The importance of a sketchbook for stimulating creative thinking in art students is widely recognized. This book provides all the advice, support, and inspiration needed to start and maintain a sketchbook. The book is illustrated with pages from the author’s sketchbook and from the sketchbooks of many well-known artists, both historic and contemporary, including Turner, Picasso, Hockney, and Cornelia Parker. Subjects covered include choosing or making your own sketchbook, getting into the habit, and living with your mistakes. Clear, punchy, and packed with information, this book is the essential tool to inspire creativity. Praise for Your Sketchbook, Your Self From Publishers Weekly: This how-to guide for building a sketchbook contains samples of preliminary sketches, notes, and doodles from the notebooks of various artists, including Picasso and J.M.W. Turner. Allen asks readers to closely observe artwork and the natural world—as well as to avoid self-censorship—as they develop their personal collection of artistic reflections. Throughout, Allen underlines the importance of tenacity, open-mindedness, and remaining true to oneself ("A sketchbook should be customised to do what you want it to do"), and the message about studying and learning from the processes of accomplished artists as a way to develop one’s own skills and style is invaluable. Ages 14–up