The Importance of Sketchbooks

By Art Teacher Erica Spangler

When I was in elementary school, my parents would always get me my very own sketchbook. I filled these blank books with drawings of animals from A-Z. I practiced my handwriting in block and bubble letters and even taught myself calligraphy. I created a set of characters that I called “The Dudes” with punk-rocker 80’s hair, ripped jeans and stubble on their faces. I took my sketchbook in the back yard, on road trips, and places where I expected I’d be bored. I loved my sketchbooks. Every year parents ask me what sort of art supplies they should have on hand for their children. I reply with two answers. First, give them access to your clean recycled materials so they can build. Second, get them a sketchbook.

Sketchbooks are an important art supply for children for many reasons. Have you ever noticed your children feeling the need to draw things perfectly? When a child is making a finished drawing, they don’t want to use that finished piece as a place to practice. Last year, we created sketchbooks in 1st grade. Students learned these were to be used as a place for them to practice. There was safety in having a place to practice that would not “ruin” their finished work of art. A challenge to learning is when children practice on individual pieces of paper and throw it away. When that happens, they no longer have their practice as a reference. The practice serves as a way for students to reflect on what they need to change. It also lets them see and be proud of their growth over time. A sketchbook is a place for the papers to stay in the book and serve their wonderful purpose for trying, learning, and reflecting.

In the same way, sketchbooks allow a space to experiment. For example, drawing people can be very challenging - especially facial features and hands. Students can fill pages of a sketchbook by simply practicing drawing eyes. They can tape a picture on one side and try to draw it on the other side using careful observation. Or, they can fill pages with their own experiments as they learn to draw all sorts of objects. Students can experiment with color and types of art supplies.

Sketchbooks give students a sense of ownership and pride. When a child has a place to keep all of their drawings so they don’t get thrown away, it builds a sense of importance. As a parent, I understand the frustration of all of the papers our children have. When my kids were younger and making art, I probably threw away half of their papers. Giving them sketchbooks allowed for all of those drawings to be kept in one place. It’s much easier to put a book away at the end of the day rather than a pile of papers. It also honors the work our children are making, recognizing the importance of getting their ideas on paper even if they are not finished works of art.

Sketchbooks are also fun. My children brought their sketchbooks when we went out to dinner. If the wait was long, they could draw as they waited. This helps us as parents so we aren’t tempted to hand them a screen to entertain them. You can even use the sketchbook as a family and play the game, pass the drawing. One person begins a drawing, and then you pass it to the next to add to the drawing. This is an artist version of the telephone game. It is always hilarious to see how the drawing ends, and it is sure to be different from the original idea. A simple blank book allows children to entertain themselves in a creative way. If they are ever stuck and needing something to draw, you can provide them with a list of drawing prompts to get their ideas flowing again.

Finding the right sketchbook is also important and an activity you can do with your child. The cheap pads of paper we buy at Target or the Dollar Store fall apart because the pages start ripping out of the sticky binding at the top. My favorite thing to do when I choose a sketchbook is consider and choose its size and how the paper feels. Sketchbooks are personal, and having paper that feels good on your hand is important. The size of the sketchbook matters as well. Your child may want a large sketchbook or something smaller that is easier to carry around when you are on the go. Another choice is the sketchbook’s binding. Some people prefer a spiral binding, so you have the option to flip it open and only have one page before you. Others prefer a hardcover or sewn binding. This may allow the artist to draw across two pages without much interruption if they want to try a larger work of art. Personally, I have all of these sketchbooks. Sometimes I want something bigger, but I usually have a small sketchbook for when I am out and about. I encourage you to take your child shopping for their sketchbook. Let them feel the paper on their hands and decide on the size and binding. They can even decorate the cover to make it personal and give them more ownership.

I am not sure why my parents gave me my first sketchbook, but that one art supply set me on my artistic journey. I am sure they have not thought about its importance to me, yet I am so thankful they thought to provide a simple blank book for me. A child’s sketchbook journey is very personal, and providing one for your child might just be what they need to unleash their creativity!