The sketchbook you're allowed to ruin
For people who are afraid to draw, and want to move past it.
Most sketchbooks end up on a shelf, untouched. The pages feel too clean, too precious. Every blank page looks like a test waiting to be failed.
The Ugly Sketchbook is different. No aesthetic expectations. No judgment. No perfection required. Just a space to put your ideas down, try things, mess up, start over… and actually move forward.
6×9" · 120 blank pages · soft matte cover · premium paper
Made to be used. Not admired.
Why most sketchbooks end up empty
We live in a time when every drawing feels like it should be worth posting. So a lot of people with real creative potential freeze up, give up, or simply never start. The fear of judgment (their own, mostly) gets in the way.
A beautiful sketchbook makes that worse. The nicer it looks, the harder it gets to make the first mark.
So the first mark never comes. The sketchbook stays pristine. The drawing never happens.
Sound familiar?
An anti-perfectionism sketchbook, and what that actually means
The Ugly Sketchbook isn't just a notebook with a provocative name. It's built around one idea: the page is already ruined, so you can start.
The cover is deliberately imperfect. Every page footer reminds you this is a space for trying, not performing. The paper handles pencil, pen, and fine liner beautifully… and it's simple enough that you won't think twice before using it.
Nothing here is precious. That's the whole point.
- Format: 6×9" (15×23 cm), easy to carry, easy to use
- 120 blank white pages, gray footer label
- Soft matte cover
- Premium white paper, pencil, pen and fine liner friendly
The first thing you'll do is ruin it. On purpose.
Open the first page. Read what's written there. Then grab the nearest pen.
Draw a potato. Give it a mouth and a hat. Draw a vomiting sun behind it.
Does it look good? Great. Does it look awful? Even better. Now tear out the page.
That's it. That's the ritual. Your brand-new sketchbook is already ugly, already yours, already impossible to ruin further. The pressure? Gone.
Every copy of The Ugly Sketchbook starts with this. It's not a gimmick. It's the whole point: the first page forces the first mark. No hesitation, no warm-up, no "I'll start when I feel ready."
You tear it out, and you begin.
How to use it, 4 ways to start
There's no right way to use The Ugly Sketchbook. But here are four that work.
The daily warm-up (5 minutes)
Circles, rough silhouettes, random textures, wonky perspectives. The goal isn't a finished drawing. It's moving your hand. Do it every day, and your line gets more confident without you even noticing.
Free exploration
A new idea? A reference you want to test? A character you're not sure about yet? This is the place. No commitment, no consequences.
Technical testing
Before a clean project, try your shading, color palette, composition, or lettering here. You'll go into the real thing with more confidence and fewer surprises.
The creative journal
Collages, quick notes, small lists, rough thumbnails, ideas to revisit later. Let it become your personal space. Messy, alive, yours.
Who it's for
You want to draw, but you freeze every time you open a sketchbook.
The Ugly Sketchbook was made for you. No pressure, no beautiful pages to protect. Just a space that's already on your side.
You draw regularly and need somewhere to experiment.
Not every idea deserves a clean page. Keep this one close for the rough stuff: the tests, the quick sketches, the happy accidents that turn into something real.
You're looking for a gift for someone creative.
Or someone who secretly wants to be.
The Ugly Sketchbook says something most gifts don't: "Your imagination deserves a space of its own. You don't need to be good to start. I believe in your creativity."
Pair it with a set of fine liners or pencils. You'll have a gift that actually gets used.
FAQ
How do I stop being afraid of my sketchbook?
Start by choosing one that isn't precious. The fear of ruining a beautiful page is real, and it's one of the most common reasons people stop drawing. The Ugly Sketchbook removes that barrier by design. The cover is imperfect, the pages are made to be filled, crossed out, restarted. First time you use it? Draw something bad on purpose. It works.
How do I start using The Ugly Sketchbook?
Open the first page and make it ugly on purpose. A messy doodle, a crossed-out line, a scribble. That's the starting ritual. Once the first page is "ruined," the rest of the sketchbook opens right up. After that, 5 minutes of daily warm-up is all you need to build a real habit.
Is it a good gift for someone who wants to draw but never starts?
Especially for that person. The Ugly Sketchbook is designed to lower the barrier, not raise it. Pair it with a set of pencils or fine liners and you've got something that sends the right message: creativity doesn't require perfection. Available on Amazon, shipped directly.
Is The Ugly Sketchbook good for Inktober?
Absolutely. 120 blank pages of premium paper that handles fine liners without bleed-through, exactly what you need for 31 daily ink drawings. And with no pressure to make every page beautiful, showing up every day gets a lot easier.
The Ugly Sketchbook, at a glance
| Format | 6×9" (15×23 cm) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 120 blank white pages |
| Cover | Soft matte, deliberately imperfect |
| Paper | Premium white, pencil / pen / fine liner |
| Interior | Black & white |
| Price | $16 |
| Where to buy | Amazon.com, ships worldwide |
| Best for | Beginners, daily practice, Inktober, gifts |
| Not for | Watercolor washes, heavy wet media |