How to Paint Across Two Pages in Your Sketchbook

Starting Out

Find a sketchbook that has heavy paper and lies seamlessly flat when open. Five Below sells a good one with heavy covers.

Open the book and study the blank two pages. Think about what subject might lend itself to a long, narrow format. The possibilities are endless; plan to utilize the entire expanse of paper. A landscape study. A country scene. The buildings of a city, row on row. A walking figure and what is seen in passing.

Use a pencil to start. An eraser will be handy if you are unsure or unhappy with the first attempt on the pages. The eraser on your yellow pencil's end is perfect if you haven't pressed too hard and etched your lines on the paper. Erasers often come in multi-packs. A pink eraser can be a handy accessory; stash the other colored ones in the pack to use in the future.

Filling the Spread

Try these ideas. Sketch lightly in pencil and go across the two pages, filling the space. Geometric shapes. Keep some separate and stack or join others. Numbers. Aim to fill the entire expanse of the two pages. Reach to the paper's top and bottom edges. Letters: Random or spelling words. Lines: Straight, wavy, curly, zig-zag, etc.

Return to a page of numbers and make them double lines. Vary the thickness of the new lines. There is no rule or plan but to fill the space.

Play with colored markers to make shapes, letters, numbers, etc. across the two pages. Stay with one color but apply different pressures on the markers to achieve various effects. Vary colors, keeping the pressure on the marker on the page consistent.Shopping carts.jpg Be inventive with the markers. Use both the corner of the tip for fine lines and the whole tip for wider lines.

Outline some parts of the design in solid black marker. Or, pick a color and outline in that. Or, vary colors. Color whole sections or images with the markers. Play. Have fun. Be inventive. You will find the more you work, the more confidence you will build. Where you hesitated earlier, you will begin bolding drawing your lines.

Try watercolor. A box of 8 pads of color and a brush are all you need. If desired, sketch first lightly in pencil. Draw with your paintbrush loaded with juicy color. There is no right or wrong way. Just experiment and have fun.

Gathering Inspiration and Experimenting

Paint freely—anything you wish to paint is fair game. Some of the below ideas draw inspiration from nature, whether a simple study or a whole scene, and other spreads turn into playful experiments with line, color and form.

Paint a row of realistic-looking trees. Pick a season and use four color palettes—one for each season.

Try a flower scene. Do actual flower shapes such as a sunflower, daisy, violet, rose, etc. There's no limit, and if you get stuck, look for references on the internet, find a magazine with color pictures, or make up your own special flowers. They don't have to be recognizable when you are just experimenting.

Celebrate color in random or geometric shapes. Fill the page with shapes.

Play with putting one color next to another to see the result.

Just do lines. Numbers, letters, etc.—whatever comes to mind.

Find a way past your fear of getting started. Getting started putting lines, shapes and colors on paper or in a sketchbook is liberating. If you have hesitated to create art, this is a good way to break the fear barrier. Reread this article.

Get hold of some art supplies. They are available at many stores from the corner store (school supplies) dedicated art stores to drug stores. Chances are there are many useful items right at home for making lines and coloring shapes.

Get started painting. A world of fun awaits, so don't hesitate to start.