I have often spoken about the importance of keeping a sketchbook and the more that I spend time on mine, the more I feel stronger about this. There’s a freedom that a sketchbook allows you that the sometimes pristine blank sheet of paper or canvas doesn’t. Sketchbooks, by nature, aren’t meant to be on display. It’s a safe space for studies, bad drawings, and half thought through ideas. Your sketchbook is ultimately where the spark of something beautiful can begin.
Last month I participated in the April Art Challenge on Instagram, created by artist Roxanne Coble (@bybun). I decided to do it because the prompt words seemed fun and I enjoyed my first Inktober so much I thought – Why not?!
The official prompt list from Roxanne Coble’s @bybun Instagram account to kick off the challenge.
One of the things I love the most about these challenges is that I always end up drawing things or concepts that I normally wouldn’t. This is a great exercise for any artist because not only is it creatively challenging but can also yield some inspirational results.
Because I wasn’t limited to just ink in this challenge, I was able to use multiple media to my heart’s content. I made good use of some of the recent Artsnacks box items as well. For those of you wondering, yes, I do use the products after I review them. In fact, a few of them have become permanent fixtures in my drawing kits.
Below are a few of my favorite drawings or spreads from the challenge. For the most part, I was using a combination of Prismacolor colored pencils, Faber-Castell PITT Pens, and the newest addition, the Tombow Fudenosuke dual tip brush pen. I made a conscious effort to use similar color palettes in each of the spreads. This also gave the added challenge of choosing subject matter that would work well not only for the prompt word but the color scheme of the drawing on the opposite page as well.
This challenge inspired a bunch of prints I’m planning to make available very soon as well as ideas for bigger projects! Now assuming I actually find time to do all of these things it will be awesome. 😉
You can see all 30 days of illustrations on my YouTube Sketchbook Tour below!
I really enjoyed taking your April sketchbook challenge! What awesome work … and very creative interpretations of the prompts! How do yuh find out about these fun challenges? What type of sketchbook did you use (paper type)?
Thanks so much for sharing! Your work is always wonderful!
Hi Barb! Thank you so much! I found this challenge on Instagram. I follow the artist who created the challenge so when she posted that she was doing it I decided to join! 😊 I used a Moleskine Sketchbook for the drawings. I like that particular type of sketchbook because the pages are a little bit thicker and the markers I use don’t bleed through the paper.