AccessArt advocates the following key sketchbook concepts:

Sketchbooks are an opportunity to put the pupil at the centre of their own learning. Each child should view their sketchbook as a safe place to take creative risks without fear of judgement.

Sketchbooks are an opportunity to “think around”. Sketchbooks should be a place of exploration and discovery, used to gather, experiment, reflect and understand. They are not just a place of open-ended journeying; they also encourage open, inquisitive thinking in other areas of learning.

Teachers should not be afraid if sketchbooks seem chaotic. Artist’s sketchbooks are full of personality – some sketchbooks are neat and tidy, others are not. All are valid. Sketchbooks are a place to put unresolved ideas into the world, which can be assimilated later. Sketchbooks are rarely linear and a good sketchbook will raise more questions than answers.

Sketchbook skills can be taught and practised like any other skill.

Sketchbook content should be treated with respect. Creativity is a delicate process. Teachers should not mark directly in the book. Teachers should use one-to-one or small group discussion to help articulate and understand sketchbook content.

Sketchbooks should equate to momentum. Sketchbook use will drive projects forwards and help all children understand their own learning. Pupils (and teachers) should therefore be discouraged from working in a single sketchbook which lasts a year or even longer. Instead sketchbooks should be filled with energy, enthusiasm and momentum.

Two main things can hold sketchbook success back:

Resistance (in the form of control or fear)

Aiming for Preconceived Ideas and Perfection

Look out for the saboteur!

This is a sample of a resource created by UK Charity AccessArt. We have over 1500 resources to help develop and inspire your creative thinking, practice and teaching.

AccessArt welcomes artists, educators, teachers and parents both in the UK and overseas.

We believe everyone has the right to be creative and by working together and sharing ideas we can enable everyone to reach their creative potential.

The AccessArt Sketchbook Journey is a series of resources designed to help teachers, pupils and learners of all ages navigate their way towards a greater understanding and experience of how sketchbooks can develop our creativity. Paula Briggs, Co-founder and Director of AccessArt explains the thinking behind the project.

AccessArt has been an advocate of the use of sketchbooks as a tool to nurture creativity for many years. Our aim is to enable as many teachers and facilitators as possible (including non-specialist teachers) to feel able to explore the use of sketchbooks with their pupils.

For over 20 years AccessArt has been asking the question:

What kind of mechanisms do artists use to enable their creativity to flourish?

The answers to that question contain clues; clues that might suggest to us new ways we can enable creativity in children and teenagers.

One of the ways many adults develop their creativity is through the use of sketchbooks, and we see that in schools where sketchbook use thrives, creativity thrives too.

The AccessArt Sketchbook Journey aims to share sketchbook knowledge and experience through the following steps:

Step 1: Understand. What is a sketchbook? What happen’s inside a sketchbook? Let’s lift the lid and better understand the potential.

Step 2: Practice & Explore. Make time for sketchbooks and exploresketchbook activities. Experience what a sketchbook journey might look like.

Step 3: Reflect & Discuss. Use sketchbooks as an opportunity to understand more about our creativity, and as a tool for sharing the creativity journey.

Step 4: See Sketchbooks in Action. Be inspired by the sketchbooks of artists, teachers and children.

Throughout all the above stages, the journey for teachers is simple:

We give permission. We show pupils what sketchbooks can be in the widest sense, and we give permission for pupils to embrace that potential in an aspirational way.

We create opportunity for pupils to practice sketchbook skills and explore exciting projects

We nurture ownership, by reminding pupils that they can take control of their journey in and through their sketchbooks.

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