Aesthetic Sketchbook Art Ideas and Inspiration

Welcome to this guide on creative and aesthetic sketchbook art ideas and inspiration! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, your sketchbook is a canvas waiting to be filled with creativity.

In this post, we’ll explore a variety of beautiful and imaginative sketchbook art concepts to fuel your artistic journey. From whimsical illustrations to captivating doodles, get ready to discover endless possibilities for your sketchbook. So, grab your pencils and let’s dive into the world of aesthetic sketchbook art ideas!

Collage

Explore the world of collage in your sketchbook by layering different textures, colours, and images to create visually stunning compositions. Cut out images you like from a magazine or print them off and paste them in your sketchbook. Then, draw or doodle around them.

Insects

Delve into the intricate world of insects as a theme for your sketchbook art. Capture the delicate beauty of dragonflies, the industrious nature of ants, or the fascinating patterns of beetles. Experiment with different mediums and techniques to bring these tiny creatures to life on the pages of your sketchbook, and let their unique characteristics inspire your creativity.

Metallic Pen on Black Paper

Explore the striking contrast of metallic pens against black paper in your sketchbook art. Let the shimmering pigments dance across the dark background as you create intricate designs and patterns. Experiment with different strokes and techniques to achieve mesmerizing effects that catch the light and add depth to your artwork. Whether you’re drawing celestial constellations or intricate mandalas, the combination of metallic pens and black paper offers endless possibilities for stunning compositions in your sketchbook.

Mushrooms

Dive into the whimsical world of mushrooms in your sketchbook art. Capture the intricate details of these fascinating fungi, from their delicate gills to their whimsical shapes and textures. Experiment with different drawing techniques to bring your mushrooms to life on the page, whether you’re sketching realistic portrayals or adding a touch of fantasy to your creations. Let your imagination run wild as you explore the diverse forms and colors of mushrooms, creating enchanting scenes that transport viewers to magical realms within the pages of your sketchbook.

Animals

Explore the animal kingdom in your sketchbook art, from majestic owls to playful dolphins and everything in between. Whether you prefer realistic depictions or whimsical interpretations, there’s endless inspiration to be found in the animal kingdom. Experiment with different styles, techniques, and mediums to bring your favourite creatures to life on the page. Whether you’re sketching from life, referencing photographs, or drawing from your imagination, each animal sketch is an opportunity to hone your skills and express your unique artistic vision. So grab your pencils, pens, or paints, and embark on a creative journey through the fascinating world of animals in your sketchbook.

Abstract Shapes, Patterns and Colours

Dive into the world of abstract shapes, patterns, and colors in your sketchbook. Experiment with bold designs and vibrant hues to create visually striking compositions. Whether minimalist or intricate, unleash your creativity and explore endless possibilities.

“Zen” Art

Discover the tranquility of Zen art as you transform everyday objects into serene compositions. Embrace simplicity and harmony, infusing ordinary subjects with a sense of calm and mindfulness. Let your creativity soar, just like this hot air balloon floating peacefully across the page.

Colourful Doodles

Unleash your imagination with vibrant and lively colorful doodles. Dive into a world of endless possibilities as you explore a spectrum of hues and playful designs. Let your creativity run wild, filling the page with whimsical patterns and cheerful motifs. Embrace the joy of doodling as you infuse each stroke with bursts of color, creating a kaleidoscope of visual delight.

Body Parts

Dive into the fascinating world of sketching body parts, from the delicate curve of lips to the expressive depth of eyes. Each stroke brings anatomy to life, capturing the intricate details and emotions of the human form with skill and precision. Sketching body parts like lips and eyes allows artists to explore the intricacies of form and emotion, creating compelling visual narratives with every stroke.

Mandalas

Delve into the meditative world of mandalas, where intricate patterns and soothing symmetry converge. Let your creativity flow as you craft circular designs that radiate harmony and balance. Explore different styles and techniques, from traditional motifs to contemporary interpretations. With each stroke, find peace and tranquillity, as you immerse yourself in the rhythmic beauty of mandalas.

Flowers

Indulge your senses in a garden of artistic delights with floral sketches blooming with color and life. From delicate petals to vibrant blooms, flowers offer a timeless muse for artistic expression. Whether you’re capturing the elegance of a single rose or the exuberance of a wildflower bouquet, let your creativity blossom on the canvas. Explore the intricate details of each petal and the graceful curves of each stem as you bring nature’s beauty to life with your artistic touch.

gelly roll pen flower drawing in black paper sketchbook

Maps

Embark on a cartographic journey as you reimagine maps through artistic expression. Explore the contours of the world, from sprawling continents to intricate cityscapes, through your unique artistic lens. Capture the essence of place and wanderlust as you blend geography with creativity. Whether you’re sketching fantasy realms or tracing real-world landmarks, maps offer endless possibilities for artistic exploration.

Conclusion

Incorporating a variety of styles and subjects into your sketchbook can fuel your creativity and enhance your artistic skills. From intricate mandalas to whimsical doodles, and from abstract patterns to detailed body parts, the possibilities are endless. By exploring these aesthetic sketchbook art ideas, you can create a rich tapestry of visual art that reflects your unique perspective and inspires continuous growth in your artistic journey. Keep experimenting, keep creating, and most importantly, enjoy the process of filling your sketchbook with beauty and imagination.

Cheers,

The Best Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas and Inspiration

~ Julie ~ 4 Comments

Welcome fellow mandala art lovers! If you’re seeking some fun and aesthetic mandala art ideas and inspiration, you’re in the right place. This post is your gateway to a world of creative and accessible mandala art drawing ideas that are sure to spark your imagination.

What is Mandala Art?

Before we dive into these awesome mandala art ideas, let’s take a quick look at what exactly defines a mandala. A mandala is a symbolic geometric design that represents harmony, unity, and balance. You can read more about mandalas in this blog post.

Now, without further ado, let’s dive into this list of aesthetic mandala art ideas that will surely ignite your artistic spirit.

And if you’re eager to take your mandala drawing skills to the next level, don’t miss out on my mandala drawing class – a wonderful opportunity to enhance your craft!

Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas and Inspiration

*Note: all mandalas shared below were drawn by me, unless otherwise stated

Begin by embracing simplicity. Opt for a straightforward design and employ a contrasting, complementary color scheme to achieve a bold aesthetic impact.

blue and yellow contrasting color mandala art drawing

Experiment with creating mandalas on black paper using metallic or gel pens.

silver and gold mandala on black paper, Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas

Explore the fusion of intricate mandala patterns with animal forms for a captivating and artistic result.

Divide the mandala down the center and infuse one side with florals or an entirely contrasting element for a unique touch.

Speaking of flowers, you can integrate blossoms into your entire mandala design to create a breath-taking impact.

Explore a unique approach by transforming unexpected objects into mandalas, like these ice cream cones.

ice cream cone food mandala, Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas

Experiment with embedding a scene within your mandala artwork, like this example featuring a mountain and forest design.

Explore color variations and overlaid shapes, as demonstrated in this cloud-themed mandala design.

sky mandala with clouds, Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas

Get creative by crafting mandalas in unexpected locations or materials, such as etching them onto seashells or drawing them in beach sand.

Explore diverse materials like gel pens to add variety and texture to your mandala creations.

succulent mandala drawing with gel pens, Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas

You can also try making your mandalas digitally using apps like Procreate. Watch my video on creating mandalas in Procreate for a helpful tutorial.

Aesthetic Mandala Art Ideas - pink digital mandala

Consider placing mandalas within other objects, such as this example of a hot air balloon mandala design.

Alternatively, keep it minimal with black and white. Add shading or use varied pen thickness for a bold impact.

Add an element of surprise by placing unexpected objects within your mandala, like this captivating Jupiter-themed design.

You can see even more examples of aesthetic mandala designs in my sketchbook tour video below.

For even greater mandala art inspiration, you might find my mandala drawing workbooks with prompts truly enjoyable!

Conclusion

Mandalas are like your artistic playground – experiment, explore, and enjoy! Whether you love simple designs or want to try something unexpected, the world of mandala art is full of possibilities. So, grab your tools and start creating your own unique mandala masterpieces!

If you were inspired enough to create your own mandalas from these, share it on Instagram make sure to tag me @julieerindesigns.

Cheers,

How to Draw a Mandala in Procreate

~ Julie ~ 1 Comment

Want to learn how to draw mandala art in the Procreate app for Apple iPad? You’ve come to the right place because I’ve posted a tutorial on my Youtube channel showing you how to do just that!

The symmetry tools in the Procreate app make it super easy and fun to create beautiful mandala designs on your iPad.

I figured the easiest way to explain how to draw mandalas in Procreate is to just demonstrate in this quick video tutorial! However, keep scrolling if you prefer to read the instructions in a list format.

In this video I demonstrate the following:

Two types of symmetry tools to draw mandalas in the Procreate app.
A few mandala drawing tips and tricks.
How to use gradients to get different color variations.
How to make your own gradients.
Using hue/saturation for even more color variations.

How to Draw Mandalas in Procreate Step by Step

Create a new square canvas. Ex. 3000 x 3000 pixels.
Go to Actions > Canvas > Drawing Guide > Edit Drawing Guide
Click on Symmetry > Options > Radial
Toggle Rotational Symmetry on or off as desired.
You can change the color of the drawing guide with the colored line at the top of the screen.
Click Done.
Start drawing your mandala from the center of the canvas and work your way out.

I hope you will see how quick and satisfying it is to draw mandala art in Procreate!

To add further complexity to your mandala art, download my Mandala Drawing Templates for Procreate:

mandala drawing templates procreate brush set

Don’t have Procreate but want to learn how to draw mandalas on paper? I have a Skillshare class for that!

Modern Mandala Art: Draw and Color 2 Stunning and Unique Mandalas with Julie Erin Designs on Skillshare

Looking for even more mandala content? I have some other blog posts you might enjoy:

I’ve also got more Procreate tutorials including how to make seamless patterns in the app.

I hope you’ve found this tutorial helpful, and I’ll see you in my next blog post. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Cheers,

Buddha Mandala Free Colouring Page

buddha mandala free download adult coloring page

~ Julie ~ Leave a comment

I decided to relieve some of my stress and anxiety by drawing another colouring page for you guys featuring a Buddha shape inside of a mandala.

As the days in quarantine drag on and on, I hope everyone is staying safe indoors and feeling well. I am on my 2nd week of working totally from home. It’s taking some time to get used to my changed routine.

I am going to continue creating content to share and provide some calm activities or beautiful art to look at and meditate on while we all get through this crazy time together.

Please let me know if you have any special requests for a colouring page or other content you’d find interesting or want to see from me in the next while.

Click here to download the free Buddha Mandala Colouring Page

I hope this colouring page brings you some peace and tranquillity as you colour and meditate on the shape of Buddha inside of a mandala.

Love colouring? You might also like my hand drawn Mandala Coloring Book now available on Amazon!

Also make sure to check out my other free colouring pages including:

Live Laugh Love Coloring Page
Be Kinda Butterfly Mandala

Feel free to tag me in your coloured creations on Instagram @julieerindesigns!

Take care my friends.

Cheers,

Mandalatober 2019 Week 3 Mandalas

~ Julie ~ 2 Comments

The third week of Mandalatober has come and gone and I’m on the home stretch! I actually feel like it’s getting easier to draw them every day now the end is in sight.

You can still join in the challenge and see everyone’s entries on Instagram under the hashtag #mandalatober2019!

Check out my mandalas from week 3 below

Day 15: Sun Mandala

Day 16: Real Life mandala

Day 17: Freestyle mandala (no guidelines)

Day 18: Tree mandala

Day 19: Ocean mandala

Day 20: Food mandala

Day 21: Pumpkin mandala

See the other weeks mandalas below!

Mandalatober 2019 Challenge Week 2 Mandalas

~ Julie ~ 4 Comments

Mandalatober2019 is still going strong, although I’m starting to struggle to keep up with drawing mandalas every single day. That is the whole point of a challenge though isn’t it, to challenge yourself!

Some days I was feeling lazier than others so a few of my mandalas are simplistic while others are much more detailed.

You can still join in the challenge on Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about the Mandalatober challenge here and pick up a mandala drawing template to help you get started. Make sure to use #mandalatober2019 if you post!

Mandalatober2019 Week 2 Mandala Round Up

Day 8: Dot Mandala

Day 9: Mountain Mandala

Day 10: Skull Mandala

Day 11: Fire Mandala

Day 12: Melancholy Mandala

Day 13: Bird, or Feather Mandala

Day 14: Miniature Mandala

Want to learn more about mandalas and why you should draw them? Check out this post!

Cheers,

Mandalatober 2019 Challenge – Week 1 Mandalas

~ Julie ~ 6 Comments

The first week of Mandalatober2019 has been a great success, both for myself and the many others who have been participating along with me!

Find out more about the challenge in this blog post, and get inspired by everyone’s entries on Instagram and Twitter!

If you’re interested, there’s still time to join in the challenge! Grab my mandala drawing template here to help you catch up.

Mandalatober2019 Week 1 Mandalas

Day 1: Leaf mandala

Day 2: Black and white mandala

Day 3: Rainbow mandala

Day 4: Bones mandala

halloween bones mandala for #mandalatober2019

Day 5: Flower mandala

Day 6: Geometric Mandala

mandalatober geometric flower of life mandala drawing

Day 7: Happy mandala

happy face emoji mandala mandalatober2019

Are you participating in any art challenges this month? Like Inktober or one of the many others? Let me know in the comments below!

Learn more about mandalas and why you should draw them.

Have a great day,

Mandalatober Mandala Art Drawing Challenge

~ Julie ~ 7 Comments

mandalatober2019 mandala art drawing challenge

Hey guys! In the spirit of the well known Inktober art challenge that occurs every October, I decided to create my own challenge. I call it Mandalatober!

What is the Mandalatober Mandala Art drawing challenge?

Mandalatober is based on the popular Inktober art challenge. Inktober is an annual drawing challenge that takes place throughout the month of October. The challenge was created by artist Jake Parker in 2009 as a way to encourage people to get creative and practice their drawing skills.

The challenge works by providing a prompt list for each day of the month, with each prompt representing a different topic or theme. Participants are then tasked with creating a drawing based on that prompt, using any medium they like.

Today there are hundreds of different takes on the art challenge, most of which occur during the month of October but others occur throughout the year.

For Mandalatober, I came up with my own prompts to create 31 different mandalas in the month of October. I’m challenging myself to complete this challenge on Instagram, and invite you to join me!

Post your mandalatober creations on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #mandalatober2019 and tag me @julieerindesigns so I can see your work!

You may find it helpful to use my mandala drawing templates.

You can interpret the prompts however you want. Draw the mandalas by hand, digitally, create them with found objects, paint them, whatever you want to do. There are no limitations. The only rules are to post them on Instagram and/or Twitter and use the hashtag #mandalatober2019.

Make sure you’re following me on Instagram @julieerindesigns so you can see my interpretations for the challenge. I will also be sharing everyone else’s mandalas with the hashtag in my stories!

I can’t wait to see what you guys create from this challenge. At the end of it all, some time in November, I will create a blog post with my favourite entries from the challenge so stay tuned for that!

Happy creating!

Cheers,

Find more great posts below:

What is a Mandala and How to Draw One

~ Julie ~ 3 Comments

What is a mandala?

The word mandala literally means “circle” in Sanskrit, but they are much more than that. Mandalas are beautiful geometric images that represent the circle of life, the universe, divine power, synchronicity and more.

Evidence of mandalas date back to the first century B.C. However, they are likely much older than that. Mandalas have been found all over the world, from India to South America. They are a common symbol in many religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.

Christian Mandalas Rose Window Sainte Chapelle Chapel in Paris — Rose Window Mandala in Sainte Chapelle Chapel in Paris

Today, mandalas are used around the world as a meditative art practice. They utilize a combination of radial balance and abstract patterns to mesmerize the artist and viewer alike.

Why draw mandalas?

Drawing mandalas can be a tranquil and meditative experience. They are often used in Art Therapy as a way to disconnect from stress and anxiety. They help the artist concentrate on being present in the moment.

Drawing intricate patterns is also a great way to improve hand-eye coordination.

Drawing mandalas is easy and fun, and the end result is unique and beautiful.

How to draw a mandala

There are many different ways to draw mandalas.

You can draw them completely free hand, or use a template. You can create your own template by using a compass and a ruler, or you can download the templates I created here.

Generally, when drawing a mandala you start from the center and work your way out.

Incorporate different geometric patterns into your mandala as it expands outwards.

Below is a quick demonstration of how to get started drawing a mandala and some basic patterns to get you started.

You can use many different materials to create mandalas. Pen and paper is the most obvious. However, you can create mandalas from sand, rocks, leaves, crochet, yarn, and many other materials.

yarn mandalas diy craft project kids — Mandala made with yarn. aka Ojo De Dios or “God’s Eye”

It’s a good idea to keep a sketchbook or even a Pinterest Board with different patterns to refer back to for future mandala drawings.

Learn more about the history and religious uses of mandalas here.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about mandalas, and how and why you should draw them!

Cheers,

Painting a Mandala Wall Mural

~ Julie ~ 11 Comments

Yes, I painted a mandala mural on my wall!

I already had this beautiful turquoise coloured accent wall in my apartment, which was the perfect background for this huge mandala mural I painted using silver acrylic paint.

I also recorded a time lapse video showing the process of painting this gorgeous mandala mural on the wall of my apartment!

Before I started painting, I created a template using string, a thumb tack, and white pencil crayon which easily wiped away with a damp cloth after the paint was dry.

Some of you have asked me to explain the process of creating the template so I will attempt to describe this below.

How to paint a mandala wall mural

Supplies you will need:

1 thumb tack
string or yarn
pencil or pencil crayon
ruler

Steps:

Place the thumb tack where you want the center of your mandala to be.
Measure out a piece of string from the thumb tack to where you want the largest circle of your mandala to be (this will be the final size of your mandala).
Cut the string and tie one end to the thumb tack, and tie the other end to the pencil crayon.
Keeping the string taught, draw a circle all the way around, with the thumb tack in the center.
Cut off the pencil end of the string by a few inches.
Re-tie the pencil to the new end and draw another circle inside the first.
Repeat the process until you get close to the thumb tack and cannot draw any more circles.
Remove the tack, then use a ruler to draw lines across and diagonally from the middle.

You can use my Mandala Drawing Template as a guide for how your final template should look. Let me know if you need any more clarification!

It took me about 8 hours to complete this painting.

Check out the video and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Would you do this to your wall?

Cheers,