Limited
Edition
 
4135 / 5,000 spots filled

The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1 is a collaborative series of art books created by 5,000 artists from around the world.

Anyone — from anywhere in the world — can participate in the project. Sign up to receive a blank sketchbook in the mail, then fill it up and send it back. Your work will be cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library and published in the Limited Edition art book series.

click here to participate
$25

Project Entry

  • Entry to the Project
  • Official Project sketchbook
  • Cataloged in the Library
  • Exhibited in New York City
  • Your artwork included in the printed book
Participate »
$40

Entry +
Pre-order Book

  • Entry to the Project
  • Official Project sketchbook
  • Cataloged in the Library
  • Exhibited in New York City
  • Your artwork included in the printed book
  • Pre-order a Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Book
Participate »
$60

Entry +
Digitizing

  • Entry to the Project
  • Official Project sketchbook
  • Cataloged in the Library
  • Exhibited in New York City
  • Your artwork included in the printed book
  • Professional digitization
  • Archived in the Digital Library
Participate »
$75

Entry + Digitizing +
Pre-order Book

  • Entry to the Project
  • Official Project sketchbook
  • Cataloged in the Library
  • Exhibited in New York City
  • Your artwork included in the printed book
  • Professional digitization
  • Archived in the Digital Library
  • Pre-order a Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Book
Participate »
 
Postmark Deadline: April 30th, 2012
NYC Exhibition: June 22nd, 2012
The Brooklyn Art Library

The Brooklyn Art Library archives your sketchbook and exhibits it to the public. Our storefront reading room hosts the Limited Edition exhibition and makes your sketchbook available to patrons from all over the world — right in the heart of Brooklyn.

Since opening its doors in 2010, the Library has quickly become a cultural hub for our vibrant neighborhood. Visit us any time — we're open seven days a week — and watch as creative people from all walks of life draw inspiration from your work by exploring the collection. Whether you live down the block or across the world, the Brooklyn Art Library is always your home away from home in New York City.

 
some of your new collaborators
 

Knowing that my work will be out there for people to view is an amazing feeling.

Kate Snoad

Kate Snoad

Shift Supervisor/Student
Rochester, MI
 

I was inspired by previous sketchbooks that participants have made. It gave me a purpose, a deadline and a challenge.

Rosemary Blanch

Rosemary Blanch

Retiree
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
 

I learned not to feel scared of the blank page.

Elisa Choi

Elisa Choi

Technology Consultant
Manila, Philippines
 

It's great fun to share a creative goal with people close to you.

Teresa Potter

Teresa Potter

Library Technical Services Clerk
Dickinson, TX
 

I joined the Sketchbook Project because it's just a little outside my comfort zone.

Lisa Vollrath

Lisa Vollrath

Artist
Euless, TX
 

32 pages, a front and back cover, one theme — it's all so simple, and yet challenging enough to keep you testing the boundaries of your creativity.

Angel Nuada

Angel Nuada

Freelance Illustrator
Hungary
 
 
Notifications

Let your sketchbook loose.
We'll help you stay in touch.

We know it can be tough to part with your sketchbook. That's why each contribution is cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library with a unique barcode. Friends, family and other patrons can find your work almost instantly — and you'll receive email or text message notifications each time your book is viewed. Of course, you can turn these notifications on or off at will.

Plus...
 

The Brooklyn Art Library is your home. Our storefront exhibition space will archive your sketchbook and make it available to patrons from all over the world. We're open every day, so please come and visit us soon.

Join the community. The Sketchbook Project is a collaboration that unites a unique community of creative people from across the globe. Exchange tips and techniques, share visual inspiration or just make a new friend.

Share your story. The Sketchbook Project is an opportunity to express yourself to a global audience. Participants can upload a bio and share future projects, personal links and stories with other creative people.

The Digital Library travels far and wide. With hundreds of thousands of visitors and climbing, the Digital Library is an amazing platform to share your work with a wider audience. Choose to have your book professionally digitized and we'll give it a home on the Web.

Notifications

 
The Limited Edition Book Series

Every contributor to the Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1 will be included in a series of art books documenting the project. Together, the series will provide insight into the imagination and process of each artist participating in the project. Bound by the Brooklyn Art Library Press and hand-finished in our Brooklyn workshop, the book series will be published in the fall of 2012.

Your blank canvas — pocket size.

Our custom-designed sketchbook features high quality 100% recycled paper milled in the Pacific Northwest, printed with vegetable-based inks and produced with renewable energy. These sturdy, lightweight books are easy to carry, simple to rebind and better for the planet, too.

Specs 5.25 W x 7.25 H, 32 pages, 70lb text stock, 100% recycled paper

Limited Edition

The Limited Edition presents a series of experiments inspired by the Sketchbook Project. Each Limited Edition project brings together a smaller community of artists to share the Sketchbook Project experience in a whole new way.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend reading all the FAQs before e-mailing us with questions! Don't let the rules scare you – they're just here to help clarify the details!

If you have any questions or problems, please visit our dedicated support website and we’ll sort it out ASAP.

Where do I send my sketchbook?

Brooklyn Art Library
c/o The Sketchbook Project
103A N. 3rd St
Brooklyn, NY 11249

I just signed up for the Sketchbook Project. What happens now?

After you sign up to participate in the project, we'll send you a package containing a custom-designed Sketchbook Project sketchbook with a barcode on it, your chosen theme, and detailed instructions about the project.

When you’re ready, just mail your sketchbook back to us. Your sketchbook will be archived in the Brooklyn Art Library and exhibited to the public!

How do themes work?

When you sign up for the project, you will be able to choose from a list of themes. The themes are supposed to be a starting point, not a restriction — so remember to keep an open mind and consider the theme as just a guide.

What is the Limited Edition book series?

The Brooklyn Art Library Press is publishing a series of art books featuring work contributed to the Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1. We will include at least one full spread by each participating artist. If you decide to pre-order the book, you'll receive the book in the series that includes your work. Together, the series will present work from all 5,000 contributors, to provide insight into the imagination and process of each artist participating in the project. Each book in the series will be perfect bound and hand-finished in our Brooklyn workshop — look for the entire series to be published in the fall of 2012!

I chose to have my book digitized. How does this work?

Your sketchbook will be professionally digitized and uploaded to the Digital Library (www.arthousecoop.com/library). This means that visitors from all over the Web will be able to view your entire book online in beautiful, high-resolution photographs and leave comments for you and other readers. Sorry, but we cannot accept your own scanned images for upload to the website. This is a long process with a high level of attention to detail. The fee goes toward the costs of manually photographing each page, editing the images, building and maintaining the online database, and hosting the website, among other expenses. We want to make your work look its very best!

Are there rules about what I can and can’t do to my sketchbook?

You should feel completely free to experiment with different media, new techniques and unconventional notions of what a sketchbook can be. However, we do have a couple of simple rules. Please try to avoid the use of ties, sharp metal objects, random plastic doodads, art materials that could smudge, glitter, sticky substances or any hazardous materials. Please note that although you’re welcome to rebind the books, the overall length and width should not change and the thickness of the book must not exceed one inch across.

Will I be notified when someone checks out my book?

Spread the word to family and friends and then stay connected when they check out your sketchbook! As a participating artist, you'll be able to receive e-mail or text message notifications each and every time your book is checked out and read! Connect with friends, family, other artists and patrons as they experience your work. We're not responsible for dropped texts, e-mail notifications that get sorted to the junk folder, or the costs associated with receiving text messages. Please note that notification settings can be changed at any time by logging in to your account.

Where does my entry fee go?

This is a massive, international project and there are many costs associated with its operation. Your entry fee isn't paying for a sketchbook – you're helping to offset material, shipping and labor costs while supporting the Brooklyn Art Library and ensuring that this unique visual resource is open to the public. Your entry fee also helps cover expenses related to the maintenance of the website and Digital Library, supports our small and dedicated team of librarians, and helps us to create and publish the first Sketchbook Project art book. Phew! Unlike many galleries, we do not jury work. Everyone who sends us their completed sketchbooks postmarked by April 30th, 2012, will be included in the Brooklyn Art Library and the Sketchbook Project book.

What is your policy on refunds?

We do not offer refunds for artists who do not finish a sketchbook, regardless of the reason for incompletion. If you need to discuss any other issues, please visit us on the support board: support.arthousecoop.com.

I’d like to participate with my class/workplace/club/group. Is there a group discount?

We offer group discounts for orders of four or more projects, because sketching is more fun with friends. Please email groups@arthousecoop.com for more information!

Any advice for mailing my sketchbook to you?

With these helpful tips, you’re book will reach us safe and sound.

  • Postmark your work by April 30th, 2012. We'll do our best to include books that are mailed after this date, but we CANNOT guarantee it.
  • Please do not send packages that require us to be there upon arrival or require a signature. If you do, we will do our best to receive the package. However, we are not responsible for packages returned to sender if we are not able to receive them.
  • We try to check in work as quickly as possible. However, it is a lengthy process, especially close to the deadline. Please be patient while waiting to receive a notification that your book has been received and cataloged.

Will you sell my sketchbook?

No, the Sketchbooks are not for sale.

How do you use images of my sketchbook?

Your work is your work. We will never sell your physical contribution without your express, written permission. We retain the rights to use images of your work in promotional materials and advertising across all formats. We also reserve the rights to publish your work in an exhibition catalog or other Art House publication. We reserve all copyright to any published materials. Please note that digital images may be distributed under a noncommercial Creative Commons license, in order to better share your work and that of other participants with viewers around the world.

Summary of Sketchbook Project rules:

Everybody likes to skip this part, but we recommend you don't! We've kept it short and sweet:

  • Questions? No problem. Please read through this FAQ again and, if you’re still unsure, then visit us on our dedicated support board: support.arthousecoop.com.
  • If you didn't complete last year's sketchbook, we cannot accept it for this year's Project. Please sign up for the current project to participate!
  • Your book must remain within the dimensions of 1 x 5.25 x 7.25 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, but please do not make the book larger than one-inch thick.
  • Your barcode must remain in place on the book – no moving or covering it. An altered or unreadable label means it will prevent your sketchbook from being catalogued in the library.
  • You are free and encouraged to alter, design, and work on the cover of the sketchbook!
  • The theme is a great starting point, but in no way is meant to be a restriction. If you feel limited by it, just loosen up and have fun. It's just a guide!
  • Your book must be postmarked by April 30th, 2012. No exceptions.
  • We do not offer refunds (including the fee for digitizing) for people who do not finish a sketchbook.
  • All sales are final! Please read the rules if you are unsure about signing up.
  • The mail can be slow. Please note that it can occasionally take up to two weeks to receive a book in the US and more than three weeks overseas. However, if you do not receive your sketchbook in that timeframe, please let us know right away via our support board (support.arthousecoop.com) and we’ll gladly resend your book ASAP.
  • We reserve the right to switch sketchbook books, brands or sizes at any time without notice.