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| Alex Williams sketchbook 1989 |
Especially for animators, keeping a sketchbook is an important tool for creative growth - it's a place to practice drawing, create ideas - and keep a record of your own development.
Here's why every animator should make drawing and scribbling in a sketchbook part of their daily practice:
Regular sketching builds muscle memory and strengthens foundational skills. This confidence translates to quicker, more dynamic character designs and storyboards when working on professional projects.
Enhance Your Observational Skills
Animation thrives on bringing life to the smallest movements and expressions. By sketching real-world people, animals, and environments, animators sharpen their ability to observe and capture real life, whether it’s a pose, a smile or the motion of a bird in flight.
Improve Your Drawing Skills
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| Fast sketches and gesture drawings help with key poses |
Storyboard artists especially need to be able to drawing pretty much anything, from any angle.
Generate Ideas
A sketchbook serves as a personal vault for creative ideas. A simple doodle or character concept can inspire a whole sequence or even an entire film. It’s a space to explore without the constraints of client briefs or deadlines.
Develop a Unique Style
Experimentation is key to artistic growth. A sketchbook allows animators to test techniques, play with shapes, or exaggerate forms, helping them discover and refine their unique voice in animation.
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| life drawing - quick sketches |
Break from Screens
Animators spend long hours working digitally. A sketchbook offers a screen-free way to connect with their craft.
Build a Portfolio of Progress
Over time, a sketchbook becomes a visual diary of an animator's growth. It showcases the evolution of their skills and can even serve as a portfolio piece to demonstrate creative processes to studios or collaborators.
Tips for Animators Keeping a Sketchbook
Sketch daily, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.Always keep a sketchbook - Carry your sketchbook everywhere—you never know when inspiration will strike.
- Focus on movement—sketch actions, not just static poses, to hone animation-specific skills.
- Experiment—try different tools, perspectives, or subjects to keep things fresh.
Creativity and Creative Thinking
We have many resources at Escape Studios on creativity and creative thinking:
The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects.
Animators should keep a sketchbook to capture creative ideas and refine their skills. It's like using Raw Accel to boost performance and streamline your workflow—both help enhance the creative process!
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