Artists have been using sketchbooks for centuries asintegral tools in the creative process, especially during thepreparatory stages leading to the creation of great works ofart. Serving as portable companions, they accompany artistson their physical and mental journeys, offering intimateglimpses into their sources of inspiration.The Artist's Sketchbook explores the significance ofsketching across different eras and movements. It offersinsights into changes in style and technique, exploringmaterials such as watercolour and pen and ink, and featuresexquisite examples of drawings from life and the imagination,material experimentation and planning for larger works.Selected from the Victoria and Albert Museum's extensivecollection, the sketchbooks range from historic tocontemporary examples, including works by Leonardo daVinci, Angelica Kauffman, George Romney, John Constable,Beatrix Potter, E. H. Shepard, Paul Nash, Shahed Saleem andJulie Verhoeven. Lesser-known artists, especially women,for whom sketchbooks provided a creative outlet, are alsohighlighted. Drawn from Britain, Europe and beyond, thewide-ranging selection of sketches blurs the boundariesbetween art and journal.Written by a group of expert curators and accompaniedby detailed photography, this beautifully designed bookwill appeal to anyone interested in the art-making process,especially those for whom sketching is an important aspectof their own artistic practice.