I went to pick up some supplies at my local art store and I picked up a new sketchbook for our summer trips, and that got me thinking about a sketchbook practice and how helpful it can be as a working creative. When I started graduate school at the end of 2012, I started buying a small moleskine book to take notes in and sketch things out in and I have about 9 of these books on a bookcase in the studio. They are a great history of old ideas, notes of things I’ve read and random doodles. Today I want to talk about all of the different benefits of keeping a sketchbook in your creative practice.

Records your progress as an artist. This is a great way to see how far you’ve come in your medium.

Makes you a faster sketcher - the faster you can draw out your ideas - the faster you can communicate them.

Sketching can be a really nice way to relax your brain.

Record and develop new ideas for larger works of art - when I’m lacking inspiration, I like to look back and see past notes and ideas that I’ve had - they might spur on some new ideas, today.

A sketchbook is a really great way to experiment with new ideas and mediums: if it’s in your sketchbook, it’s a lot less daunting for me: for me there is no pressure to be perfect if it’s in my sketchbook.

Sketching daily will sharpen your skills in drawing from life.

My favorite brands of sketchbooks: Stillman & Birn, Moleskine