Jackson Arts - Inside the Sketchbooks

In October 2023, I was approached by the team at the renowned art supplies Jackson’s Art to take part in their Inside the Sketchbook series. This invitation followed my painting I Follow You being long-listed for their 2023 Painting Prize.

I gladly accepted and made my way to their headquarters in Dalton. There, I was welcomed into the studio and given the rare opportunity to share the messy, behind-the-scenes part of my practice; my sketchbooks. In an industry that often celebrates only the polished and finished, it felt refreshing to reveal the raw, experimental stage of making. Artists tend to show the final piece, not the discarded sketches or half-formed ideas scribbled in private. But this is where so much of the magic lives for me.

As I shared in the written interview that followed the video, “I try not to impose any rules in my sketchbooks, using them as an ideas bank, where anything goes.” A sketchbook is a place to take risks and make bad drawings. It’s where the seeds of new work begin.

By spotlighting this stage, I think Jackson’s helps to dismantle the myth that every piece of art must be perfect to be meaningful. All art holds value, whether it's hanging in a gallery or tucked away under your bed.

When I’m working on something new, I often return to my recent sketchbooks for inspiration. Being able to share this part of my process was a joy.

My only advice? Get yourself a sketchbook you’re not afraid to mess up. Nothing too precious. If something doesn’t work, just turn the page.

Read the full interview:
Inside the Sketchbook: Inside the Sketchbook of Stefanie Trow - Jackson's Art Blog (jacksonsart.com)

Watch the video Interview: