For the last couple of years I’ve been using my sketchbook as a place to experiment with colour and pattern and to try out new materials, rather than somewhere to work on my drawing technique. My sketchbooks have become more of an art journal project for me – something to dip in and out and to test new media and techniques. They are a far cry from the detailed pencil sketches I used to make in my college sketchbooks and I’m really enjoying using them in a freer, more experimental way!
I’m a subscriber to Quirky Heart’s Patreon (you might remember me sharing Michelle’s amazing planner spreads here on the blog a little while ago!) – every month Michelle releases a new Quirky Heart Digest full of prompts, tips, and challenges to help kickstart your creativity! I’ve used some of the prompts in my bullet journal and some to create patterns and pages in my sketchbook, like these:




My other favourite monthly subscription is to ScrawlrBox – every month I get a new box of yummy new art goodies through the post! I have discovered some great new products this way, and have been challenged to use materials I wouldn’t usually choose.




Because I am always nosy about what other people have used in their sketchbooks (and because I’m a firm believe that you can NEVER have too many art supplies!) here’s a list of the products I used in these pages:
Materials used:
- Moleskine watercolour sketchbooks (A4 and large sizes)
- Jackson’s Art lay-flat sketchbook
- Koi brush pens
- jane Davenport Mermaid Markers
- Posca paint pens
- Staedtler fine liner pens
- Muji gel pens
- Spectrum Noir illustration markers
- Koh-I-Noor Watercolour pencils
- Kuetake Gansai Tambi watercolours
- Van Gogh watercolours
- Pentel brush pen and Stabilo fineliners
I hope you enjoyed that little peak inside my sketchbooks! If you’re looking for some inspiration to help kick start your creativity, I would really recommend both the ScrawlrBox subscription and Michelle’s Quirky Heart Digest (no affiliate links, I just love them!)
Wow, your sketchbook is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed taking a look through my sketchbooks! Thanks for your kind words!
Kate how is the Pentel Correct pen used in your art journals – presuming not for correcting mistakes so how else please?
Hi Leanne! The correction pen came in one of the ScrawlrBox art subscriptions boxes I have (along with the watercolours!) – I used it as I might use white paint, to add highlights and details! It worked pretty well and I’ve used it again on other bits and pieces I have been working on. I hope that helps!