Buzz
Many modern sketchbooks are built to open flat, with seams that nearly vanish—creating an extended, sleek surface perfect for sketching or painting.
Instructions
Getting Started
Choose a sketchbook with thick pages and a spine that opens completely flat. Five Below offers a great option featuring durable covers and quality paper.
Open your sketchbook and take in the blank two-page canvas. Consider subjects that work well in a long, panoramic layout. The options are limitless—aim to cover the full width of the paper.
- A sweeping landscape.
- A quiet countryside scene.
- Rows of city buildings.
- A figure in motion, capturing moments along the way.
Begin your work with pencil. Keep an eraser close if you're experimenting or want to refine your initial marks.
- If your strokes are light, the eraser on a classic yellow pencil works great.
- Eraser packs often come in sets—keep the pink one handy and save the rest for later use.
Filling the Pages
Explore these creative prompts. Lightly sketch across both pages and embrace the wide space.
- Geometric forms: mix isolated shapes with stacked or connected ones.
- Numbers: fill the span from edge to edge, top to bottom.
- Letters: spell out words or arrange random characters.
- Lines: straight, curvy, curly, zigzag, and more.
Revisit your number sketch and turn them into double-lined figures. Play with line thickness and freely fill the space—no strict rules, just creativity.
Use colored markers to experiment with drawing shapes, letters, numbers, and more.
Add bold outlines with a black marker or any color of your choice. Mix up the outlines, fill in full sections, and explore your creativity. Enjoy the process.
- The more you draw, the more your confidence will grow.
- Soon, hesitant strokes will become bold lines.
Explore watercolor painting. A simple set with 8 colors and a brush is enough to start.
- If you like, begin with a light pencil sketch.
- Then dive in—paint with vibrant, wet brushstrokes.
- There’s no wrong approach. Just play and discover what works for you.
Finding Inspiration and Exploring Ideas
Let your brush wander—paint whatever sparks your interest. Some prompts are inspired by nature, whether a detailed study or a full scene, while others invite you to play with color, form, and line just for the fun of it.
Create a row of trees with lifelike detail. Choose a season and paint using four different color palettes—one to reflect each time of year.
Design a floral composition. Paint specific blooms like sunflowers, daisies, violets, roses, and more. There's no wrong way—use real references from the internet or magazines, or dream up your own imaginative blossoms. They don’t need to be botanically accurate when you're experimenting.
Play with vibrant color through random or geometric shapes. Fill your entire page with vivid forms.
Experiment by placing different colors side by side and watch how they interact.
Stick to simple lines. Draw numbers, letters, or anything else that comes to mind.
Push past the hesitation to begin. Starting with simple marks—lines, shapes, colors—can be freeing. If you've been afraid to dive into art, this is a powerful first step. Give this article another read for encouragement.
Gather some basic art tools. From local shops and art stores to pharmacies and home supplies, there’s likely something nearby to help you make marks and add color.
Start painting today. There’s a world of creativity and joy waiting for you—just take the first step.
What You'll Need
- A sketchbook with thick pages (best if it opens flat for easier painting)
- Watercolor brushes
- Watercolor paints
- Clean water
- A pencil
- An eraser
- Optional: Markers or extra art tools for outlining and decorating your spread
