The Sketchbook Project

“The Sketchbook Project is a global platform for artists to share their work and engage with other creatives. We believe that anyone can participate in art and be a part of something bigger than themselves. The volume of the project that you contribute to will have its own set of themes and will travel on its own one-of-a-kind experience across North America in pop-ups, tours and exhibitions. The culmination of each volume’s experience is its eventual return to Brooklyn Art Library, where it will then permanently live among our full collection. Think volume next to volume, after curated experiences have come and gone, your book will be nestled on the shelves among over 50,000 other stories waiting to be seen, read and felt.”

— https://www.brooklynartlibrary.com/sbp

This was a worldwide project I participated in for over 10 years. When a new project was announced, participants registered and were sent a blank Moleskine journal to fill. The journal had a barcode so it could be tracked and was included in a travelling exhibition. All journals were then held at the Brooklyn Art Library. The public could visit and “check out” the books. Sadly, in 2023, the project closed.

“Some bittersweet news, after 17 years, hundreds of thousands of book checkouts, over 60k sketchbooks created, thousands of miles traveled, we are closing the project. We have decided to fully shut down The Sketchbook Project and Brooklyn Art Library non-profit, and gift the collection to other amazing institutions that can better care for the books. You will have until February 10th, 2023 to request your book(s) back. After February 10th, your book will be sent to a partner organization to live on with other parts of the collection. It has been an honor and privilege to help manage this project. It was my entire life for over 17 years and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a global creative community. Thank you again for being a part of this amazing creative undertaking over the last 17 years and for helping this community go to unimaginable places. It has been a life changing creative outlet for us and so many people. We cannot thank you enough.”

Steven Peterman, Founder, The Sketchbook Project

View Sketchbook pages completed for the project by clicking on the photo.

SBP 2021

Sketchbook Project 2021, Vol. 18. Theme: “A different perspective.” Distress Inks were used on the pages, cut to reveal varied colors.

SBP 2019

Sketchbook Project 2019, Vol. 14. Theme: “This One Thing… What’s Next?” A short video of the sketchbook, followed by the individual pages, created with a wide variety of media.

SBP 2018

Sketchbook Project 2018, Theme: “Underwater.” This sketchbook features journaling, cut pages & underwater photos of the St Lawrence River when it flooded -Wolfe Island, Ontario.

SBP 2015

The Sketchbook Project, 2015. Theme: “Small parts. Parts of the whole.” Mixed media art remembering and celebrating small parts of my life.

SBP 2014

The Sketchbook project, 2014. Theme: “Greetings from Florida.” Folded pages, photographs and journaling about living in Florida.

SBP 2012 -Limited Ed

The Sketchbook Project, Limited edition 2012. Theme: “Create & Capture” with photography and mixed media.

SBP 2012

The Sketchbook Project 2012, Theme: “The Encyclopedia of How and why, I create art.” The pages of the sketchbook were removed, folded accordion style and returned.

SBP 2011

The first Sketchbook Project I participated in, 2011. Theme: “This is not a sketchbook.” Process photos taken before this sketchbook was sent to the Brooklyn Art Library.

The Sketchbook Project

View Sketchbook pages completed for the project by clicking on the photo.

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