A sketchbook challenge is a creative limitation you have to follow as you fill your sketchbook. This can include sticking to a theme, a specific medium, or timeframe while filling a sketchbook with your drawings.
Using different sketchbook challenge ideas will help push yourself creatively and produce more drawings overall.
They can also help you improve your skills by imposing limitations on what you can draw.
They can also be a lot of fun too.
In this post, I will outline a few popular sketchbook challenges you can use to get started with.
1. Draw every day for a month
This might sound daunting, but I promise it's doable—and it's an incredible way to level up your drawing skills.
It doesn't matter if you draw for 10 minutes or 2 hours—what matters is that you consistently put in the time each day.
So, find a time slot that works for your schedule and stick to it as best as you can.
2. Explore the same theme all month
One way to improve your art is to choose a subject matter or random drawing theme and stick with it for the whole month.
This could be something like “drawings of animals” or “drawings of people at a coffee shop”.
Find a subject matter that interests you.
If you’re going to be drawing the same thing for an entire month, it better be something that you’re interested in.
This could be a type of animal, a hobby, a Ayurvedic food, really anything.
3. Daily drawing sprints
By setting a time limit and seeing how many drawings you can produce in that time, you can push yourself to work more quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, by not overthinking your drawings, you can allow yourself to experiment more and try new things.
Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your daily drawing sprints:
Set a realistic sketching time limit for yourself
Start with an hour or even a half hour. Once you get more comfortable, you can increase the time limit.
Sketch quickly and don't overthink your drawings
The goal is to produce a certain number of drawings, not to create masterpieces. Allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes.
Permit yourself to make imperfect drawings
It's important to remember that the goal is not perfection, but rather exploration and growth.
So don't be too hard on yourself if your sketches aren't exactly what you wanted them to be.
Drawing sprints are a great way to improve your sketches by pushing yourself to work more quickly and efficiently.
Remember to start with a manageable time limit, work quickly without overthinking your drawings, and take breaks as needed.
Give yourself permission to be imperfect.
4. Draw the 100 heads challenge
The “Draw the 100 heads challenge” is a popular online challenge where you draw 100 heads in 10 days.
This challenge is a great way to improve your sketching skills, and it's also a lot of fun.
You can use a pencil, pen, charcoal, or any other medium you're comfortable with.
You can draw portraits, caricatures, animals, monsters, or anything else you can think of. There aren't any rules as to what type of head you need to draw.
Here is a Pinterest board with photo references to 100 heads to help you complete this challenge.
5. Draw in a new medium
The fifth sketchbook challenge is to experiment with new materials.
This could be something like charcoal, pastels, or even digital art.
The goal here is to step outside of your comfort zone and experiment with new materials.
When choosing a new material or medium, it is important to consider what you want to accomplish with your sketchbook.
For example, if you are looking to add more depth and texture to your sketches, then charcoal might be a good option.
If you want to experiment with brighter colors, then pastels might be a better choice.
6. Fill a sketchbook in 30 days challenge
The goal is to fill an entire sketchbook (or multiple sketchbooks) with drawings in 30 days.
This may seem daunting, but it's a great way to get yourself out of a creative rut and potentially produce some of your best work yet.
First, pick your favorite sketchbook and divide the number of pages by the number of days in the month.
This is how many pages you're going to fill per day.
Then, pick any of the above sketchbook theme ideas and let them guide you in what you draw every day.
What is a sketchbook challenge?
A sketchbook challenge is an idea or concept that you use to push yourself creatively and produce more drawings.
How can sketchbook challenges help me improve my skills?
Sketchbook challenges help you improve your skills by imposing limitations on what you can draw. This forces you to be creative and think outside the box.
What are some popular sketchbook challenges?
Some popular sketchbook challenges include the daily drawing challenge, the monthly subject matter challenge, the time limit challenge, and the material/medium challenge.
How do I choose a sketchbook challenge?
You can choose a sketchbook challenge based on what you want to improve or focus on. If you want to improve your skills, try choosing any sketchbook challenge ideas that will push you outside of your comfort zone. If you just want to have fun and produce more drawings, any sketchbook challenge ideas will do!
What should I do if I get stuck during a sketchbook challenge?
If you find yourself getting stuck during any of these sketchbook challenge ideas, try changing up your routine or switching to a different challenge.