Art Book Review - Mindful Sketching: How to Develop a Drawing Practice and Embrace the Art of Imperfection by Peggy Dean

Oof, it's been a while since my last blog post. Somehow, with all the things that I have on my to-do list, blog posts are one of the last to get completed. But we'll see if I can start being more consistent with these. Anyway, on to the post!

I've been making a real effort this year to consume less and use what I already have. But let's be real—I have a couple of major weaknesses: art books and art supplies. One of my goals this year is to work through my art books, take what I find useful, and then pass them along instead of letting them collect dust on my shelves.

Mindful Sketching book - Perfect for a cozy afternoon on the couch or an anxiety-provoking plane ride.

So, for my first book review, I chose Mindful Sketching: How to Develop a Drawing Practice and Embrace the Art of Imperfection (2022) by artist Peggy Dean. This book grabbed my attention for two big reasons. First, I already knew of Peggy Dean from a tutorial I did during COVID called Inked Forest Illustrations—a kit I bought from The Crafter’s Box. That tutorial sent me down a long (and meditative) road of painting trees, obsessing

over textures and dimensions, all while developing my very beginner-level watercolor skills. That piece remains one of my favorites to this day.

Second, I’m always drawn to books about the connection between art and mental health, especially since I’ve been learning more and more about the field of neuroaesthetics. Mindfulness and sketching? Sign me up!

I ended up taking Mindful Sketching on a plane with me this past month. I am always looking for something light to read on the plane, both to help quell my anxiety and to pass the long hours. This book was perfect for this purpose as I enjoyed working through some of the exercises in my sketchbook.

What I Love About This Book

Peggy makes a strong case for why sketching and drawing are good for our mental health, which is something psychology research is continuing to back up. Art education has spent years trying to justify its importance, but at the end of the day, one of the best reasons to create art is simple—it’s good for our brains.

One of the biggest mental blocks people have with art is the obsession with perfection. We all want to be good at things, even if it’s our first attempt. But we tend to forget that art is a skill—it takes practice, just like anything else. There’s this widespread myth that artists are just born with talent, when in reality, it's all about persistence and growth.

Peggy reminds us that perfection is not the goal—there’s real beauty in imperfection.

She also explores how observing the world around us can reduce anxiety and pull us into a flow state. I really resonate with her take on observation. While she focuses more on urban sketching, I personally lean toward nature. But the effect is the same—whether you’re sketching a busy city street or a quiet forest, it’s all about tuning in and letting go.

Who This Book is For

One of the exercises in the Mindful Sketching book - drawing a one-point perspective. As you can see, mine is very imperfect!

Packed with inspiring quotes, examples, and fun exercises, this book is a great fit for beginners in the drawing world. If you're particularly interested in urban or architectural sketching, you’ll find a lot to love here—she breaks down one-point and two-point perspective, introduces different mark-making techniques, and covers other fundamental drawing skills, all while reinforcing that perfection is not the point.

The big takeaway? Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence and counting your breaths. Focused observation and sketching can be just as meditative, and this book is a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to tap into that.

Final Thoughts

I’d recommend this book mainly for beginners who want to dive into sketching, especially those drawn to urban or architectural scenes. More experienced artists might find it a bit basic, but even they might pick up some useful insights about art and mental health.

If you're looking for a way to slow down, get present, and embrace imperfection, this book is definitely worth a read.