There is something special about returning to an old sketchbook. The pages hold little pieces of your creative journey, unfinished ideas, experiments, and paintings that remind you of a different time in your artistic life.
Recently, I rediscovered an old Etchr sketchbook that had been tucked away with my art supplies during our move. Instead of putting it back on the shelf, I decided it was time to give it another chance.
My plan is simple: to keep showing up, open the sketchbook, and fill its pages one painting at a time.
In my latest YouTube video, I’m sharing a little glimpse into this ongoing sketchbook journey, including some of the paintings I’ve made so far and a look at my process as I work on a small everyday subject using gouache.
Making Time for Personal Art
As artists, it can be surprisingly easy to put our own artwork on the back burner. There are always projects to finish, ideas to develop, things to learn, and responsibilities competing for our attention. Sometimes, we wait for the perfect stretch of time or a particularly good idea before we begin painting. But I’m learning to appreciate the value of simply returning to the page.
A sketchbook doesn't have to be a collection of finished masterpieces. It can be a place to experiment with colours, explore different subjects, practise techniques, and enjoy the process without worrying too much about the outcome.
That is exactly the spirit in which I want to approach this sketchbook.
Exploring Gouache, One Page at a Time
I've been enjoying working with gouache and exploring the possibilities of this wonderfully versatile medium.
In this sketchbook, I've been painting a variety of subjects, including an autumn-inspired scene with a tree, a little house, and geese. I love how everyday observations and small moments can become starting points for paintings.
I also wanted to try something a little different for my latest painting: a Heinz tomato ketchup pouch!
It might seem like an unusual subject, but I enjoy finding inspiration in ordinary objects. Packaging, food, and familiar things around us can be surprisingly interesting to paint. They offer opportunities to explore shapes, colors, lettering, highlights, and shadows while looking at something we might otherwise overlook.
In the video, I take you along as I work on this painting, sharing a glimpse of my process rather than presenting only the finished result. For me, that is one of the pleasures of keeping a sketchbook. You never quite know what might catch your eye next.
Letting the Sketchbook Be a Work in Progress
One of the things I want to remind myself of during this project is that consistency matters more than perfection.
Not every painting will turn out the way I imagined. Some pages might involve happy discoveries, while others might teach me what I want to approach differently next time. And that's perfectly fine.
I want this sketchbook to be a record of my practice: the subjects that interest me, the techniques I'm exploring, and the small decisions that happen along the way. Rather than waiting until I feel completely ready to paint, I want to make space for creativity as part of my everyday routine.
I also hope that sharing this process encourages you to revisit a sketchbook of your own. Perhaps you have one sitting on a shelf with a few empty pages left, or maybe there's a medium you've been meaning to explore again.
You don't need an elaborate plan to begin. Choose a subject that interests you, gather your materials, and give yourself permission to enjoy the experience.
Watch the Sketchbook Painting Process
I've shared the journey so far in my latest YouTube video, from revisiting my old sketchbook to working on the ketchup pouch painting in gouache.
I hope you'll enjoy this little look behind the scenes and perhaps feel inspired to pick up your own sketchbook, too.
And if you're working in a sketchbook at the moment, I'd love to know: What are you painting, and which medium are you enjoying most right now?
Happy painting!
Disha
