Sketchbook Conversations -- a Chat with Anika Lacerte

Today's Sketchbook Conversation is with Anika Lacerte. Here's Anika's story:

I have been inspired to set a daily goal for myself by following creative people like @crystalmoody and @lisacongdon on Instagram, who have both done daily drawing projects. We have two little girls at home so I wanted to find a daily challenge that would be manageable for me, so I decided to draw every day in 2016, even if it was only five minutes. I figured a pen and paper was probably the simplest way to go.

I've always loved notebooks but haven't always used them regularly. I love looking back at this year's sketchbooks because I can see how I'm improving and it feels like an art journal, particularly as I add more words to my drawings now.

I keep my sketchbook beside my bed, so I am always reminded to draw in the evening. I am inspired by the progress I see in my own drawings and encouraged by the people appreciating my work on Instagram. It is important for me to be sharing my work, it seems to be a significant part of my drawing journey.

I am currently using a small sketchbook, it's a Pen & Ink blank sketchbook, 3.5" x 5.5". I love the heavy-weight paper, it's about twice the weight of a classic Moleskine book. That means I can draw on both sides of the pages and the ink barely shows through.

My current pen is a black Micron, size .03, which I am using because my other favorite drawing pen is slowly fading (black American Crafts Precision Pen, size .03).

If you're just starting out, I recommend starting with a low daily goal. My daily goal is to draw even five minutes a day. Some days I draw a lot longer, but I like that my goal is quite easy to achieve. And I think there's something unique that happens when I draw daily, even if for a short time, which is better than if I were to draw for a long time but only once a week.

I also recommend keeping the supplies simple. I use only a pen and a small sketchbook, which fits easily into a zip pouch so I can take it with me when we travel.

I enjoyed participating in #the100dayproject on Instagram, where anyone can choose a daily creative project and share their progress. I decided to not share everyday, which gave me the freedom not to have to show drawings I didn't like. It's fun to participate with others who are also being creative.

I send free printables every month to my email subscribers, signup at thehandcraftedstory.com. I post most often on instagram.com/thehandcraftedstory.


Thank you, Anikia, for sharing your story with us!

Catch up with the other Sketchbook Conversations and find more inspiration here.

*Photos in this post © Anika Lacerte. Used with permission.