5 Tips for Filling a Sketchbook

If you’ve ever wondered how to fill a sketchbook, I’ll walk you through five ideas in this post. It’s easy to get stuck wondering what things to fill your sketchbook with, but it’s important to let go of the pressure of creating a picture-perfect sketchbook. After all, your sketchbook should feel like a safe space for you to create and explore. 

You’ve probably seen lots of aesthetic sketchbook flip-through videos on social media, but I want to encourage you to let go of the expectation that your sketchbook has to look perfect. The true purpose of keeping a sketchbook is to practice and grow, not create content! 

So with that in mind, let’s dive into my five tips for filling a sketchbook!

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Choose a theme 

One way to combat artist’s block and successfully fill a sketchbook is to choose a theme for the sketchbook. The theme can be as broad or as specific as you’d like. Just make sure that whatever theme you choose excites you. One of my goals this year is to reconnect with my creativity and paint for FUN more often. So I decided to start a sketchbook practice with the theme of “My Favorite Things.” This helps me stay more consistent since I’m painting things I love and that are interesting to me! (P.S. If you want to follow along with my favorite things sketchbook journey, follow me on Instagram!)

You can also pick a theme based on skills that you want to work on. For example, if you’re looking to improve your portrait painting skills, you could theme your sketchbook around women who inspire you. If you want to improve your color skills, your theme could be trying new color palettes. 

Pick a small sketchbook 

The blank pages of a sketchbook can be a little intimidating – especially if there is a lot of blank space! Larger pages mean more room to fill, so one way to successfully fill a sketchbook is to choose a small sketchbook. (I personally like these, they’re classic for a reason!) 

Having less space to paint can drastically cut down your art creation time. So if you’re trying to fit pockets of creativity into your busy schedule, working with a small sketchbook might just be the key! You’ll still get just as much benefit out of creating smaller artwork, but it will take less time and feel less daunting than filling a big sketchbook! Bonus: it’s very travel friendly so you can take it with you on the go and practice drawing from real life!

Make one thing a day 

Since keeping a sketchbook is all about practicing and growing your art skills, consistency is key. One of the best ways to fill a sketchbook is to commit to painting every day. But I know that that can feel overwhelming, especially if you are pressed for time. But what if all you had to do was paint a single brushstroke each day? 

I once read a book about habits that said that if you want to build a habit like flossing your teeth, start by just flossing one tooth every day. This makes the habit really manageable and fills you with a sense of satisfaction when you complete the small task. But it also sets you up for success because you’re building consistency and can eventually build up to the full habit of flossing every tooth! You may also find that if you just start with one small goal, it’s easy to finish flossing all your teeth while you’re at it. Just make it easy to start!

So try that with painting. Go into your sketchbook practice with the goal of painting one brushstroke a day. This helps relieve the pressure of feeling like you have to paint a masterpiece and lets you focus on consistency. Chances are once you get out your supplies and put brush to paper you’ll be likely to paint more than just one brushstroke!

Meditative sketchbook exercises 

One of my favorite ways to work in a sketchbook is to do meditative painting exercises. These repetitive, meditative exercises help you work on your brush control and paint consistency while also helping you relax and enjoy the practice of creation. 

They don’t require a lot of time to make but still turn out pretty!

This is a great solution if you don’t know what to draw. My go-to meditative exercise is to fill a page with simple brushstrokes like this. Easy, relaxing, and fun! 

Take inspiration from simple things around you 

When you’re feeling stuck with what to paint to fill your sketchbook, take inspiration from your surroundings. Even simple household objects can be interesting to paint. Take a look at what’s in the room around you – a plant, a picture frame, a lamp – the options are endless! 

When I’m wondering what to paint, I look for inspiration in my flower garden! I also love to paint fruits, so I’ll take a look at what’s in season at the grocery store or farmer’s market, and use that for inspiration as well.

Starting a sketchbook practice is so rewarding, and I hope that these five tips have given you some inspiration for filling a sketchbook of your own!  

Want step-by-step guidance for painting in your sketchbook? Join me in my class, Gouache for Beginners to learn five fun techniques for painting with gouache in your sketchbook.