How to start a sketchbook

A notebook you’ll actually use

If you’ve been wanting to draw but never seem to find the moment, a sketchbook is a practical way to begin. It’s a notebook for drawings, words, bits of paper and things you want to remember. Take it on a trip or on a walk around your neighbourhood. The pages don’t need to match, and the first attempts don’t need to look polished.

Keep your kit small

Try a notebook, a pencil or pen and something you enjoy adding colour with. A kit that’s easy to carry is a kit you’re more likely to use. Your choice of paper will depend on whether you want to draw, use watercolour or make collages. Start with what you have and see what you miss before buying more.

Pick one detail

Drawing a whole street can feel like a lot. Choose a window, a leaf, a cup or a combination of colours instead. Spend a moment looking before you begin. Add the date, the place or a sentence. If the drawing goes differently from what you hoped, try another tool, write beside it or move to a new page. You can leave this one in.

Take it for a walk

On a sketching walk, the surroundings give you subjects without having to think one up: plants, buildings, textures or small things you usually pass by. We stop to try different ways of recording them. The route and drawing time depend on the place and the weather; each session is a little different.

Trying it with Slowly Atelier

You get time to practise with guidance and share the experience with a small group. Come as a beginner, ask questions and try things out. Some sessions combine sketching with another activity, such as yoga and a snack at O Carboeiro. Each event explains what’s included and how to book. Choose the plan that suits you and give it a go.