The "Ugly" Sketchbook is a custom, handmade, genuine leather, mixed media art journal. Perfect for artists and creators looking for a unique canvas to bring their ideas to life. Each page is a blank slate, ready for your artistic expression. These sketchbooks are made of real leather so please note that sketchbook can vary slightly as far as the shade of brown they are. As you use your sketchbook the leather cover will absorb your natural oils and also be subject to scuffs and scratches (maybe even some paint or ink if you're lucky) and will become uniquely and beautifully YOURS.
These sketchbooks are a little less than 5 x 7", which is the perfect size for plein air, a small art desk and of course for traveling. They are filled with thick, drawing style paper which is suitable for dry media but also handles some light wet media as well. You can see examples of all different mediums used on this same sketchbook in Tawnie's "Ugly" sketchbook series on her Instagram.
These "Ugly" Sketchbooks are all perfectly imperfect. Because they are handmade they each have different quirks and imperfections about them, which is what makes them perfect for starting your own "Ugly" Sketchbook journey. The first step is throwing perfectionism out of the window. Are you ready to find some creative freedom?
Hey, do you ever feel bursting with creative ideas… but the second you face a blank page, everything just freezes? I get it. I’ve been there so many times—wanting to make something beautiful but feeling completely intimidated by that empty space staring back at me.
That’s exactly why I created The Ugly Sketchbook.
I’m Tawnie Jeanne Terry (@tawniejeannestudios), and after sharing my art journey with over 200,000 of you on Instagram, I wanted to make something that could help anyone—especially those who feel stuck—finally pick up a pen (or pencil, marker, whatever you’ve got) without the pressure of perfection.
Inside you’ll find:
- 10 playful warm-up exercises to loosen you up and quiet that inner critic
- 20 guided projects that start simple and give your creativity room to breathe
- Tons of extra ideas and inspiration to keep you going long after you finish the book
Every project comes with clear, easy-to-follow prompts so you don’t have to guess what to do next. There are fun little warm-ups to get your hand moving, and plenty of blank pages right in the book so you can draw directly into it—no separate sketchbook is required for almost all of the projects. You can use this book over and over again though by completing the projects in different ways in your own personal sketchbook as well.
You can use whatever materials you already have at home—pencils, pens, watercolors, markers, even crayons. There’s no “right” way here. The whole point is to shake off the fear, let go of perfect, and just start making again.
If you’ve been waiting for permission to make messy, imperfect, joyful art… consider this your gentle nudge.
I’d love for you to join me in turning those blank pages into something that feels like you.
With love, Tawnie
Welcome to the club! The Ugly Print Club.
Every month I will mail you a 5 x 7" signed print of one of my art pieces - it could be from one of my personal "ugly" sketchbooks, my interactive workbook (The Ugly Sketchbook) or my own personal art archives of work. You will also receive The Ugly Newsletter which will have personal tidbits, stories, words of encouragement, art tips and I will go over the history and/or process of the original artwork that you now own the print of! I will also always have a monthly artist's quote and an art prompt.
The envelope itself will always be a little work of art and something you can actually look forward to receiving in the mail each month. We all need a little happy mail in between bills, right?
Sometimes there will also be some fun bonus things (think stickers, color swatches, a bookmark, fun artsy things, etc).
The very first Ugly Print Club will be mailing out in April! The first 25 people to sign up will also receive a mini original artwork created and signed by me as well.
This is my way to share more of my art with you all and also to allow those of you who want to get to know me and my art on a more personal level the chance to do so.
xx - Tawnie Jeanne
