Reflective Essay: How Chkbook Changed My Life

The first sketchbook I received consisted of an average eight by eleven inch Pacon brand for two dollars. This cheap, paper sketchbook became one of my precious treasures throughout my life. As a child, pictures introduced themselves to me in various forms. Paintings, wallpaper, newspaper comics, manga, cartoons, picture books, and many more. When I saw all these beautiful images and drawings, I began my journey through the creation of my own works of art.
The first time I began to draw, I drew stick figures and malformed animals and people. As I continued to grow and experience new things, I also improved in my art. From fifth grade to my senior year in high school, I realized a major difference in the way I drew, and also in what it meant to me. For me, drawing represented the growth I went through in life. Through the tough times, happy memories, and crushing defeats, these all accumulated and created my personality and

motivations to do what I enjoy. One of the most important lessons I learned from my time sketching consists of one word: practice. To learn and improve, not only in art but in every aspect of life, practice became the one thing that could change you. Though practice did not make me a master at art, it helped improve and further my experiences in life.
In the sketchbook, page by page, I saw the improvements and new experiences I remembered.

From small stick figures, to cartoon characters, to more realistic anatomy and detailed work. This only happened because of my dedication and constant practice with a pencil and paper. Though I do not consider myself the best artist, I became proud of my growth and motivation that branched out to other aspects of my life. This habit of practicing led me to take challenging courses and pursue other passions, like music. Though music seems a little minor in my life, it runs through the family, and I could never be where I am without the practice time I put in both my passions. The small details I picked up from them have helped me immensely in school. From motivation to not give up and the extra effort to understand the material, I created a process of how to do things, and I found myself grateful for the times where I felt lost, and found my way back. Through art, I found my sense of self and the motivation to excel and challenge myself in everything I

did.
Art does not stay static. Art continues to grow and improve and mature, much like myself. As I complete this sketchbook with my experiences since childhood to my final year in high school, I will purchase a new one, and continue to pursue my interests and personal passions throughout my life.