Exercise: Filling a sketchbook spread (Patreon)

Hello everyone! 🤗☀️ Another month, another exercise! For this week, I decided to create an exercise where you learn more about trusting yo

Hello everyone! 🤗☀️

Another month, another exercise! For this week, I decided to create an exercise where you learn more about trusting your creativity and finding your own reference images. We will fill a sketchbook spread based on a country you love!

Exercise 1: Gather your inspiration

Choose one country you love. Think about what draws you to that place. Find images, colours, and other references that capture the feeling of your chosen country. You could use photos, travel blogs, or even memories or photographs if you’ve been to one of these places before. Focus on the small details that make it unique.

For example, if you choose Italy, you can gather the following references:

Greenery: Lemons, olive trees, vineyards in Tuscany

Architecture: Rustic terracotta rooftops, ancient Roman ruins, charming Italian piazzas, colorful houses.

Food: Fresh pasta dishes, pizzas, gelato, fresh basil, coffee, tomatoes.

Tip! Find your references on Pinterest. Use specific search terms to find the right reference images. Use words like Italian aesthetic, vibe, feeling, etc.

Exercise 2: Concept Sketch

Before diving into your spread, sketch out a few ideas first. You can create a collage of different elements that represent the country.

Exercise 3: Create

Now it's time to bring your spread to life! Use your favourite materials such as watercolour, ink, pencils, brush pens, watercolour, gouache, etc. Experiment with textures and patterns to capture the unique atmosphere of the country.

I recommend creating a colour palette first before you fill in the sketches. Try to use a limited colour palette. As you can see, I only used 4 different brush pen colours in my Italy spread. I also used 4 different pencil colours. This way the spread will come together more beautifully. 🤗

Start filling your spread! Focus not on perfection, but on capturing the feeling. Give yourself the freedom to experiment and try new things.

Tips:

If you're feeling stuck, break the scene down into smaller, simpler shapes.

Try to capture the textures and patterns that define the country's character.

Use colours that reflect the landscape or architecture of your chosen country.

Draw the bigger references first. You can always fill the blank spaces with smaller illustrations like lemons, basil, olives, etc.

Sharing your work

I'm so excited about what you guys will create with this exercise! If you want to, you can share them in our group chat: Creative Practice chat 🤗

I hope you like these exercises! Please let me know in the comments what kind of exercises you would like to see in the upcoming weeks. What do you want to learn?

Celyn 🌸