Sue Bleiweiss started the Sketchbook Challenge back in January of this year. A sketchbook is a book filled with dreams and inspiration. Each month, artists of every type and in every medium can follow along with Sue and other artists as they issue the Sketchbook Challenge of the month. It’s a fun way to unite with other creative spirits and also to take personal creativity to another level.

Now, Sue she has just made available in ezine format (PDF) 83 pages of the Sketchbook Challenge. In this first ezine, Sue has spotlighted herself and 12 other artists as they share their sketchbook challenges. The ezine is full-color and filled with how-to, technical art tips as well as plenty of inspiration for projects.

Some of my favorites from this issue (I’m sure there will be many more issues to come) are from Kelli Nina Perkins who shares how to use text in collage. If you are a lover of words and collage art, THIS is for you! I loved how Kelli  showed so many ways to use and re-purpose old books and text. And, speaking of collage, if you’ve ever wondered how artists make those funky backgrounds with varied patterns and colors, you’ll definitely want to check out Carol Sloan’s “Blank Page Remedies.” She walks you through step-by-step to create wonderful foundations for your collage and other creations.

By far, though, my favorite in this first ezine is Violette Clark’s piece about “Journal Pages Using Your Inner GPS.” For those of you who have ever wondered how to connect more consciously to your muse, this piece shows you how. Listening is a vital component to following your Inner GPS, and yet Violette shows us “how” to listen! I was stunned by how wonderfully practical she shared this inner guidance.

To learn more about the Sketchbook Challenge Ezine and to see what other projects are included, visit Sue’s Sketchbook Challenge Ezine page.