Compose your own Sketchbook Page!

Create a series of thumbnails based on a specific concept you’re working on, or as a warmup. Take notes during and after, recording your materials, opinions, and/or ideas.

Set up a page in your sketchbook , on a loose sheet of paper, canvas, or surface of choice.
Use templates, draw spaces freehand/ruled, or use your judgement to place sketches freely on the page.
Use inspiration from your own work to get started.
- You could study a reference photo, bowl of fruit, view out your window, self portrait, anything can be inspiration.
- Uninspired? Try a layout as a warmup, use your favorite or forgotten tools and explore mark-making, try out a new paint color, or practice layering different medias using basic shapes and lines.
- Or, if you want to follow along with the demos for practice, feel free to use the reference photo of the Maine marsh, you can find it attached in the downloads area to the right.
Create 2 or more thumbnails approaching your inspiration in various ways. You could try looking at composition, color studies, or curate a collection of sketches. There really are no rules. Feeling stuck? Drawing a blank under pressure? Here are a few examples of possible concept combinations to get your thumbnails started:
- Use different color palettes to depict the same subject/idea
- Create compositions of a subject from different directions
- Study a subject with different mediums
- Do versions of the same subject from realistic to completely abstract
- Use one color palette on different subjects
- Work out how to simplify a challenging subject
Write your Active notes while you create. Note your techniques, colors, or any other variables. Record any reactions and opinions on your progress and results as they occur.
Once you finish your page, review and write down your Reflective notes, making sure to look for anything you've learned, or any new ideas that surfaced during the process.
Share your page and notes to the Project Gallery! Include any observations on the process and anything you modified, or would change the next time. Sharing it on social media as well? Tag me @jillgustavisart on Instagram or Facebook, so I can check it out!

I can't wait to see what you choose to explore!

Remember to be curious and have fun!

Audrey E

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