For many years I let perfectionism rule my sketchbooks. If I started a new one and the first page didn’t look good, I would lose interest in the whole sketchbook. So then I started leaving the first page blank, to go back and draw something perfect later on. Sounds silly, but it helped me dive right in rather than hesitate on the first page.

Gradually I got more free and now I am not at all precious about my sketchbooks. I draw every day, for all reasons. Mostly to remember thoughts and ideas, but also to keep drawing a natural and essential part of my life.

But this blog … I realise I’m doing it again! I’m hesitating on the first page and I need to stop it NOW. I’ll start with a couple of photos of some of my sketchbooks. There’s been a few …