Sketchbooks and annotation

A sketchbook is not a book of perfect pictures. It is where you record, experiment, make mistakes and develop ideas.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

What goes in a sketchbook

A sketchbook records your journey as an artist. It can include:
observational drawings and quick sketches;
experiments with media and techniques;
photos you have taken;
artist research pages;
mood boards (collections of images, colours and textures that set a feeling);
design ideas and plans for final pieces.
Unsuccessful experiments are useful too: they show you learned something.

Annotation

Annotation means writing notes about your work and the work of others. Good annotation answers:
What did I do? (media, technique, subject)
How did I do it?
Why? (link to your ideas or an artist)
What next? What worked, what did not, and how could I improve it?
Use art vocabulary (the formal elements) and write in full sentences.

Weak and strong annotation

Weak: 'I like this. It is nice.'
Strong: 'I used a 4B pencil and cross-hatching to build dark tones in the shadow, like the drawings of the artist I researched. The contrast works well, but the highlight needs to be cleaner, so next time I will lift it out with a putty rubber.'
The strong version says what, how and why, and suggests a next step.
Worked example

Improve this annotation: 'My painting is good.'

  1. It does not say what was done, how, or why.
  2. Add the media and technique, and use art words.
  3. Add an evaluation and a next step.

Answer: For example: 'I used watercolour wet-on-wet for the sky so the blues blend softly. The warm orange sun stands out against the cool background. Next time I will let the paper dry before painting the trees so the edges are sharper.'

Key idea

A sketchbook records observations, experiments, research and developing ideas. Good annotation explains what you did, how, why, and what you will do next, using art vocabulary.

Key words
Annotation
Written notes that explain and evaluate artwork: what was done, how, why and what to do next.
Formal elements
The basic parts of art: line, shape, form, tone, texture, pattern and colour.
Cross-hatching
Layers of crossing lines used to build up tone.
Contrast
A strong difference, for example between light and dark, rough and smooth, or complementary colours.
Highlight
The brightest area on an object, where light hits it most directly.

All KS3 Art and Design key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which would you most expect to find in an artist's sketchbook?

    1. Only polished final pieces
    2. Maths homework
    3. A shopping list
    4. Experiments, studies and developing ideas
    Show the answer

    Answer: Experiments, studies and developing ideas

    Sketchbooks record the process.

  2. Which of these is annotation?

    1. A note explaining why you chose certain colours
    2. A painted background
    3. A frame
    4. Your name on the cover only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A note explaining why you chose certain colours

    Annotation explains and evaluates.

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Practise this lesson free (6 questions)All KS3 Art and Design lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.