How I Make Art Feel Like a Hobby While Working Professionally

Peek into my sketchbook!

Hello all! This month, I wanted to give y’all a peek into the sketchbooks I’ve been working in over the past year.

A Short Prelude

After graduating from art school, I honestly thought I’d hardly pick up a sketchbook again. I enjoyed sketchbooking in college, but I just didn’t see myself finding the motivation to do it without a professor to impress or a potential sketchbook show to exhibit at. There was always an academic and social pressure around keeping a nice sketchbook. So, for the first year outside of art school, I hardly picked up a sketchbook or drew from life.

But after I began tutoring a family friend in figure drawing, I fell back in love with it and found myself filling pages faster than ever. It gave me confidence. And the secret is: drawing from life.

Because I can almost dissociate and just focus on capturing what’s in front of me, without worrying about showing it to a client or making it fit stylistically in my portfolio, drawing from life in my sketchbook became the closest thing to having art as a hobby I’ve had in a long time. In my sketchbook, I can draw solely to hone my skills, rather than for consumption. Weirdly, I almost don’t associate my sketchbook with my illustration practice, since it’s so low-pressure. And honestly, I think that’s why I keep returning to it.

The Sketchbook

8” x 10” Stillman & Burn Alpha Series Sketchbook

Y’all, I have never repurchased a sketchbook in my life. Except for this Stillman & Burn one. The size is perfect for me (I draw comically large), and the paper can take a variety of media like a CHAMP. I have used ink, gouache, watercolor, and pastels in here with no issue. And I am not delicate with it either. Plus, the softcover is perfect for utilizing full spreads or folding the sketchbook up to draw on the go. It ticks all my boxes, and I will be rebuying this sketchbook forever now.

This sketchbook is so great for on-the-go drawing! This is a photo a friend took of me drawing a goofy fish at the aquarium :D

As for materials, I draw with a Blackwing pencil 95% of the time. They’re worth the hype, y’all. Luckily, I have been working through the same giant box I was gifted in high school for almost a decade, so I have yet to have to repurchase. I love bringing the Kuretake watercolor palettes with me on the go if I want to paint on site, and I always bring a couple of Caran d’Ache neocolors with me, as well, to get some good scribbles in.

Lady serving face while a group of friends and I painted at Lake Tahoe last December… probably the most majestic photo I’ve ever taken.

Figure Drawing

I love figure drawing - especially with a live model! It’s such a fun way to loosen up and practice drawing gesturally. These are a collection of 5-20 min poses from either live model sessions or virtual sessions on Line of Action.

Cafe Drawing

This is one of my favorite pastimes that I wish I did more. It’s a great way to replace doom-scrolling when passing time in public, and it’s especially fun if you enjoy people-watching like I do!

Plein Air & On-Site Drawing

I love love love this type of sketchbooking. It’s so rewarding and is such a lovely way to remember visiting special locations. I love to both paint and draw on site, and this is usually when I like to experiment with media, as well.

Go draw from life!!

I never thought I’d be finishing sketchbooks this fast, but I feel like it’s one of the few places I can draw and not feel any fear of judgment or pressure. As someone who creates 90% of her art for work or clients, it’s so nice to have a place where art creation can truly feel like a hobby again. Hopefully, this inspires y’all to open your sketchbook again and go draw!