The Ugly Sketchbook Club
Do you ever…
Open your sketchbook and freeze because you’re scared it won’t look “good enough”?
Start a drawing, then abandon it halfway because it doesn’t match the picture in your head?
Scroll through “perfect” Instagram feeds and feel like your own art isn’t worth sharing?
If so, you’re not alone. Most of us wrestle with perfectionism, and it can quietly steal the joy from creating.
What if instead, you had…
✓ A cosy creative corner where sketchbooks could be messy, silly and unpolished… and still celebrated.
✓ Encouragement that fits your life, whether it’s a quick five-minute doodle or a whole afternoon lost in colour and texture.
✓ A friendly community of Makers who claps for your scribbles and cheers you on as you experiment, explore and grow.
If those sound exactly what you’re looking for, then what if I told you there's an online community where ‘ugliness’ celebrated?
The Ugly Sketchbook Club™ is creative
rebellion in monthly doses.
Here’s what you’ll get:
Exclusive Resources
to inspire your creative play
Sometimes the hardest part is just starting. Having ready-made tools and playful extras means you never sit in front of a blank page wondering what to do. You’ll always have something to spark your next scribble.
Monthly Creative Prompts
to spark ideas and keep you drawing
Consistency is what fills sketchbooks. Prompts give you a gentle nudge to show up, even when you don’t “feel inspired.” And when you show up regularly, the ideas (and confidence) begin to flow more easily.
Behind-the-Scenes Sketchbook Peeks
I’ll share my own messy pages (the ones that never hit Instagram!).
Seeing the real messy middle reminds you that everyone’s art starts somewhere. You’ll realise you’re not “doing it wrong”, you’re doing it like every artist does. It’s a reminder that imperfection is not only normal, it’s essential.
A Supportive Community
where you can share your pages, swap encouragement, and make new creative friends.
Art doesn’t have to be lonely. When you connect with people who get it, you’ll find motivation to keep going, courage to share your work, and joy in celebrating others along the way.
Creativity feels bigger, brighter, and more fun when it’s shared!
Direct access to me
Where you can ask me any questions that you want answering, without paying for a course!
You can pick my brain about what’s holding you back so you can get back to being your fabulous creative self. No paying for a course, or a lock-in contract... just little old me, and wonderful you working through your wobbles, questions and next steps.
Let me help you soar, so we can keep human creativity alive!
Hey there!
I’m Kirsty, the doodler, tea-drinker, and professional scribbler behind For Keeps Illustration.
I grew up obsessed with old books, mid-century patterns, and the kind of illustrations that felt like they belonged in your grandmother’s attic. That love grew into For Keeps Illustration, where I create whimsical designs for modern life.
My artwork may look tidy on Instagram, but trust me… my sketchbooks are full of the gloriously messy stuff I used to hide.
Now I’m letting it all out (literally!) because I believe creativity should be fun, freeing and VERY imperfect. Because behind every “final” piece is a sketchbook full of experiments, scribbles, and playful chaos.
I created The Ugly Sketchbook Club to share that honest process and invite YOU to embrace yours too!
Why Join and why me?
You’re not just signing up for another online course.
This is a community and a place to show up as you are, make art and feel connected.
And the best part? You can leave whenever you want! There are no lock-in contracts, no fine print, no pressure. That’s the joy of Patreon ♡
Why Trust Me?
I’ve spent years teaching, mentoring, and creating spaces where people feel safe to explore their creativity:
✨ Hired by Etchr Lab to guide their global team and lead workshops for artists around the world.
✨ Taught over 400 Officeworks managers in ONE DAY how to create a final piece of work in 5 minutes each!
✨ Facilitated epic corporate team-building workshops for brands who wanted their teams to reconnect through creativity.
✨ Featured in Frankie Magazine and regularly invited to contribute to other creative publications.
✨ Trusted by countless couples, brands, and communities to bring their stories to life through illustration.
I know how to hold space for people who think they’re “not creative enough,” for perfectionists who get stuck, and for artists who just need a refill of confidence.
The Bits You Might
Be Curious About
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Absolutely not! The Ugly Sketchbook Club™ is about enjoying the process, not chasing perfection.
Whether you’re a seasoned illustrator or someone who just doodles in the margins or your corporate forms you’re SO welcome here!
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That’s perfectly fine. Even five minutes with a pencil can spark joy. You can join in as much or as little as your schedule allows, there’s no pressure to “keep up.”
The content that I create is designed to be fun and engaging, and accessible even if you have a budy lifestyle.
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You’ll receive monthly creative prompts, access to exclusive resources and printables, behind-the-scenes peeks at my messy sketchbooks, and of course, connection with a supportive creative community.
Honestly, you get a real deep dive into my life as a creative and all the tips and tricks (and advice) I have to offer!
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Great question! On Instagram, you see my polished, finished work. Inside The Ugly Sketchbook Club, you’ll get to see the messy middle, the experiments, the “not ready for Instagram” pages, plus prompts, resources, and a community space you won’t find anywhere else.
This is an exclusive place I’ve created to help you to soar and live your best version of your creative life xx