Sketchbook size

[Abellebeingart]

Jake's suggested three phases to get started suggests filling 5-7 sketchbooks in one year. My sketchbook is 100 sheets, 11.7" x 8.3" and I'm having a hard time filling 4-5 pages a day. Is this the size meant for a sketchbook?

[AnthonyWheeler]

@Abellebeingart Just draw. Don't overthink. Do what you can handle. There are NO rules when it comes to sketching, sketchbook size and page counts.

[NessIllustration]

@Abellebeingart There's not a quota

[lpetiti]

Definitely don't overthink it. My university classes made it a requirement to sketch daily and be at a certain page number at certain times of the year. Did that result in my loving sketching? NO! What it did result in was a severe amount of anxiety that makes it hard, even 8-10 years later, to have fun sketching. Things have to be "perfect" in my mind because someone "might" see them and judge them.

Regarding the size, do you enjoy working that size? If you do, KEEP GOING. If not, put that book aside and try a different size.

[von_Nimmermehr]

so, like the other people here already said, it doesnt matter what size it has.
These questions are in the end kind of obsolet, even though i get why people ask. I have to admit, i have a hard time filling sketchbooks though.
The point is, you have to draw, draw, draw.

I saw some of Jakes videos and i think the size is about a5, but its most about what you prefer.

I work with smaller sketchbooks most of the time because thats the size i prefer. i have some in a4 for bigger stuff i want to do once in a while and i have a big a3 for figure drawing because i use charcoal and i want to go big and see what i do. also they have different paper like watercolor or just normal paper.

Its in the end more about doing something and finishing something.
Looking back on my finished sketchbooks is lovely and i want to absolutely sketch more and i also did put a lot of work into my mindset about a sketchbook.

A Sketchbook is a place for practicing and not perfection. Its your space only and NOBODY has to see it if you dont want to. Its like an illustrated diary.

I can see soo much progress from time to time and it makes me proud

[MimiHecher]

I work with A4 sketch books mostly, because I have a hard time staying small, when developing poses.
I usually don't fill more than 2 pages in a "sketching session".
I would suggest not to bother whether you get so many books filled in a year or not, but bother whether you sketch something daily, to make it a routine.

I'm not near a daily routine, I only sketch, when I need to develop something for a project, f.e. layout sketches of a picture book or doing thumbnails for a cover design ... so... my sketching hardly ever is "just for fun", I fear. I hope I can manage to change that one day.

[Blitz55]

• Are you drawing consistently and creating a habit of sketching?
• Are you enjoying your time in your drawing in your sketchbook?
• Are you allowing yourself to let go of fear of failure or outside judgment when using your sketchbook?
• Do you feel like you have a purpose when opening up your sketchbook? Are you drawing with intent to create, brainstorm, concept, learn or even the intent of having no intentions and letting your mind and pencil wander?
• Do you keep your sketchbook handy? Do you turn to it when you want something to do or instead of mindlessly scrolling through your phone?

I think these are all vastly more important than how many sketchbooks you mow through in a year. The speed at which you will go through a sketchbook is dependent on so many random things that it's kind of a pointless concern. I think what Jake was probably getting at was that he is drawing, and drawing a lot, because he loves it.... and it's his job. But for you, I think the concern is more, are you getting to it, are you using it, has it become a part of your day to day to get some drawing in? As long as you're using it and enjoying it, you're sketchbooking correctly.

[Abellebeingart]

Thank you all. This helps soooo much. This morning I sketched what felt like a guilty pleasure, as it wasn't "practice" of a foundational skill or a artist study...just something I wanted to draw. So, yeah. Think I was treating as a chore, rather than what I'm here for...the love of drawing.
Enjoy to all of you loving creating.

[kirsten-mcg]

@lpetiti I had this same experience! "Required" sketching for a grade is definitely a bad idea. I think schools would serve students much better to focus on sketchbook prompts, ideas for things to draw, and strategies to help you grow as an artist. @Abellebeingart one thing I've been doing recently is picking 1 thing to draw per page in my sketchbook. So for example, I filled an entire page of my sketchbook with mushrooms, another with tea cups and pots, and another with bicycles. I try not to worry about how they look. I'm just learning the basic forms, and trying to be creative with my designs. It's surprising how much fun it is, and also how relaxing! I only have about 45 minutes to draw each day, and it typically took my 2 drawing sessions to fill one page of my 9x11 sketchbook, but it's not so much the number of pages filled that counts. It's daily drawing practice.