4 Abstract Art Sketchbook Prompts
Keeping an artistic journal is a fantastic and low-pressure way to express yourself. Visual journaling can help you work through your emotions through meditative painting exercises, and in this blog post, I’ll share four abstract art sketchbook prompts to give your art journal some structure!
The best part about keeping an art journal or sketchbook is that you don’t have to show your work to anyone if you don’t want to. It’s purely for you! This helps relieve some of the pressure to make the “perfect” piece and allows you to focus on the act of creation rather than the final result. It’s like they say, the journey is just as important as the final destination!
Let’s dive into these four prompts for filling your sketchbook with intuitive abstract art!
Prompt #1: Make a bold move
I am a huge fan of using art as a way to take courageous action. When we do something outside of our comfort zone, it helps our courage to grow! Every time I’ve done something outside of my comfort zone, it has always pushed me to new levels of growth that I could have never imagined. The more you prove to yourself that taking bold action is safe and beneficial, the more you’ll get back in return!
This prompt is to make a bold move with your artwork. Try something new. Use an unexpected color. Paint a big bold stroke in the middle of the page. Do whatever speaks to you in the moment as long as it’s bold!
Don’t be afraid to mess it up or paint over a section that you thought you loved. Since this is a sketchbook exercise, you have a safe container for trying bold new things with your artwork without the pressure of having them turn out perfectly. If your bold paint stroke doesn’t turn out the way you wanted, no worries! You can either paint over it or start over on a new page. This is an opportunity to learn and experiment. You may just discover a new technique that would have never revealed itself had you not made your bold move!
Prompt #2: Try a new-to-you color combination
Color is one of my favorite ways to express myself. My signature EttaVee style is to use lots of bold bright colors, but sometimes it’s fun to explore color combinations that are outside of what we’d normally choose. For example, I tend to shy away from neutrals and muted colors, but I’ve created a few pieces with those color palettes that I’ve ended up LOVING!
Plus, incorporating muted tones into a bright and bold piece just makes the vibrant colors shine even brighter! Try a new-to-you color palette in your sketchbook and see how it goes! It might just surprise you! And again, if it’s not your cup of tea, that’s ok! It’s all a learning experience.
Prompt#3: Experiment with different brushstrokes
My signature abstract style incorporates a lot of similar brushstrokes, but every now and then it’s great to mix it up. A few years ago, I was feeling ready to try something new. I had been painting in my traditional V-shaped brushstroke style a lot, and I wanted to tap into a sense of creative play and try something new. So I went for a more fluid and organic brushstroke in my next piece. That ended up turning into an entire collection, and now I’ve incorporated it as part of my signature style!
Here’s a blog post I wrote about different brushstrokes for abstract painting. Pick one from the list and try your hand at using a new brushstroke technique!
Prompt #4: Play with texture
Did you know that you can achieve some incredible texture just with acrylic paint? I love slathering on a thick layer of acrylic paint and etching a design into it. This creates a super unique texture, and you don’t have to go out and get any special supplies!
I wrote a blog post all about how you can use acrylic paint to create more texture in your artwork. You can check it out here! This technique will take a while to dry, so it’s not a quick sketchbook exercise, but it will be fun to experiment with it and see if it’s something you’d like to incorporate into your regular painting process.
I hope that these sketchbook prompts will help you open up, explore, and try new things. Remember, the goal of sketchbooking is to create a safe environment for you to play!
If you want a more guided art journal experience, check out my book The Bright Book where I share more prompts like this in a beautifully colorful guided sketchbook!
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