30 Fall Inspired Sketchbook Ideas

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How can you fill your sketchbook with drawings that are fall inspired? If you're an artist who loves to draw, paint, collage, or keep an art journal, here are 30 ideas to keep you busy while as the leaves begin to change.

Getting started:

Pick out your favorite medium, it can be something you love to use or a medium you’d like to explore. Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you have any of your own fall-inspired sketchbook ideas, feel free to share them in the comments section below.

My Sketches:

For this sketchbook, I’m using charcoal. It’s great for both abstract and realistic artwork. The longer I worked through each page the more I got a feel for the medium.

Charcoal is great for layering. I started with quick sketches but ended up experimenting with more carefully drawn work.

My go-to charcoal supplies:

Make a list of what you love about fall:

Start with things you want to draw or you can use the list above. Then, think about how you might draw them and start sketching. Watch my fall sketchbook flip through to help you get inspired…

Drawing Tips:

  1. Be sure to include things you want to get better at drawing.

  2. Practice drawing realistic scenes and then exaggerating the details or changing proportions in order to see where your strengths and weaknesses are.

  3. Take inspiration from the masters and try to recreate a famous drawing.

 

Learn How I Create Portraits:

Go Outside:

Get up close to the colors, patterns, or textures, found in nature. Collect just a few fallen leaves, rocks, sticks, or shells to observe. Learn about the native wildlife and vegetation in your area. Create a few pages about those items. Getting outside will boost your creativity, help you exercise, and relieve stress.

Choose a Theme:

Your sketchbook can be as simple as leaf studies or as complex as full-on portraits. Choosing a theme can prevent you from wasting time figuring out what to draw.

Theme ideas:

  • Pumpkin studies

  • Abstract leaf shapes

  • Landscapes

  • Poetry inspired drawings

  • Fall foliage

Include Photos and collage elements:

Adding personal photos can help you remember and celebrate special moments. When you look back, you can have a record of how you spent the season in past years.

Items to include:

  • Ticket stubs

  • Fabric scraps

  • Dried leaves

  • Fall themed stickers

  • Pressed flowers

  • Scrapbook papers

  • Washi tape

Challenge Yourself:

Turn your fall sketchbook into an opportunity to challenge yourself to learn a new medium. I chose to use charcoal. It’s a medium I haven’t used in a long time so it felt good to pick it up again.

Mediums to explore:

  • Watercolor

  • Gouache

  • Oil or soft pastels

  • Watercolor pencils

  • Gelli printing

  • Sharpie markers

  • Alcohol inks

  • Posca pens

Express Gratitude:

Turn your sketchbook into a fall gratitude journal. Write and draw about things you’re grateful for. This is a good opportunity to include personal notes or diary entries with your sketches.


Think Outside the Box:

You don’t only have to include fall-themed ideas. Draw whatever you want. The point is to just be creative in your own way.

Random stuff to draw:

  • Collection of your favorite mugs

  • Self-portrait

  • Feet

  • Unicorns

  • Cupcakes

  • Seashells

  • Billy goats


In conclusion:

Your fall sketchbook is something you can look back on and see how far you've come as an artist. I hope you give it a try, even if it’s just a few loose sketches.

Join my free watercolor lesson:

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