#4 Letter from the Atelier
Hey there,
Something a little different this week:
I just finished a sketchbook, for the very first time, and I wanted to share a few pages with you.
Nothing too polished, just something I want to share with you, because it feels like a small (but real) milestone.
✦ The sketchbook I finally finished
To be honest, I used to avoid sketchbooks.
I was drawing a lot but mostly on loose sheets of paper. Sketchbooks felt a bit too intimidating. I had this fear that each page needed to be “good enough,” and I didn’t want to mess them up.
So when I started this one, I chose a spiral sketchbook on purpose… just in case I wanted to tear out the pages I didn’t like. That’s how scared I was of not doing things “right.”
But spoiler: I didn’t remove any pages. Not even the bad ones.
✦ A peek inside
Here’s a little glimpse into the last few pages of my sketchbook a mix of finished drawings and others that are still very much in progress ( but I think they will stay like that ).
In the middle, you can see the very last drawing I did:
the portrait of a dark-skinned elf. It’s a piece where I really focused on values and contrast, and I love how much more confident it feels compared to my early pages, what is interesting is that on the same page, on the right, there’s one of the very first drawings I did in this sketchbook: a small flower sketch that’s barely visible because I drew it with a 2H or HB pencil.
At the time, I rarely used anything darker than a B. You can clearly see how much things have shifted since then!
On the left, you’ll find some portrait studies:
I was experimenting with facial expressions, trying to understand how to draw hands (always tricky), and overall just learning through repetition.
On the right I also tested a few new mediums on the way:
watercolor, ink, markers… letting myself explore without pressure.
It’s fun to look back and notice the evolution from timid pencil lines to bold contrasts and colors.
Even though these are sketchbook pages, it’s where I get to train my eye for what really matters in my paintings too: structure, light, and clarity.
Getting the values right has become my main priority, especially for portraits.
I’m also still making sure proportions feel solid, but the goal isn’t perfection just progress.
And of course, I can’t resist adding a few magical touches here and there: elf ears, glowing eyes, soft sparkles… You know me. ✨
✦ Want to see more ?
If you’d like to flip through this sketchbook with me, I filmed a full sketchbook tour and I’ll be sharing it on YouTube this Monday!
(It was supposed to go live yesterday… but hey, life happened ^^)
You can find my YouTube channel here
Do you usually finish your sketchbooks? Or do you tend to hop between them like I used to?
And what do you love drawing in them most: studies, ideas, notes, or just letting your hand wander?
Hit reply if you want to share, I always read your messages 🖤
See you next Friday ✨
Laurine