A sketchbook is primarily a book or pad with blank pages used by artists for sketching, drawing, or painting as part of their creative process. It serves as a space for experimentation, practice, and developing ideas, often containing rough or unfinished drawings called sketches. Artists may use sketchbooks to document observations from the external world or to explore internal creative ideas. Sketchbooks vary in size, paper quality, and finish, and can include simple notes or highly detailed images. They are considered valuable for tracking an artist's progress and creative journey over time
. In addition to physical sketchbooks, there are digital sketchbooks—software applications designed for drawing and illustration on devices like tablets and smartphones. These apps offer tools such as pencils, brushes, layers, blending modes, and pressure sensitivity to mimic traditional drawing techniques. Popular digital sketchbook apps include Autodesk SketchBook, Procreate, and Adobe Fresco. Autodesk SketchBook, for example, is a raster graphics software that supports expressive drawing, concept sketching, and animation, featuring an intuitive interface and tools like rulers, brush customization, and canvas rotation
. In summary:
- Physical sketchbook: A book with blank pages for manual sketching and painting, used for creative exploration and recording ideas
- Digital sketchbook: Software apps that provide digital drawing tools and features for artists to create sketches and illustrations on electronic devices
Both forms serve as creative spaces where artists can capture concepts, experiment, and develop their artistic skills.