An Ugly sketchbook is like a no-holds-barred wrestling ring for your creativity. There are no rules, no safety nets, and definitely no erasers! It's the perfect place to let your imagination run wild and explore new artistic techniques without worrying about making mistakes or making polished artwork. Think of it like a playground for your artistic muscles - where you jump in the puddles, get dirty, enjoy, run, and of course sore, but in a good way!
Here are the 5 benefits which might become a gamechanger for you as an artist:
(read till the end for a bonus tip + Video)
1. Encourages Creative Freedom And Authenticity
Keeping an ugly sketchbook encourages you to free yourself from the pressure to make every sketch a polished insta worthy piece. You can experiment with different styles, techniques, and mediums that you might not have tried otherwise, it captures your true thoughts and feelings and values authenticity without the need for polish or refinement. The sketches may be messy or incomplete, but they reflect your genuine ideas and emotions that may be lost in more refined artwork!
2. Overcoming Perfectionism
This is my personal favorite point and has surely helped me at many stages. When you intentionally create raw and messy art, you're challenging the idea of what makes something beautiful. You'll learn to embrace imperfections and let go of the need for everything to be flawless. This can help you overcome perfectionism in other areas of your life too.
3. Helps In Learning From Mistakes
It serves as a space to explore and refine your ideas or mistakes. You can sketch out different concept variations, doodle out new ideas, or jot down notes on a page. This can help you work through your creative process and refine your ideas over time.
4. Builds Creative Confidence
By embracing imperfection and focusing on the process rather than the outcome, you can build your creative confidence. When you're not afraid to make mistakes, you're more likely to take risks and try new things.
5. Safe Space to Grow
It provides a safe space for creative exploration. You can focus on your own creative process without worrying about external expectations or standards or approval. You don't have to serve it on a platter and show it world. This can help you develop your own unique style and voice as an artist.
BONUS TIP: A Record Of Progress
An ugly sketchbook can be your "record buddy" of your artistic progress over time. You can look back on earlier sketches and see how your ideas and techniques have evolved over time. This can be inspiring and motivating, as it allows you to see how far you've come and how much you've grown as an artist and pinpoint areas where you can still improve. With time and practice, you'll be able to develop new skills and techniques that will help take your art to the next level. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
