If you are an art student or creative person, sometimes it can be intimidating to stare at the blank white pages of a new sketchbook. What should go there? What if I mess it up?
Your sketchbook is a place for you to make art and improve your skills completely free of judgment or expectations. There are no rules! As a DIY artist at heart, Leah Honeycutt works on mixed media projects, photography, and graphic design. Today she shares 4 ways to fill your sketchbook to unlock your creativity and improve your skills.
- Life drawing. Set up a still life at home or go to a cafe and draw what you see. Pro tip: practice drawing as much as you can in pen, without the ability to erase.
- Blind contour drawing. Once you have a still life or scene you want to draw, practice this method to improve your hand-eye coordination. Once you put your pen on the paper, do not lift it and do not look at your paper – just look at the subject you are drawing.
- Test out new art materials. Got some new watercolor paints? Try doing some swatches and combining colors to see how they interact with each other.
- Try a completely new style that you have never done before. Grab some old magazines and do a collage on one page. Mix colored pencils and watercolor together. Try the techniques of artists you admire.
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