Keeping a Sketchbook - Drawing everyday & art challenges

Every new year or every so often when I make a list of goals, one of them is always to draw more. I'm sure many artists do this too and when people ask illustrators how to get better or how to find your style. The answer is - draw a lot! Create as much work as possible. Keeping a sketchbook is great practice. Scribble, make a mess, make mistakes, that's what they are for! Try not to get too caught up on creating that perfect drawing to post on Instagram. If it's for a challenge, post it anyway, at least you did a drawing today.

I created my own art challenge last November, see the prompt list here. I post most of my drawings on my Instagram and you can see my portfolio on my website.

Here are some of my recent sketchbook pages including some from the challenge.

Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions.

Warrior Knight

Character design - From initial sketch over on my Instagram @little_inkings to the final illustration. I wanted to do a female knight/warrior or heroine from a fairy tale. Not necessarily a big strong woman... maybe she is a princess who secretly wants to be a knight? I don't know where I will go with this character yet but I am really happy with the finished illustration. Which in art world logic means if you spend hours on something you love, it doesn't always get the best reaction compared to the sketch you scribbled in 10 minutes?! That't the way it goes.

I actually drew the initial sketch for this using a male reference.

Little Winter House

 Hello there blog, sorry I have neglected you for seven months! When I have found time to draw, paint and create characters I drew this little girl. Her house is supposed to be a Georgian period house. I sketched the little girl a few times and messed up her nose but fixed her up in Photoshop. I might do this illustration as a series and have the house in spring, summer and autumn. I used colour pencils, watercolour and fineliner pens for this illustration. With a bit of colour adjustment to get rid of the yellow.

Cute details. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my work. :)