How a sketchbook can change your life 

I agree!

What a beautiful comment!

@@SketchBookSkool I didn’t expect that my comment will have this impact. Thank you for pinning it

Hey there friend, you are God's great work of art. You are wonderfully and fearfully made, and God has watched over you when you were knitted in your mother's womb. And He makes all things beautiful in it's time. Hope you will call out to Jesus, ask for His forgiveness and let Him make you whole. He can deliver and heal you. God loves you, have a good day.

After i started dabbling in watercolor I started seeing beauty in everything. The colours, the shapes of architecture, the interesting perspective through the glass of the slightly tinted water i use for cleaning my brush. All beautiful. I do something creative almost every day and think I will for a long time yet to come!

Look at Grandma Moses. She thought her paintings were horrible and childlike, but everyone else loved them.

Really glad it helped!

Same.

True, that daily really got me drawing immediately after watching this video

What type of paper do you look for in a sketchbook? Watercolor weight?

me too

I’m so guilty of this… buying sketchbooks … keeping them ‘good’ until I learn to draw… which I never get round to doing. This video randomly came on my feed and was a sign ❤️. Congrats on your first (off many) drawings ❤️

I took a bunch of printing papers, fold them in half, and called it my sketchbook, used a cardboard for a cover, an elastic in the middle to hold it together. Now I "graduated" to a sketchbook 😅😅😅

Inspiring.

Make art because YOU love it! 👍

That’s a really challenging thing, to be less perfectionist, less self critical, I hope overcome it in the next sketchbook that I’ll start soon

same

I feel this deeply too

It absolutely does! :) I started sketching every day February 2020 in response to having to stay a couple more months at a job that caused me crippling anxiety. Even after leaving that job, I’ve kept the habit and it’s so grounding

@@SB-wj8oj yeah it's the best i started when I was 13-14 to sketch every day during an illness, been doing it since, music and drawing is the best medicine for the soul!

I hope you’re enjoying it @Anthony O.T Hector

It does, sketchbook helps me a lot!!!!!!!

@@monsieurpoope5434 Drawing Music Drawing Music Drawing Music They ARE the best medicine! 👍

I've had depression since childhood and Meditation and being busy with art, has helped a great deal your presentation is so enlightning thank you!

@@theodoresweger4948 I’ve been so emotional lately so my art may be off key now cause I haven’t drawn anything in 2 months. Art really is inspiring tho

I'm glad creating is helpful to you. Me, as well. I like the way he talked about how drawing can "quiet the mind" and afterwards, you feel like you just took a nice nap. When I'm not quite in the mood for creating, I might color in a coloring book, read something for fun or learning, take a walk, birdwatch, or listen to "ambient", new age-type music. Hope this helps a little! ☮

Me too!

Me too!

That's really interesting, thank you for sharing!

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Tatiana! Welcome back to art making.

What an interesting comment. I remember my older sister sneering at my artistic efforts and story writing efforts when I was younger and it stayed with me for years and I did nothing further about either. It has really struck me that this video says a sketchbook is a safe and private space. That is actually quite profound in the context of yours and my past experiences

Concur.

Practice, practice practice and practice some more.....but have fun doing it!!

I too so agree love using my sketchbook thank you

Is you tube counted as social media? Well, with the rest of social networking media, they're quite tiresome and unproductive and often used foolishly and for pure foolishness. I definitely agree with you on that. But what about you tube?

@@mariavictoriasalita2908 I use RU-vid for tutorials .I was just using social media as an example of time wasting.

@@jamieluce5960 thanks.

It’s beyond people to get sucked up in it and as well not any of your business anyway. Keep doing your art and stop judging. If you knew all this crap either you’re watching social media too much or you’re basing your opinion off of someone else’s experiences that they told you. And it’s nice but there’s a bunch of books that are worthless, do worthless things, and congratulate worthless people just like social media and yet they’re still mass produced and beloved about and shouldn’t be judged like that. If you don’t use it, you don’t gotta but it’s not productive to nitpick placed hobbies.

@@keepyourshoesathedooragreed

i need to say....I'M SO AGREEE W THIS COMMENT!

Good for you in continuing your work. There are so many variants to the styles, processes in the creative world.. If an artist doesn’t create realism (aka Rembrandt, Cassatt, Turner, Michaelangelo and Sargent, for example), it’s not art to the ignorant. Art is expression. I used to scoff at primitive,outsider art. Now as an artist in my own right, God led me to it in my later years, I enjoy the primitive and outsider art. People drew, painted, and sculpted because they responded to their need to create regardless of their lack of training, or perhaps even money. They used what they had available to meet their need. I think that is fantastic. I am so glad that you didn’t allow others to stifle your creative side. I am an abstract artist. I love the freedom of creating colors, shapes and textures. People try to “find” meaning in it. No problem. You either like it or you don’t! You like the colors,, shapes, or movement. I tell people that if my work causes them to respond, that is wonderful to me. If they “see” something, it’s personal, their creative eye is seeing it I wish you many pleasant hours creating. It’s a gift that you give to yourself. You’re an artist whether you get paid or not.

@@lindahenderson1625 beautiful comment

When people comment ,I think’ I am drawing and you aren’t!’

If you enjoy what youre drawing then youve already succeeded massively. Imo the less skilled artist who loves what they do is vastly more successful than the pro artist whos constantly stressing out about how their work stacks up. At least if the metric is life fulfillment which I think is whats important

You’re lucky to sketch like a 7 year old. My favorite artist is Cy Twombly. Check him out.

Wow!

Nearly a year later, this video is still popping up in folks recommended, like mine, and inspiring us after 10, 15 years to pick up an art supply and a sketchbook and go to town 🎨 Hope you're still creating art!

@@NoDecaf7 Yes! My local art store has become a favourite place of mine! Start small, stay consistent and trust the process, I'm not highly skilled but it will come:) Good luck, and dont forget to share whatever you create!

I'm 30 and just tried it again days ago. :)

This is totally my problem too. He's inspiring me to start again. ❤️

Me too. I've been in university I bought a sketch book 3 years ago and only last year I used a few pages as I couldn't get past the need to draw perfect images. It's been another year and I've done nothing. So I'm going to use this as a place for my ideas & art and a place to explore how I do that. Thats it!

I don't know quite where to start, but I used to draw everyday for over 15 years when I was younger. I started my path into art when I was very little, thanks to the support of my cousin who also loved art in all its formats. Long story short, I went through some pretty life altering things when I was about 16, which lead down a road I had not been down before. I don't expect life to give me anything, but it had taken away from me my desire to draw. I finished art school for the sake of going to school, I don't know why but even getting into the mood isn't like it used to be, even though all that negativity has passed by the years, I still can't seem to disassociate it from my need to create on a canvas. I see people on here talking about how art is therapeutic for them, and it makes me miss it and want to have that creativity again, even if it's just for a little while. I can't seem to get out of this funk and am trying my darndest to get back into the craft. I know I must sound distressed, and I probably am, but I just want to be able to add more color back to the world again. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I wish you a fruitful life, and I hope you keep that spark if creativity going. One Love

Hi, I feel similarly about something that once gave me passion. Now, it feels like I am never "in the mood" for that interest of mine yet there is nothing comparable to fill that void. Can you identify why it is hard to start? I wonder if trying different mediums of art could give you room to let that expression take form again. Or setting yourself up to make art in a completely new setting can make it feel like a blank slate of an experience. It's so distressing to identify what subconscious beliefs are telling you to shun the activity you once enjoyed. But it seems like you really care for this part of you so I hope you don't give up.

@@allyson-- I appreciate the feedback. I'll definitely give it a try, I actually really like the sound of that idea. I think a change in settings might actually help a little bit. I'm used to the indoors when it comes to creating. So maybe taking my tools outside for a change might make a difference. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to a stranger. Just know you actually brightened a mind. I'll let you know how it goes

@@DrNo-xg3ny hi. Firstly i am sorry you had to go through whatever it was. Maybe instead of trying to plan a day as "i want to finish my painting or maybe start a new one" you could wake up and plan your first 2 hours. Its called baby steps. So keep a pen and book or paper close at hand and doodle....from that you can maube see into the doodle.. colours!! Keep your pen handy if yoi dont want to doodle write what you are feeling and draw tiny pics to recognise that sentemce. The only habit you need is to have pen and paper strategically placed all over your house. If someone walks into your house with dirty shoes...draw that. You will find your peace without realising it. All yje best and Gofs blessings.

@@diannebillett2788 Thank you so much for the honest feedback. I'm definitely going to take any advice I can get and try to utilize it the best I can. I'll start today and see how that goes as well. Take care, I appreciate you.

I have the exact same anxiety. It’s a fear of failure, and if you fail.... you feel badly about yourself. Well, I do. I wish it didn’t affect me like that. I can either draw a masterpiece.... or it’s a terrible mess. I too should just get on with it, as I love creating art.

@@pommiebears Yep. The conflict messes with your head doesn't it, but it's not insurmountable. Go for it anyway. Good luck mate.

@@pommiebears i can relate to this... its really bad.. sometimes i felt like i cant do anything at all.. makes me feel so down.. ;(

I am 63,so I know exactly where you are coming from.

Yes well done ! who cares what anyone thinks,exspress yourself enjoying your creative inner self ,..it’s so relaxing.before you know it , 30 minutes gone,and your relaxed well done!

Couldn't agree more. Thanks for sharing!

You got this!

Thank you for sharing part of your 30 year love story. I'm so glad that prayer and your sketchbook is bringing you healing, some joy and company. Much love, prayers and blessings to you!

@@ksifton Well, that made me smile, thank you Kellie. I’m not one to publicly share my feelings, but for some reason I felt led to share. Maybe partly to affirm Danny’s commitment & maybe for someone out there who needs to know they’re not alone in their hurt & struggles. I so appreciate your heartfelt reply. I sense you too know the One who is the Comforter & giver of all good gifts. Blessing & hugs, Suzanne

I am deeply sorry for your loss, Suzanne and I am grateful that you found a way to cope and heal through your art ♥ I wish you all the best. Sending you lots of love ♥♥♥

I am so sorry you lost your husband. But I'm so glad to hear your sketchbook has brought you peace. It does the same for me.

@@nathaliedrinkstea Thank you for your encouraging words & loving kindness. It’s uplifting to know there are people who care about others even when you don’t know them. Makes my heart happy❤️🥰

Wonderful! 💛

That's the spirit! Started to do the same and it's so liberating to allow yourself to have those loose pages. Now I have both, a sketchbook or should I say rather just a simple cheap school-notebook and those loose pages, for whenever I feel like the one or the other

I am same age. No time to waste. Hugs

At the age of 38 I bought an art book. "Drawing on the Right Side of your Brain" by Betty Edwards. It really helped me to understand the thought "mode" of drawing. At 72 I also want to get back to my sketching.

Thats awesome! Best of luck ❤

@@doodoodoodle Go for it. I am 33 and only about to start studying arts. I know I want to do it.

Go for it, Krzywa- It's never too late to get started! 👍

I love your .... I was/am depressed.... me too!!!!! His video is very inspiring and so I will get me a sketch book and begin

The gentlemen is a great artist named Mattias Adolfsson. He is a great artist who has published some of his sketchbooks. He has a class also in domestica teaching his sketch technique

@@ByEdriany Thanks! I will check him out. I just started drawing during the pandemic. The simplicity of a sketchbook and fountain pen spoke to me. I have lots to learn!

JERIC ALAMIL you don' t have necessary to have studies in Aert School, you can educate by yourself on libraries and ar exhibition. Really.

@@garance5385 and RU-vid videos! I’ve improved so much just watching tutorials this past year. Now my art is hanging all around our house 🙂

I hope you're doing well!

BECAUSE ART IS THE EXPRESSION OF OUR SOUL AND THIS WORLD IS REALLY SICK! IT- S A SIGN OF GOOD MENTAL HEALTH NOT BEING WELL IN THIS WORLD!

Hey there, hope you're better now, do you still sketch? Just want to share with you someone who delivered me from my depression, it's Jesus, and you are His great work of art. We are wonderfully and fearfully made, and God has watched over you when you were knitted in your mother's womb. And He makes all things beautiful in it's time. Hope you will call out to Jesus, ask for His forgiveness and let Him make you whole. I did not know God, and chased after my own desires, ambitions, but it was all empty grasping of the wind. In the end I still do not feel fulfilled, because there is a void in us which only God can fill. As I grew older I also started to degenerate morally, and having failed in social relationships, I slid into a depressive state. It lasted for years, until Jesus came and took all of that dark, cold bits away. I started to actually feel warm again. He not only delivered me, but also renewed me. I could start over again, in a clean state, my sins forgiven. God loves you, and cares about you. I hope you will receive full healing, but most importantly, receive a renewed heart from Jesus. He knows all the thoughts in our hearts, please come to Him. God bless you friend

God this sounds awful. Like you were in a prison. 😢

​@@seidenschnabelfederflugel5441 I think quite the contrary. It was the keys needed to free the authentic self. A way back to themselves , Healing.

I feel the same way

I also wish to draw even if I don't have talent. I just find joy in paper and pens, pencils and coloring materials.

Notebook or sketchbook it doesn't matter. As long as your mind has vision and perspective.

Glad you enjoyed it! 💛

Oh, good! I'm so glad you liked it, Olivia Hall.

That's amazing!!

Wow 🤩

That would be wonderful to do!

How? Where? I might like to learn

Ah, I have a whole pinterest board dedicated to book binding/paper making/etc... I haven't done it yet... *but it looks soooo fun and rewarding*

Well said!

I literally reached your comment at the exact the moment in the video where he says this quote, so I read it and heard it at the same time lol so cool

Absolutely ! I feel the same way ! I always see other artist looking back on their art and all they can think is how bad it is and how much they hate it and it makes me really sad and frustrated because these old drawings are memories that you can look back on and see how much you've grown and be proud of having made it to the next day for so long. And if you're unhappy with them, nothing's to stop you from remaking these old drawings into a new sketchbook ! Looking back on old drawings is always such a nice experience for me.

@@corruptedteka Yes, to me too! I can't remember what I ate 2 days ago but when I look at my old drawings from years ago I can remember so many things! Whenever I feel bad about my art I look back at what I made and it makes me smile. I knew I wasn't great but I still managed to have fun and keep going. Bad art is necessary to grow as an artist

@@didi7074 I absolutely agree ! Plus there's always some fun ideas to look back on and pick back up-

That must be so awesome, wish I had done so.

@@brenroseartsoul6713 It's never too late to start-

I’m 58 and just now celebrating who I am and what inspires me, it’s never too late to discover those freedoms!

@@steelpaine9932 Have a good day Kim! Hug!

Yes trust your INSTINCS because they from our Guardians.

@@steelpaine9932 Right on, Kim! I'm 52 and still excited to make art!

I'm so glad!

I'm so glad!

@@SketchBookSkool sir, I wish to own a sketchbook and a lot of writing and art materials. However, I don't have any talent in drawing. Can that be possible- I mean me learning to draw and color at age 46 though I don't have any talent at all? Thanks.

@@mariavictoriasalita2908 take pleasure in drawing what you want and how you want. Take pleasure on educating your eyes in discovering painters, the art history, the colors forms, all the vocabulary of visual arts. Those are every day in front of you wherever you live. Just observe, and appreciate. Don't judge yourself. There is no reason for not having interesting result. The goal is not important, it is the journey. I' ve studies in visual art schhool and we learned that the notion of not knowing drawing is absolutely irrealistic. In fact every human has his own signature, his own sensitivity. And when you discover by drawing, testing, your tool, you discover yourself in your singularity in the art of drawing. I hope I help you because I' m always sad to read a comment like yours, don't mutilate your ability to share to the world your unicity, English is not my language, I'm french. Have fun, and you will see that painting at 46 years old is not absolutely not a problem. I' m sure you want to draw for long time ago, so accord to yourself the freedom of express who you are! And last, look for draws in the centuries, from for example the Middle Age until the 21th century to educate your eye and dicover how so large is the pratice of drawing. It will help you, and you'll find artists that you will find affinity with them. Their art will help you and nourish your mind and your hand for your own practice for sure. Look at the draws of Cy Twombly, and you'll be surprised. Compare with Dûrer and you will be choqued. And the difference between them is really abyssal but they are great artists both! That is the power of drawing: NO LIMIT!!! Go draw!

@@mariavictoriasalita2908 I started water coloring at 64... took a class to help me get started and wow! Take the plunge! There are no mistakes that can’t be learned from, or covered or changed into something different, but fabulous .

@@garance5385 thank you so much. ❤

Maybe get some gel pens--glitter, neon, fine point, some markers, etc. heaven🦋

Thankyou for the tip on layerings to multiply colours!😅

Me too!

YES! Make art for the love of it!

Glad you liked it!

I'll just be honest. I don't keep a sketchbook, I raid other peoples art and steal everything. For example at 1:49 there this orange and yellow castle thing I like so just change the castle grabbing the architecture off other people and BOOM original artwork. Lets just come clean about the whole thing.

Thank you 🇺🇸❤️

Amen Brother. ❤

I'm also 52 and have been filling my sketchbook journals for over 20 years as well- and I totally agree with you, daily practice and patience will pay off over time! 👍

I think every artist goes through a phase of hoarding Art supplies a d thinking their work isn't worthy of the blank first page. Start on the second page and do any darn thing that comes to mind. Search struthless on RU-vid and "art supply hoarding" in RU-vid for Jerry's Artarama. Struthless is the one who pointed out that "action precedes motivation." I think he got it from Casey Neistat, but I could be wrong. The trouble with getting older is that people younger than you start seeming like wise old souls (looking at you, Millenials...).

I remember when I was young I read a story about an old lady that died and her expensive perfume bottle was full and rancid because she saved it. For what? That day I sprayed my expensive perfume and ever since I’ve used my things I bought. Not for rainy days. Bit to make every day an occasion. I suppose that delightful habit is why I’ve enjoyed my life and I don’t hoard my supplies ever. I choose what I use but I use up what I want when I want. If I can’t get more I’ll figure out something else. 🙂

I'm so glad!

Me too!

Yes! Make art because you love it! 👍

Make more art. Stress will reduce.

Don’t take it too serious. Remember, you’re not a slave to your art, it’s supposed to work for you. I understand us Artist are perfectionists at heart, but at the end, it’s only one page in your life. *Not the end.*

I was the same until i figured out that I'm a perfectionist and i always procrastinate for the same reason ( that I don't wanna make art and end up looking bad etc..) when i realized that i started to tell my self that this journey should be fun and art shouldn't be forced .. so i bought a new sketch book and starterd to draw anything i want and it doesn't matter if it looked bad no one will see it and I'm having fun .

@@sooma2088 that’s literally me at the moment! Thanks for your tip

Same here. My drawing sucks, I have a co-ordination problem (Dyspraxia) which really impacts my fine motor control so my drawing always has sucked and will continue to suck, even with practice. I've gotten better with practice, a lot of practice, but my better still sucks.

You've got this!