Drawing Right to Left in Sketchbooks

[ToxicRamen]

I'm left-handed though I draw left to right in my sketchbooks but I wonder if there's any left-handed artists here who draw right to left in their sketchbooks? I was thinking about starting to draw right to left in my sketchbooks but I'm so used to draw left to right.

[ArhyaM]

I do exactly the same because I'm left handed too!

During college (I studied design) it drove my teachers crazy until they realised what was going on when checking my sketchbooks. But in the end, they loved it and made sense to them haha Some said it was genius and it became some kind of personal signature.

In practical terms, my hand is cleaner than before and it's quite nice not seeing it full of graphite. It didn't take much time getting used to it because it feels more natural than writing pages right to left.

So, I think that if you already started doing this, I'm sure you will totally get used to draw like this soon; but in the end the decision is totally yours!

PS: It's been years since I do this and now it feels weird to start a sketchbook the "usual way".

[inkycharland]

I flip my spiral bound sketchbooks and draw from the back. Is that what you mean?

[ToxicRamen]

Yeah that's what I mean. Drawing in the sketchbook backwards, from the back to the front.

[inkycharland]

Cool. Yep. I've been doing that for years. I would think there are enough left-handed artists, they would make more sketchbooks lefty friendly.

[ToxicRamen]

I believe there are left handed sketchbooks, it's just it's very rare to find them in art supplies stores. I recalled buying a Strathmore Left-handed sketchbook at Micheal's years ago but I haven't seen anymore recently.

[arleedraws]

I start my sketchbooks with the book flipped backwards right to left already, and yes I draw right to left as a leftie:grin:

and to fight pencil smudging i usually draw with a paper underneath my hand just in case... but that's one of the reasons i like to doodle in pen and marker now.

[inkycharland]

Sure they make left-handed ones, but never "my" sketchbooks. I think every style/version should come with that option. lol. I'm sure that's a fantasy, but one can dream. As far as changing your approach, give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't like it and you switch back

Speaking of sketchbooks, I recently fell in love with bee paper and recommend it to anyone looking to try a new kind of sketchbook.

[noahenholm]

By the way, discussing sketchbooks, Arteza art sketchbook is also a great choice. It's an 8.25 x 8.25-inch sketchbook that'll fit in your tote or pocket bag. It has a small size and will come in useful wherever you go. Really like it.

[lizardlullabye]

Just adding much later. I'm right-handed, but I flip the sketchbook upside-down and on the side so I'm not resting my drawing hand on the spiral or bound.

upside-down:

on the side:

[maria_tanish]

Though I'm not a left-handed artist, but I've seen my friends to draw left to right. And some of them even used special sketchbooks for them. I've seen using them Lefty's Left-Handed Sketchbooks. So, you can also try it, if you are thinking of switching to left to right. Good Luck!