For this installment in our series on artists and their sketchbook practices, we’re excited to feature Laura Horn. Horn’s approach to sketchbooks is all about freedom, experimentation, and letting go of rigid rules. In this post, she shares how sketchbooks have become a space for exploring ideas, gaining confidence in her unique creative voice, and taking those ideas beyond the page. Whether experimenting with multiple sketchbooks or using them as a way to document life, Horn offers insightful reflections on how this practice continues to shape her art. Now, let’s dive in as she shares her thoughts on using sketchbooks as powerful tools for creativity.
When I first started working in sketchbooks, I often felt pressure to follow a theme or stick to a structure. But it wasn’t until I embraced a more free-flowing approach that I truly started enjoying the process. Letting go of rigid guidelines allowed me to experiment more freely and opened the door to new discoveries. These days, I work in a non-linear way, often adding sporadic elements to different pages throughout the sketchbook. I like creating these starting points so that when I come back during another session, I have something to respond to.
I typically have three or four sketchbooks going at once. I like working in layers, and this allows me to move between journals while pages are drying. This approach has been a game-changer for me, helping me to maintain creative momentum. I love the energy that comes with bouncing ideas across multiple sketchbooks. Sometimes, I group them together and work on several pages as if they were one canvas—dripping paint from a height to create textures and effects that span across multiple books.
For me, sketchbooks are spaces to plant seeds and explore new ideas for my work. These ideas can be anything from a color palette to an interesting mixed-media combination or a nature-inspired drawing. Some of these ideas stay within the pages, while others grow into larger works or find their way into art that I sell and license. I also use my sketchbooks to disconnect from the noise of daily life and reconnect with my intuition and feelings. Having a place that meets both of these purposes is very satisfying to me and makes sketchbooks essential to my work and life.
I share most of my sketchbook pages on social media. If there’s something personal in a spread, it’s usually buried under layers. Occasionally, if a piece feels very different from my usual style, I’ll keep it private for a while to see how it evolves. But, more often than not, I get excited about new discoveries and love sharing inspiration or teaching moments from my sketchbook practice.
I’ve experimented with many sketchbooks and learned to appreciate them all, even the lower-quality ones. Sometimes, the imperfections—like crinkled paper—add unique textures that wouldn’t be possible on premium paper. There’s also a sense of freedom in using a sketchbook that doesn’t feel too precious. That said, I do love a high-quality sketchbook with luxurious watercolor paper. The Hand Book Journal Co. makes gorgeous watercolor journals. Since I often work across two pages, I prefer stitch-bound books over spiral-bound.
What I love about sketchbooks is that even if you’re not consciously documenting your life, your experiences seep into the pages. When I moved from the coast to the hills, I noticed a shift in my color palettes and imagery. Looking back now, those sketchbooks are a beautiful memory of that transition. No matter what you put in them, sketchbooks become part of your creative legacy—and that’s something I value. It makes me happy to think that over the years, I’ll have all these sketchbooks to look back on—a diary of my creative life.
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Fiber Art Now has been exploring how artists incorporate sketchbooks or journals into their creative processes. Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, or idea book? Whether you bring it along on vacation or to the coffee shop, we’re curious about your preferences. What type and size do you prefer? How do you organize the content? Do you customize your cover or add pockets for storing ephemera? These are the questions we’re asking artists, and we’d love to hear about your process.
Cami Smith is the Fiber Art Now media manager, community engagement coordinator, and a mixed-media artist.
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