I adore working in sketchbooks for so many reasons: They are compact, always available and practically free- especially when I make them myself. All I need is a pen or pencil and a simple journal (which can be as basic as a spiral notebook) and I’m all set. I can make sketchbook art while waiting to get into my dentist appointment, while enjoying my morning cup of coffee, or when relaxing on the beach. Plus, sketches form the foundation for many other mediums so it’s an important skill to develop.
If you’ve recently decided to explore creative expression as a way to achieve balance in your life (and if this is something new for you), it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the choices. There are so many mediums and techniques to explore that it can be hard to sort through all the options and land on the one that is right for you. Here are the 4 that top my list of art activities that are perfect for sketchbook art.
1) Making Mandalas and Zentangle Art
I consider mandala-making and Zentangle art “gateway art forms”. They are perfect for anyone just starting out because they aren’t intimidating; There is a simple formula, you don’t need any special drawing skills, and you’ll be amazed at the beautiful results you can achieve doing something so simple. Both techniques produce lovely results even with basic black and white designs using ink on paper but you can also take them a step further and add colors.
If you want to take your mandalas to the next level, gather a few stamping tools and some craft paint to make a colorful dot mandala. For more information, check out my mandala article here, and my Dot Mandala YouTube video here.
And if you’d like to explore the art of Zentangling, I’d recommend the book One Zentangle a Day by Beckah Krahula.
2) Expressive Sketching
Do you remember how exciting it was to open a new box of crayons when you were a child? Well, maybe it’s time for you to rediscover that joy as an adult! I keep a little art journal with me at all times along with a little bag of my favorite drawing tools. My advice to anyone starting out is to just draw everything and anything whenever you have the chance. And more importantly, treat this activity like a learning experience or science project without any expectations for the end results. Do whatever you need to do to let go of the pressure to make something pretty: splatter your pages with random colors before you start drawing, scribble notes all around the page, or start with some blind contour sketches. Also, while just a simple ball point pen will do, I’d recommend expanding your stash of sketching materials as you go to include colored pencils, brush pens and water-soluble pencils. Each new item will offer a new set of advantages and challenges and will add to your artistic toolbox. For a complete list of my favorite art supplies click here.
3) Playing with Watercolor
I love, love, love watercolor artwork. I love the translucent colors, the little imperfections and interesting, subtle patterns that form when one pigment meets another. Watercolor is relatively inexpensive, portable, and super easy to clean up. Believe it or not, it is also easy to learn. It often gets a bad rap because mistakes can’t be erased like pencil can, or covered over like acrylic and oil paints can. But here’s the kicker: the only things that separate those who fear watercolor painting from those who adore it are just are a few simple techniques!
With watercolors you can achieve amazing results you could never achieve with any other medium because the paints interact with water and with one another in interesting ways. Plus there are a few techniques you can use to “fix mistakes” if you are so inclined. However, you might even begin to view your “mistakes” as the features that make your work even more beautiful. But be careful! Before you know it, this medium might just become your addiction. For more on watercolor exploration, check out this post.
4) Exploring Mixed Media
Some people think of mixed media art as the kind of art that involves layers of collaged papers, ephemera and acrylic paints. However the term Mixed Media can mean just about any combination of mediums. Since I like working in a sketchbook on the go, I prefer using materials that are easy to pack, easy to use and easy to clean up.
My favorite mixed media combinations are materials that can be used to make Line and Wash art. The “line” part is the sketch and makes up the structure of the art. This can be made using any of the expressive sketching tools I mentioned in 2 above. The “wash” part would be responsible for the looser and broader areas of color. My favorite is still watercolor, but I also enjoy using markers (brush markers are so much fun) and gouache (basically opaque watercolor) for this as well. By combining mediums like this, you can get the best of both worlds. The wash can be as loose and free as you like, because the line will be there to provide the structure, definition and texture.
You can use these materials in any order but my below is my favorite process that helps me get into the creative flow quickly:
- Start with a light pencil sketch
- Apply a layer of loose color washes
- Add a bit of structure and definition with contour lines
- Add another wash layer for richer colors and darker values
- Finish with some detail and textural line work (like hatching) and white highlights
This process allows me to get into the creative flow quickly because it starts with a sketch and a loose light wash of color. Nothing in these 2 steps will make or break the final page so there’s no fear. By the time I get to step 3, I don’t have to deal with my “fear of the blank page” and my creativity is primed and flowing.
Some Complementary Activities:
Making Hand Bound Journals
While the art of handmade books can stand on its own as a form of creative expression and would be the perfect outlet for anyone who enjoys sewing and fiber art, for me this falls into a separate category. I have found that I actually prefer to give up some of my creative freedom in exchange for a process that is structured and controlled. The simple steps I follow while stitching the pages and signatures together may seem repetitive and rote, but they help to ground me and quiet my thoughts. This meditative, mindful process is at its best when I am simply following a set of step-by-step instructions and don’t have to think or plan, similar to knitting with a pattern. The best part is my finished journals are the perfect compliment to my art practice, providing a safe place for me to practice my techniques and document my journey. To learn more about Making Artful Journals, click here.
Mixed Media Encaustic Art
My desire to work more expressively led me to the amazing, ancient art of encaustics or simply described: painting with warm wax. If you are looking for an art form that will engage all of your senses, this is it. Since this art form does require a dedicated area with equipment needing electricity, it’s not something you could simply practice on the go. But it’s definitely something worth considering if you get to the point where you want to work larger and outside of a journal (although I have incorporated encaustics into some of my journal covers and pages as well). You can check out my nature journal video here.
Encaustic art offers the intoxicating scent of warmed beeswax, layers of translucent color that can be created by rubbing pigment directly onto the surface with your (gloved) hands, a luminous finish that begs to be touched. It also offers the freedom to incorporate both sketching and watercolor, as well as oil paint, powdered pigments, paper, and all kinds of ephemera for those inclined to create mixed media masterpieces. Please note, I would recommend encaustic art only to those who have at least dabbled in some of the more traditional painting mediums like watercolor, acrylic and oil, and who are ready for a change and up for the challenge. On this site, I only provide a brief introduction to this topic.