but the smoothness is just… 😚. So whenever i try to buy a more smaller sketchbook, the roughness of the paper always annoys the hell out of me. It’s just not the same.

[@snowyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

ooh dunno about ur price range but i got a leuchturm sketchbook that’s too weirdly smooth for me. it’s not as thick as bristol (it’s like, half the thickness) but it is smooth

[@MollyM2]

try bringing a friend, or pretend you're talking on the phone. I HATE when people walk up and look at what I'm doing, and I find it happens a lot less if I'm already sitting with/talking to another person. Also, binder clips are a life saver for plein air/urban sketching. Live your most romanticized life! Good luck!

[@aronhelios1734]

Sketch in a cafè or something like that. You get a setup with a table like at home, but you get to sketch outside world, people etc... which really helps developing your skills.

[@mikah9607]

Could you cut Bristol sheets to a more portable size and bind them into a diy sketchbook? I’ve done it before with loose papers I had, it worked quite well! 🥰

[@ziziscorsese9475]

Get back on that horse and get out there.

[@g-alicenine]

I remember a long time ago someone told me to never make 'pretty' high detailed things in the sketchbook and just legit sketch. It screwed me up so much because her advice wasn't suitable for me. I use mine for different reasons, detailed works, messy ideas, etc. What I find most important is that you use it how you want. I like that you said 'use it' instead of filling it. Having a sketchbook shouldn't come with pressure. It should just be fun. And that's different for everyone.

[@yrezu]

I was finally able to make use of the sketchbooks I've bought years ago but never used by categorizing them- the small one to sketch and make notes outside, the big one which I call 'ugly sketchbook' to do gestures, figure drawings and experiments and the 'nice sketchbook' which is just the most expensive one where I'll draw on when I feel like taking my time to draw something really nice. Thinking I have a 'good' and 'bad' sketchbook really helped me get over the fear and pressure to make something good and just- DRAW! If I don't like a certain page or drawing, instead of throwing the page out, I just paint over them with some acrylics/gouache when Im feeling really good and confident that I can paint something beautiful out of something I thought was already ruined. This change of perspective was a game changer for me with my experience in using sketchbooks.

[@frogcoffin5003]

I've been using a sketchbook regularly for about 4 years now and it helped me grow as an artist so much, it was hard to get used to using one, but it was so worth it!

[@small_and_dangerous2068]

One of my favorite ways to use my sketchbook and make pages feel “complete” is to do tiny doodles around my big drawing. I also enjoy using it as a pseudo scrap book! If I just got back from a fun concert I’ll tape the ticket on the page I’m working on. If I have a cute sticker set I’ll slap a few stickers on a page with a drawing that has a matching aesthetic. If I have a cute Polaroid I’ll stick it in there. Even things like candy wrappers or small magazine clippings! It’s fun to experiment with your pages!

[@alizardinyourroom1361]

I personally like using moleskine art sketchbook, mainly because it's what I've used for the past 6 years. I like the mid size, the flatness, the smooth texture, it's nice. They are a bit expensive I will say, but they work well for my mediums of choice, pen and pencil. I will say it isn't great for alcohol markers pens, since the paper bleeds over to the next pages.

[@suecarlos5659]

I love the fact that when flicking through my sketchbook, when I get to a drawing I’m particularly proud of I can usually flick back through the book to see where I was practicing a particular technique or subject. Having a book filled with perfect drawings is nice for some people but I like to see my progress. I feel that having a mix of good pages with ‘Oh dear’ pages give me more an appreciation for how I’ve improved.

[@AndreasWilfer]

Well done video yet again. I love this video/story format that you have going. Thank you for the video and inspiration.

[@ChromaMoma]

My pleasure!

[@lindatholking9109]

I adore the way you feel and speek about paper as you do. The feeling of paper is so important for me too, maybe even the most important when it comes to using my notebooks and sketchbooks. Thanks for that video and take care.

[@KT-et4jd]

I'm just jealous as someone who's drawing skill is literately kindergarden level and always hate my drawing lol. I can feel how fulfilling you feel in using your sketchbooks from this video that would encourage me to probably try doodle something in a random sketchbook.

[@cliffdariff74]

Please save all ur kindergarten style drawings... you'll appreciate them very soon.

[@McBernes]

I learned how to make case bound books so I could make my own sketchbooks. I really like sketching on cheap newsprint so I bought some bulk newsprint for the book block, some of those ":super value" packs of canvases for the cover (I cut the canvas off the frames), heavy cardstock and cotton string, elmers glue and settled down for a lot of measuring cutting sewing and gluing. I still buy sketch books but the ones I make are the ones that feel better to use.

[@kabocha9051]

Such a good video, as always! I've got back my favorite sketchbook (well, in fact it's a new one, but I was unable to buy it for a good amount of time) and it's just felt so good to draw on it, even though it's just some random doodles and me trying to understand watercolor markers. I really love the idea of the sketchbook being a journal more than one of those beautiful sketchbook you can see on youtube with perfect drawings ; I personaly love doing thumbnails on it or find solutions to my digital problem by solving them the traditional way. :)

[@diaryofcolours]

This is a wonderful video! It makes me happy to hear you mention a sketchbook is about using and exploring and less about filling it. I love finishing my sketchbooks, but starting one with the mindset of finishing it within a month or so is killing my joy. It becomes a task to complete and I don't like that. Take all the time you need with your sketchbook. I'd like to add that you can put literally everything in your sketchbook: finished pieces, but also the UGLIEST scribbles you've ever seen and anything in between that. A sketchbook is your personal (happy) space and you don't have to share it with the world if you don't want to. My sketchbooks are 98% crap and 2% decent looking stuff, but I LOVE it because it makes me feel free and connected to my creative journey. I doodle, I paint, I glue inspiring images to the pages (stickers, labels, anything). For the past year I've been obsessed with the Art Creation sketchbooks by Royal Talens. They're cheap, come in a lot of funky colours and can handle a lot. They're about 140gsm/94lbs and have very smooth, ivory/yellow-ish paper. Despite they weight, it can handle quite a lot of watercolour, which is amazing. I'd compare these to Moleskine sketchbooks, but about a third of the price. These books lay completely flat, too!

[@fauna6332]

Yayyyy! I love your content, happy with the new video :) i recently started taking a sketchbook everywhere and just being liberal with the things that i draw and of it not being so perfect or put together and it is very freeing.

[@ChromaMoma]

You got this!

[@karawolfgang34]

This is exactly the kind of wholesome I needed right now

[@kapeecoffee]

I don't have sketchbooks I have notebooks

[@apr670]

"don't take pressure to fill the sketch book"... Absolutely agreeing with that point 👍🏻

[@MatrixEvolution17]

this video was perfect for someone like me who has 10 empty sketchbooks because I'm too scared to ruin them

[@chepulis]

I've been buying €2 sketchbooks from Flying Tiger. A5, black hardcover, decent binding. About two per year. For about a decade. Dirt cheap, durable and fitting my workflow. Originally i would draw on plain A4 pieces of paper and lug around a little folder. That was extremely messy to archive. My archive from then is incomplete and out of order. Later, i wanted to do a very well-developed sketchbook - but found that to be against the idea of sketching with the flow. A kind of instagram effect where i was jelly of sketchbooks presented by some online artists. These days my sketchbooks are very messy, content ranging from thinking doodles to inked illustrations. But everything is dated, and often i reference sketches from a certain day in my note taking apps. I can see my progress, old iterations on projects i have long forgotten. There are some conventions for denoting and evaluating ideas. Etc.

[@weeeeeeee9240]

How did this got uploaded the day after i started a new sketchbook :0

[@ChromaMoma]

I'm watching you

[@bearsshouting3130]

I 100% agree with everything, especially the part with marking the dates of each paper when you draw on them. It really gives you structure and a sense of a journey when you look back at where your head was at. It's very profound.

[@tahereh9271]

Man I missed your videos so much

[@ChromaMoma]

Me too

[@MichaelBrown101]

Man, I have truly been missing your videos. It’s nice to see you back. Oddly enough, I just finished re watching all of your videos yesterday.

[@ChromaMoma]

Wow, thanks!

[@MichaelBrown101]

@@ChromaMoma yeah of course!

[@Liza-wp1sm]

"The worst sketchbook is an unused one" Quote of the year🔆

[@melissaamyx2196]

This is by far the BEST "sketchbook" video I've seen! So many things you said hit home to me, I have to get over feeling I have to make a perfect picture. Instead I need to just go for it and play!!!

[@ChromaMoma]

I'm so glad!

[@tittiiiiiee]

2:56 that’s… THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

[@daekros]

Thank you for putting so much work into your videos- the timestamps, and the on-topic filmography (all wonderfully shot as well), the to-the-point scripting. It's brilliant, and I hope it's bringing you just as much joy to make, as it is for me to watch. The effort you've put in is very much appreciated.

[@piza_man]

HIII KENN!

[@mad_hatt]

This makes me very proud of my messy sketchbooks now! From the video to all these comments I came to realize how neat it is I get to look back and watch my own art process and experimentation over the years! The process may not be aesthetic, but it is beautiful

[@enrikwolf8875]

#1

[@sushisea]

It’s very helpful to use it as a means of venting as well ^^ it takes out your frustration and makes it that much more personal

[@SketchedbySte]

Man I love everything about this video. Who knew a video about sketchbooks could be so motivating! Great humour too! Off to buy some cheap smaller sketchbooks to carry round so that I have no excuse..

[@iamshigeo]

Thank you for this video ! I’ve been out of drawing for a year now because I just haven’t felt satisfied with my progress and felt like I’ve fallen behind. This video is a gentle reminder that I dont have to impress anyone with my art, especially in sketchbooks. I’ll keep in mind “the worst sketchbooks are unused ones.” I remember spending hours in a day using pages to fill up my sketchbook and having to buy a new one every few months. I don’t know what happened exactly that warranted this sudden change but I definitely want to get back into creating. Thank you.

[@rixiant6373]

Only at the first minute and he already dropped such a relatable thing. Whenever I draw digital art, I can't just leave it at sketch. No matter how much I wanna be at peace with just sketching, there is always that nagging feeling that I have to go all out with it

[@rrawrlolzzz4726]

if you see this, i just wanted to say you are so wise! these r the exact words i needed. thank you so much, you dont understand how much this helped me.

[@yuvalhadad6368]

this video is actualy funny, keep up the good scripts

[@theebobrossofmakeup4926]

I really liked this video. I started watching your channel during the pandemic and I was a new art student coming from a very unorganized Artistic background. Watching your videos helped me to create a routine with sketching in my previously unused sketchbooks. I've been happily using sketchbooks so much since then that I now have a little library of my work that I love to look back on. Thanks for sharing your ideas and art with us!

[@cferracini]

Easily one of the best videos about sketbooks. Great job! Also "maybe it would be easier but I'm broke" same! I'm actually tired of people recomending an iPad like it's cheap paper!

[@MatameVideos]

I've became a fan of sketchbooks like 7 months ago, it reinvigorated my love for drawing!

[@st.toussaint4632]

I draw in mine everyday, and I completely agree that just having it makes opening it up and drawing a lot easier.

[@lucyaquari7018]

I love your narration style! Your tone is calm yet your comments are so funny and spot on 😂

[@lavuntecolquitt]

This video hit TOO HARD! Felt ALL of this. I get a feel for my mindset on each sketch and I just create and brainstorm. Sometimes its lil , others it's a WHOLE piece. Gotta luv and have fun with it

[@YasWitch7]

The final thoughts just got me, I’m finishing a sketchbook I use since 2018 and now I have other view about it all, thank ya

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Definitely need to start using my sketchbook more. Fear of mistakes is the end of progress.

[@MF-xb5bk]

It helps my mental health. It’s easy to doodle when you are bored and just sitting or whatever instead of being on my phone. I just started sketching and it’s so relaxing for me.

[@rsuman]

I loved to see work in progress especially the invention of the sky: the clouds, the air. The contrast between the inks in some drawings is remarkable 💙