Filling a Sketchbook: Sketchbook Exercises

By Paula Briggs

Each week during the AccessArt Art lab for ages 11, 12, and 13 at Wysing Arts Centre, students will be working in their sketchbooks undertaking a five or ten minute exercise.

The sketchbooks have been kindly donated by Pink Pig International and as well as filling them with the drawing exercises, children are also encouraged to use the books to help explore ideas related to the main session. Creating sketchbook content like this which is a mixture of exercises and personal study should help fuel creativity and ownership.

We hope you enjoy the session ideas below.

What is a Canvas?

Making drawings which compete with the background

Making drawings which compete with the background

Making a Charcoal Animation

Inspired by the animations of William Kentridge

Inspired by the animations of William Kentridge

Making Ruler Drawings

Using 2 grades of pencil and only straight lines

Using 2 grades of pencil and only straight lines

Drawing Brushes with Charcoal

Using varied marks to capture the qualities of brushes

Using varied marks to capture the qualities of brushes

Many thanks to Pink Pig International for the sketchbooks

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See all the blog posts from AccessArt's InSET in collaboration with the Fitzwilliam Museum. Find top Museum Education practice with practical, hands on learning in Fine Art disciplines including: drawing, printmaking, sketchbooks, collage and sculpture.

Teachers Explore ‘Line and Shape’ at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge with AccessArt

See all the blog posts from AccessArt’s InSET in collaboration with the Fitzwilliam Museum. Find top Museum Education practice with practical, hands on learning in Fine Art disciplines including: drawing, printmaking, sketchbooks, collage and sculpture.

Thoughtful Mark Making

Look at this post to see how pupils aged 6 to 10 respond to a similar mark making exercise led by Paula Briggs. Look at this post to see how pupils aged 6 to 10 respond to a similar mark making exercise led by Paula Briggs.

Drawing Projects for Children by Paula Briggs

Published by Black Dog Publishing London, Drawing Projects for Children is a beautifully illustrated collection of activities that will expand the mark making abilities and imagination of children of all ages, and help fuel their passion for drawing. The book features a collection of drawing exercises and projects taken from the AccessArt website, presenting them in a beautiful and inspirational format. Published by Black Dog Publishing London, Drawing Projects for Children is a beautifully illustrated collection of activities that will expand the mark making abilities and imagination of children of all ages, and help fuel their passion for drawing. The book features a collection of drawing exercises and projects taken from the AccessArt website, presenting them in a beautiful and inspirational format.

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