My sketchbook is a complete piece of crap

And that's okay

I always have a mixed reaction looking at other artist’s sketchbooks. On the one hand, a sketchbook is where the good stuff is. I’m nosy by nature, and love seeing how an idea goes from start to finish, or what was left on the cutting room floor.

Initial sketch from my cartoon, What Makes a Good Museum? Dumb Answers Only! I remember jotting this one down at a cafe right after visiting the American Art Museum.

At the same time, nothing can be more demoralizing than viewing another artist’s beautiful sketchbook page. A sketchbook is supposedly where we keep our shitty first drafts, after all, so the sight of someone talented enough to skip ahead to the unparalleled brilliance stage is unnerving. Why can’t I draw like that? I inevitably think. How come my attempts at perspective are always so labored? How did their composition come together so naturally?! Something like that would have taken me ages to figure out! Why aren’t I taking more risks like they are? I’m always playing it so safe! etc etc etc.

Sketchbook page of Leonardo da Vinci. An extreme example, I know, but COME ON.

Thankfully, I’ve come to terms with my generally unimpressive sketchbooks—the important thing is that they are there when I need them. For this reason I’m very much into localized sketchbooks, as it’s easier to lean into my inherent laziness than try to fight it. I have a sketchbook I keep in the living room for drawings I do exclusively on the couch, one at my bedside, one that mostly lives in my purse, one in my other purse, and a little drawing pad I keep in the pocket of my winter parka, completely forget about, and rediscover each year.

Found it!

And anyhow, drawing something that’s allowed to completely suck, no questions asked, is the only way to eventually create anything that’s any good. Besides, what’s the alternative? Not having a sketchbook? How would that even work?

A solidly unimpressive page from my living room sketchbook.