So I got myself a little treat. It’s a brand new, chunky sketchbook - fresh from the wrapper! It’s even got that ‘fresh sketchbook smell’ - if that’s even a thing?

Any illustrator or artist will know the feeling of getting a new sketchbook. There’s excitement but there’s also a lot fear. (especially if you’ve been working digitally for like a bajillion years!)

What am I going to draw in here? Where do I even start?
What if you draw something rubbish?
When was the last time I even picked up a pencil?

Well - my artist friends, I am going to talk about three reasons why I use a sketchbook as a digital artist in the age of AI and digital art/illustration. The world is full of tech but let’s take it back to old school with a piece of paper and some drawing materials…

Spontaneity is unique

In my opinion, nothing feels more free than grabbing a handful of art supplies and scribbling on the page. One of the major differences between AI art and sketchbook art is that the computer (as of 2024) is not picking up a pen and drawing onto paper to create AI art from scratch.

I am not talking about robots that can hold pens and draw images programmed from the computer. I am talking about AI generated illustrations that are formed from borrowing and stealing existing artists work and regurgitating it into an unoriginal picture which is lacking in soul.

The spontaneity of your mark making is unique to you. It is creating human errors and seeing the beauty in them. No-one can recreate it exactly like that because it was created by you, just then with a pen - mistakes and all!

Well, that got a bit deep but I hope you’re still following me…

2)Your mistakes live on…
Okay, so you’re a digital artist right? When you make a mistake, you can get rid of it with two taps of the finger and it’s gone. Well, the beauty of a sketchbook is that it captures your growth as an artist/illustrator.

How many times have you drawn something and thought it was rubbish? Okay, another question for you - how many times have you opened your sketchbook, looked back at old work that you thought was rubbish at the time but on closer inspection you felt it had potential? Sound familiar?

I have definitely been in this position and it’s something that is so unique to keeping a sketchbook. You can look back at your old work with new eyes. When you double tap on an iPad, you don’t get that opportunity. When you erase your mistakes, you’re erasing them for good and you don’t get the same chance to learn or grow from them.

3)There’s no pressure to post onto social media
Okay, so picture this. You draw a doodle in your sketchbook and it’s a real stinker. I’m talking absolute pile of rubbish (in your opinion).

Sorry - please here me out, this turns into something nice.

Guess what? It doesn’t have to go on social media and it can stay in your sketchbook and never ever see the light of day.

When I draw straight onto my iPad or computer, it’s already there. It’s already poised and ready to share with the world. I also feel an immense sense of pressure to get it out there and uploaded onto social media.

If you screw up in a sketchbook… guess what? Nothing happens! It can just be your little secret doodle, safely tucked away in depths of the rest of your doodles.

I would love to know if you feel the same.

Do you use a sketchbook as much as would like? Do you think using a sketchbook is still important in the age of AI?

Let me know in the comments!

3 reasons why I use a sketchbook in the age of AI…