The Ugly Sketchbook (The Book)

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 230,000 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