an annual event to kickstart your creativity
the 30-DAY sketchbook challenge
Join me for the 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge – the perfect way to kickstart your sketching journey, boost your drawing skills, or rediscover your passion for sketching. For 30 consecutive days, you'll receive a unique daily sketching prompt to spark your creativity and motivate you to sketch as much or as little as you like.
Here’s what you’ll enjoy:
- Exclusive guest artist tutorials and Zoom interviews
- Weekly pep talks with Susan to keep you motivated
- Helpful warm-up tutorials to ease you into sketching
- Access to a supportive Facebook community
- And so much more!
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned sketcher, this challenge is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Pick up your pencil and get ready to reignite your creativity!
30-Day Sketchbook challenge
About the Challenge
The 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge began in January 2018, inspired by my personal journey to rekindle my sketching habit after a break. What started as a simple idea quickly grew into an annual event, attracting thousands of people eager to fill their sketchbooks every day for 30 days.
The enthusiasm and atmosphere of these challenges are incredible, with a vibrant flood of sketches and doodles shared by participants. It’s amazing to see so many, from absolute beginners to seasoned artists, pick up a pencil or pen and just start sketching—no pressure, no judgment, just pure daily creative fun.
Reconnect with your inner artist and be part of this supportive, joy-filled community.
even more inspiration in 2025
Meet the guest artists
In January 2025 there is a fantastic line up of 17 amazing artists joining in with the challenge to help you out and inspire you throughout the month. Some will be sharing their sketching process and filming their responses to prompts, and some will be joining me via Zoom on Monday evenings for the panel sessions.
GRESHNA DIBBLE
Artist and Masters Student
HOW IT WORKS
Get ready to dust off your sketchbooks, gather your favourite art supplies, and join me for a super-creative and inspiring start to the new year!
The 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge brings together thousands of participants from around the world to fill their sketchbooks in this exciting prompt-based event. Each day for 30 days, I’ll send you a new surprise sketching prompt to spark your creativity. Sketch whatever you feel inspired to, and share your work with a supportive global community.
Throughout the challenge, you'll enjoy live events including Zoom sketch-alongs, artist interviews, pep talks, and tutorials led by me and a selection of guest artists. These activities are designed to support your creative journey and keep you inspired all the way through 2025.
Keep reading to discover more details and see our lineup of guest artists for 2025 above. Join us and kickstart your year with daily creativity and connection!
FIND OUT MORE
Watch the Trailer
the sketchbook challenge 2025
features you'll love
Guest artist tutorials **NEW for 2025**
I have a number of guests artists lined up for 2025 to show you exactly how they would respond to a sketching prompt and show you their process.
weekly artist interviews
Join me LIVE on Zoom every Monday evening for creative mindset discussions with our panel of invited guest artists.
live sketch-a-longs
Every week I will run relaxed sketching sessions via Zoom - where anyone can bring along their sketchbook and ask questions too!
Weekly pep talks
At the start of each week, I will share a helpful creative mindset session, tailored for the week ahead to encourage you on this 30 day journey together.
register for the challenge today
options explained
This year you can join the challenge in two ways:
join the challenge as a one-off
Join the challenge for a one-off payment of £25. Unlock access to everything within the challenge including the Facebook community, Zoom sessions, guest artist tutorials from the moment you register to 31 January 2025.
Join the Inspire sketching membership
Enjoy everything! Unlock access to the Inspire Sketching Membership with Susan for continued monthly themes and tutorials as well as monthly zoom sessions, and the annual Sketchbook Challenge every Jan. Facebook Support Community throughout 2025.
let's get sketching
Each day, for 30 days in a row, I will send you a new sketching prompt – I will share this through the learning portal and via email.
Take the prompt, be inspired and draw a little something. Take just a few minutes or longer if you want. The challenge is suitable for everyone, whether you have never picked up a pencil before or are a seasoned pro.
Let’s begin the year with a big creative boost and a bundle of fun.
Don't just take my word for it
Meet some of the sketchers
Lisa
"Another great sketchbook challenge in the books (my 3rd)! I’m always in awe of the talent I see here in this group. So much inspiration! Here I am showing the 1st page of my sketchbook. I’m proud to say that I drew every day during the challenge. I didn’t get a chance to finish them all so I’ll be around... Thank you, Susan!"
Virginia
"Thanks to Susan Yeates for another excellent sketchbook challenge. Thanks for all the lovely comments it's been great to see everyone's super work."
Weibke
"Many thanks for the inspiring sketchbook challenge! I painted many things for the first time and now I have a lot of courage and desire to try new things!"
Lynn
"I had to get a friend to take this at university today as I couldn’t hold the book open and take a photo. It’s been great seeing all your work (I’m gradually working my way through it all) very inspiring. Hope to see you next year."
"Words cannot express how much I have enjoyed this and how it has made me find time each day for myself and develop the discipline to sketch each day.”
what do our challengers get up to?
examples: day 16
Let me show you what some of our challengers get up to. From complete beginners picking up a pencil for the first time to those practicing their watercolours or even professionals - everyone has a go!
These photos show just a small selection of the different responses to Day 16: Footwear from 2023.
Kate
Continuous line drawing in pencil.
Carolann
"'Footwear' or 'Duck in Boots' think you can tell by my sketches I love sketching animals and try and throw them in with some of the challenges."
Suzanne
"Inspired by other participants continuous line drawings, I thought I'd give it a try. Micron pen, watercolour."
liz
"Our shoe cupboard under the stairs really needs sorting out!"
About your host
Hello, I’m Susan
I am an artist, author and online educator based in Woking in the UK. But most importantly I am your Sketchbook Shallenge host and guide!
I’ve worked as a successful professional artist for over 15 years, authored six art books including Sketchbook Challenge: 100 Prompts for Daily Drawing, spoken at TedX Woking, been featured on HobbyMaker TV, created over 35 online courses, and taught thousands of aspiring artists like you.
I love encouraging others to get creative and welcome you into the annual Sketchbook Challenge event this year!
So what exactly is the Sketchbook Challenge?
Put simply, the 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge is a commitment to draw in your sketchbook for 30 days in a row.
Whether you sketch for 30 seconds, 30 minutes, or several hours, the time spent is entirely up to you. This challenge is perfect for everyone, from complete beginners to professional artists.
Starting with 30 unique daily prompts, you’ll receive fresh inspiration each day to guide your sketches. Plus, to keep you motivated and engaged, there are artist interview Zoom sessions every Monday, weekly tutorials from myself and guest artists, pep talks with me, access to a private Facebook support group, and a few exciting extra bonuses to enhance your experience.
Join us to make daily sketching a joyful and enriching part of your routine!
what do we get up to?
example sketchbook prompts
Here are some examples of prompts that were shared in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Each prompt will also have some helpful notes and explanations to give you a starting point for sketching.
Day 1, 2023
In January 2023, we started the challenge by sketching petals.
Day 2, 2024
In 2024, we looked at ink as our inspiration on day 2.
Day 18, 2022
In January 2022 on day 18 we looked at the things that we wear as our prompt.
Day 23, 2023
On day 23 last year we looked at lakes and rivers.
What we get up to
Meet some more sketchers...
arlene
"Thank you Susan and everyone that made my 30 day challenge so wonderful. I am so happy that I managed to complete it and have been encouraged to continue with a sketchbook habit."
elizabeth
"Thank you for challenge it’s got me hooked."
emily
Emily took photos of her sketchbook every day during the 2023 challenge. Here is a compilation of those photos!
kim
Kim worked in a small sketchbook throughout 2023. Here is Kim and her photo of her day 3: Rainbows sketch.
don't take my word for it
what people are saying
Thousands of people from across the world have taken part in the challenge over the past few years and here are some of their reasons for joining in:
"I just love art and being creative."
"I have wanted to start sketching more regularly and I hope this will help!"
"To make and commit more time to do art and to improve."
"To remind me to draw more."
"To help me start sketching again."
"I love to sketch and find it very therapeutic but life can be so hectic I forget to spend time on the things I love to do."
"Because I’m a full time painter but want to get back into the very good habit of using a sketchbook daily."
"To encourage myself to try drawing."
"Love an arty challenge…"
The 8th annual 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge starts on 01 Jan 2025
The goal of the 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge is to encourage everyone, regardless of background or ability, to open their sketchbooks and start making marks.
It’s a wonderful global community that encourages creativity on a massive scale. Just search for the hashtag #30daysketchbookchallenge on Instagram to see a flavour of what people get up to!
I will help you fill your sketchbook, boost your creativity and find your drawing mojo.
Plant trees with me!
In 2025, one tree is planted for every person that joins the 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge as a one-off event. I am donating to the climate change charity Ecologi to plant trees in a responsible way. Hopefully together as part of the challenge we can make a difference to our planet.
Note: The donation / tree planting happens automatically on sign up.
buy the challenge as a gift
gift vouchers
Know a creative friend or family member who would LOVE this challenge as a gift? We’ve got you covered!
Head over to my online shop and grab a gift voucher for the challenge today.
Once you purchase, I’ll create a special voucher code for your lucky recipient so they can dive into 30 days of sketching fun and inspiration.
It’s the perfect surprise to spark their creativity!
FAQ
pricing and access
The Sketchbook Challenge 2025 is included for free for all Inspire Members in their monthly subscription.
If you wish to join the challenge as a one-off event (which sooo many people do) the pricing is as follows:
Early Bird Price - £20 (25th Nov - 23rd Dec 2024).
Full Price - £25 (from 24th Dec onwards).
Note: These prices are one-off payments and NOT a subscription.
The early bird pricing for the one-off purchase ends at 8pm on 23rd December 2024. After that the price increases to £25 for the one-off plan after that. You can also join Inspire for £25 per month and the challenge is included in your subscription. (This of course also gives you access to all the Inspire membership content too!)
Yes! You can access the learning portal that hosts the videos on a PC or Mac - in fact we recommend viewing the videos on a bigger screen. This is the same portal (Podia) that hosts all of my online courses as well as my sketching membership Inspire - so everything is in one place.
Yes - you can purchas the Sketchbook Challenge as a gift. Just visit my online shop to purchase a gift voucher and we will send you a link for that lucky person to access the challenge using a unique discount code
The Inspire Membership is an online sketching community that I run throughout the year. This wonderful group has been running for over 4 years now and for many it has been the natural progression from the 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge. We work with monthly themes to pace the year out to be sustainable and enjoyable, accompanied by new tutorials each month and a live sketching session. The 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge is included for all Inspire members and makes up the January content of the membership. Find out more here.
Due to feedback from last year's challengers, we have decided to move the challenge back onto my course hosting platform, Podia, instead of on the Sketchbook Challenge app. We had numerous technical problems that meant that this platform was not the most stable for the challenge. All courses and the Inspire membership are hosted on this course platform, so everything is one place!
When I started the very first sketchbook challenge I did so with the intention of always making it free as I am passionate about getting everyone sketching. I therefore always intend to offer a FREE version of the challenge as well as the full version of the challenge hosted via email and my course hosting platform (Podia). To join the free challenge just follow along with the instagram account @30daysketchbookchallenge.
Troubleshooting
The sketchbook challenge 2025 opens for registration on Monday 25th November 2025. As soon as the challenge is live, please register for the challenge on this page to access everything. Once you have purchase the Sketchbook Challenge (either the one-off price or the Inspire subscription) you will start receiving emails from me. Then login using the credentials you used to sign up in the course platform here: https://courses.susanyeates.co.uk/login and everything will be there and waiting for you...
Once you have joined the challenge, you will be able to access the daily prompts both within the course portal itself and an email will be sent to you each day (morning UK time) of the challenge. Please note that the challenge starts on 01 Jan 2025 - so the first prompt will be sent to you then! If you do not receive the emails in the mornings please email learn@susanyeates.co.uk and we can check your subscription.
Other
You can use any materials at all to sketch with each day. Some people will use a single pencil every day throughout the challenge to keep things simple and others mix and match materials depending on what they fancy.
There are no 'rules' as to what materials you use - even an iPad and Apple pencil work!
It can be helpful to use whatever materials you already have for convenience. (Although it is always fun to have an excuse for art materials shopping!)
Absolutely, the sketchbook challenge is open to everyone and a really welcoming place for beginners. It might seem a little intimidating at first, but we are all here to guide you through your first 30 days of sketching (and beyond!) with advice, positive comments, helpful tips and some handy warm-ups and tutorials.
You can contact me via email learn@susanyeates.co.uk with any questions! I will be happy to assist you. Please expect a response within 24-48 hours during weekdays. I do not work weekends. I am unable to respond to DMs on Instagram and Facebook for any queries. Please do email.