This is how it works:
Let us tell you more about the sketchbook. You order one of our custom-designed sketchbooks online and receive along with it a list of thematic prompts: Choose one or discard them entirely. It’s up to you.
You get to fill the pages with whatever you want—abstract squiggles, detailed portraits, maps and landscapes, diary entries, poems, fragments of images and memories, secrets and declarations of lost love—anything that can be contained within its pages (so no glitter or messy embellishments).
Here’s the genius part—your sketchbook has a UIN (Unique Identification Number), so you’ll upload some details to an online catalog, like search terms and your bio. Then you’ll mail it back to The Sketchbook Library of Ireland Project for the next part of its life: All sketchbooks are catalogued and kept. There’s no jury, no judgment.
All these sketchbooks—made and mailed in from all over Ireland, will collectively form a library of sorts. Remember that UIN? That means that visitors can just search the library by theme, figure out what they want to view, and your sketchbook will be found. As the artist/maker/author you can get updates on how many times it been viewed. The beauty in all this is that the person who makes the work and then the person who views the sketchbooks are now in conversation; the sketchbooks forming physical testimonies of lives lived, documented and shared.
Sketchbook Rules
Each artist is sent the same A5 blank sketchbook.
First, your book must be used in some way – please don’t send back an empty book, or a different book!
Second, your sketchbook must stay within its original dimensions.
Last, please don’t use glitter, and if you use acrylic/gesso paint add some greaseproof paper between the sheets as these may cause the pages to stick together over time.
Your book is unique to you. Each book will be given a unique identification number (UIN) so we can catalog it into the Sketchbook Library of Ireland. Using this UIN you’ll be able to see where your book travels and how often it is viewed – we want you to enjoy your Sketchbooks adventure as it journeys around the country.
Read more in our Frequently Asked Questions Section
A few basic rules for creating your sketchbook.
Your book must remain within the dimensions of 5 x 7” inches. It can open up to something wonderful (of any size), but it must fold down to the original dimensions. You are welcome to unbind, rebind or alter the book in (almost) any other way. If you want to use a thicker stock of paper, go for it! Your book must stay thinner than an inch when closed.
Your UIN sticker must remain in place on the book, please don’t move or cover it. An altered or unreadable label means we cannot catalog your sketchbook in the library. Please contact us if you damage your sticker.
Don’t forget that your sketchbook will be traveling and be held – please try to avoid using ribbons or ties that can come undone, random bits, or things that may fall off in transit, art materials that could smudge (like acrylic and gesso paint), glitter and any hazardous materials. Your book should be durable and be able to withstand normal wear and tear.