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The Sketchbook Project

June 17, 2016 to October 29, 2016

The Sketchbook Project is an opportunity for students to participate in daily drawing, inspire confidence in drawing skills and learn ways to talk about art. Students from Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary, Queen Mary Elementary and General Wolfe Elementary in Vancouver participated in this year's Sketchbook Project. This project is a joint venture between ArtStarts, the University of British Columbia (Community Field Experience Teacher Candidates) and the Vancouver School Board (Peggy Bochun, District Fine Arts Coordinator and Phyllis Schwartz, Artist in Residence).

"Daily drawing is critical to helping students acquire literacy skills," says Peggy Bochun. She credits UBC Professor Emeritus Bob Steele for decades of work inspiring art teachers and students about the long-term benefits of drawing projects. Steele says that the importance of drawing at an early age cannot be underestimated. The Sketchbook Project extends the research of Bob Steele, who continues to promote the importance of daily drawing and links it profoundly to the development of literacy skills. "When drawing is nurtured," says Steele, "the benefits flow: intellectual development, mental health, mental healing, more effective learning, empathy for others and bonding with caring adults."

Read more about The Sketchbook Project on the Vancouver School Board website.

The Sketchbook Project

Exhibition Photos

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All Exhibitions

Visitor Comments

  • "The highlight was getting to learn about how to draw, which made me happy and excited for each day we had drawing class. I learned that even without a pencil you can still create art with nature objects."
  • "The highlight of this project is when I started drawing I thought I was bad but I surprised myself and did some awesome work."
  • "My favourite drawing was when we had to listen to sounds and then draw them."
  • "The highlight of this project was when we get to use real professional pencils. I felt like a real artist! I hope I get to do it again soon!"
  • "The highlight was teaching us how to draw better and get inspired in nature."
  • "I like learning the new awesome ways to draw stuff with nature. I enjoyed using natural objects to make cool pictures. I sure do wish I can do this whole program again!"
  • "The highlight of the project was the Leaf Rubbing Project because it was really fun blending colours."
  • "The highlight of this project was when I free-handed drew and it wasn’t half bad. Usually, I’m horrible at drawing without a reference."
  • "This project was very fun, and it helped me draw better. I liked when we got nature objects and turned them into something."
  • "The highlights of this project were: to improve all of us sketching; to let us see the beauty in sketching; to let us hear and feel things outside and then sketch it."
  • "The highlight of this project was sitting in a tree drawing a tree."