Why Sketchbooks Matter

Sketchbooks matter because they hold the honest middle, the mess, the magic, the idea that no finished painting can show. A sketchbook is where ideas arrive quietly: a curve of a petal, a shadow under a leaf, the gesture of a stem reaching for light. It’s where your hand learns to see, training your eye for proportion, composition, and value—without the pressure of perfection.

When I sketch, I’m not trying to impress anyone. I’m practicing presence. I’m gathering little visual notes that later become paintings with more confidence, more flow, and more feeling. A sketchbook is also a record of your growth: you can flip back and literally witness your progress. On the days you feel stuck, that proof matters.

Right now, my hollyhock sketch is a reminder of all of this, simple, expressive, and full of the joy that comes from showing up.

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