Creative Resources

A beautiful new sketchbook can be a little frightening, because the pages are so clean and your drawings might not be. If you have ever left a sketchbook on the shelf for fear of spoiling it, here are seven gentle ways to lower the stakes and begin anyway.

Colour pencil work is small, calming, mindful mark making, and one of the friendliest ways to begin drawing. You only need a small set of good quality pencils, smooth paper and some patience. Here is what to use, three habits that make a difference, and a simple first exercise.

Sketchbook, art journal, visual journal, junk journal: if the words have you confused, you are not alone. Here is a simple way to tell them apart, and how to choose where to start. The good news is that you don't have to pick just one.

Line and wash is one of the most satisfying ways to sketch: you draw with a waterproof pen, then add loose watercolour on top. In this beginner's guide I explain what line and wash is, what you need to try it, and how to get started in your sketchbook.

Feeling overwhelmed in the art shop? A mixed media sketchbook is one of the most forgiving places to begin, because you can use pencil, pen, watercolour, colour pencils and even markers on the same page. Here is what is worth buying first, and what can wait on the shelf.

What alcohol markers are, how to use them, why I love them, and an honest comparison of brands including Ohuhu, Winsor & Newton Pro, and Arrtx markers.