Sketchbook Joy

April 1, 2025

First-time author Moody invites aspiring artists to discover the creative potential of sketchbooks in this colorfully illustrated guide. Giving readers permission to experiment and play, Moody discusses how the act of filling a sketchbook works to defeat perfectionism by allowing artists to take pride in the act of creation without judging a final product. Although Moody provides helpful information on types of paints, brushes, and other media and tools, she doesn't insist on a multitude of supplies, instead urging readers to abandon any sense of obligation to use certain materials or depict particular subjects. To that end, the book provides readers with ample suggestions for sketchbook projects including studies of art masterpieces, daily drawing challenges, observational sketches of everyday items, and street scenes inspired by random searches of Google Maps. Along the way, Moody gives advice on layering different media, sketching on location, and using color to enhance visual storytelling. VERDICT Although there is nothing groundbreaking in Moody's book, her positive encouragement, wealth of ideas, and cheerful illustrations should help beginner artists feel a little less fearful of blank sketchbook pages.--Sara Shreve

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