Fear of a blank page.
Brand new sketchbooks that feel too precious to touch.
Years of studying art — or no experience at all — and still feeling stuck.
If you’ve ever asked yourself:
- How do I start drawing if I’ve never drawn before?
- How do I return to drawing after art school or courses?
- How do I bring back joy and pleasure into my art practice?
— this post is for you.
Who Is This Sketchbook Practice For?
This practice is for you if:
- you want to start drawing but don’t know where to begin
- you used to draw, studied art, or even have a degree — but lost the joy
- you feel blocked by the fear of ruining a sketchbook
- you struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or creative burnout
My Story: Why Drawing Became Difficult (and How I Found My Way Back)
Hi, my name is Viktorija. I’m an artist, animator and folk and craft lover ✺
I’ve been drawing for more than 20 years — professionally and not so professionally.
I have a classical art education: art school, three years at university studying academic drawing, painting, and composition, a Bachelor’s degree in design, and a Master’s degree in animation.
Sounds impressive, right?
So what was the problem?
A lot, actually 😔
Classical art education — at least where and when I studied — was quite a harsh experience. There was a lot of criticism and an unspoken idea in the air: you will never be good enough, you can only try to get closer to mastery.
Very inspiring, right? )
Later, in a more creative university environment, things got better — but I still struggled to draw regularly, to experiment freely, and most importantly, to enjoy the process.
Add imposter syndrome.
Add fear of the blank page.
Add beautiful sketchbooks that feel scary to “ruin”.
Does this sound familiar?
Sometimes I managed to break through. Sometimes I drew things that finally felt alive and mine — not perfect academic heads and landscapes, but something personal.
But these moments were rare and inconsistent.
Why Regular Sketchbook Practice Changes a Lot
In the last 2–3 years, I’ve been drawing in my sketchbook more or less regularly. And I see a huge difference.
Regular sketchbook practice:
- reduces fear and pressure
- helps you find your own visual language faster
- works better than endlessly scrolling Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration
(I like these platforms, but they are tools — don’t let them steal your drawing time)
Sometimes I draw from life or references.
But very often I draw from imagination — I love inventing fairy-tale characters and worlds and thinking about where and how they might exist.
And almost always, I start my drawing sessions with a warm-up.
⭐ A Cozy Sketchbook Mindset -Mini Manifesto ⭐
Before we move to practice, here are a few principles I want you to keep in mind:
- A sketchbook is not a gallery.
It’s a safe space for experiments, mistakes, tests, and play.
Think of it as your personal cozy, witchy, forest-alchemy laboratory. - You don’t have to show your sketchbook to anyone.
If thinking about posting on Instagram blocks you — forget about it.
Sketchbooks work best when no one is watching. - The first page doesn’t need to be beautiful.
I officially give you permission to ruin it.
You don’t even have to start from the first page — I often open a random one. - There are no “ruined” sketchbooks.
Even the ugliest pages will look different in a few months.
Every page is information and experience for your future self. - Consistency matters more than duration.
5–10–15 minutes regularly is better than one hour once a month.
Drawing regularly not only improves skills but also reduces stress and restores a sense of control.
Warm-Up Exercise: Defeating the Blank Page
Now let’s practice — that’s why we’re here 💪
Exercise 1: One Tool, One Page
What you need:
- any sketchbook or loose paper
- one material only (pencil, pen, marker, brush pen)
What to do:
- fill the whole page with marks
- dots, lines, waves, shapes, textures
- use your non-dominant hand
- hold the pencil differently, tilt it, draw with the side
- smudge, layer, test pressure
Your task is simple: get the maximum out of one material.
✨ Voilà — the blank page is defeated.
What this gives you:
- a personal library of marks and textures
- a warm-up for your hand and brain
- understanding how your material behaves on this paper
Exercise 2: Tone First
- cover the whole page with one color (watercolor, gouache, acrylic)
- draw on top while it’s still slightly wet
- then continue when it’s dry
You’ll see how materials interact and how paper reacts.
Exercise 3: Material Testing
- test new or forgotten materials in your sketchbook
- mix new colors with old ones
- make swatches and combinations
Your sketchbook is an invitation to experiment.
Why This Simple Practice Works 🪄✨
These exercises:
- lower anxiety
- remove perfectionism
- help you start without pressure
- work even if you’re already a professional artist
Starting is usually the hardest part. Once you start, everything becomes easier.
✦ Want to Go Deeper? ✦
If you’d like to gently return to drawing — or build a regular sketchbook practice — I created a Fairytale Sketchbook Journey mini book for that.
In this mini book I focus on:
- soft and safe entry into drawing
- getting to know materials
- basic principles of color and composition
- working with references and concepting fairy whimsical characters
By the end, you’ll:
- have many filled sketchbook pages
- start to develop a personal visual language
- get confidence to continue your drawing practice without copying photos or other artists
If you want to stay connected and not miss new blog posts, you can subscribe to my cozy and useful newsletter ⌯⌲
See you soon,
Viktorija
