When I first got a landscape-format sketchbook, I was a little puzzled. I was so used to working in portrait orientation that I didn’t know where to begin. The wide format felt awkward at first, and I kept turning it sideways out of habit. But after some exploration, I found several ways to embrace it — and now it’s one of my favorite formats to play with. If you’re just starting out or feeling stuck, here are five ideas to help you use your landscape sketchbook creatively.
Btw, if you missed my last post about San Diego sketch trip you can find it here.
Sketch a Landscape (It’s in the Name!)
The most obvious and intuitive use of a landscape sketchbook is… sketching a landscape! The horizontal layout is perfect for capturing wide views of nature. In the sketch I made on site with watercolor pencils, I focused on the hills and lake with some tall grass and wildflowers in the foreground. It helped me feel the natural flow of the format and filled the page beautifully.
Rooftops and Urban Skylines
Rooftops make a great subject in a landscape book. They naturally stretch across the page and invite you to scan from one side to the other. I made this rooftop sketch on location using watercolor and pen, and I found it worked perfectly to showcase the sloped lines, chimneys, and tree silhouettes. It’s a great way to practice composition and perspective while staying loose.
Highlight a Scene, Not the Whole View
Instead of trying to capture an entire street or building, focus on the parts that stand out to you. In this sketch, I zeroed in on the umbrellas and bright blue awnings. The building and street became background elements, while the bold shapes took the spotlight. This approach keeps things simple, dynamic, and lets the landscape layout breathe. Here I also used watercolor pencils. You can see my set here.
Quick Sketches in the Park or on the Go
Not every page has to be a masterpiece. Sometimes, quick sketches are the most freeing way to use a wide format. I painted this gazebo and trees with watercolor during a casual walk in the park. The landscape orientation allowed me to loosely spread out the shapes and play with light and composition — all in a few minutes.
Just Flip It — Use It as Portrait
Still feeling stuck? Just turn the sketchbook and use it as a portrait format. There are no rules that say you must keep it horizontal. I did just that in this vibrant sketch using Ecoline liquid watercolors. I sketched a blue house with magenta flowers here — I got kind of abstract. It felt natural and energizing — and reminded me that tools should adapt to your creativity, not limit it.
A landscape sketchbook might feel intimidating at first if you’re used to vertical layouts. But once you start exploring what it can offer — from sweeping views to quick street scenes — it becomes a versatile and inspiring companion. Whether you’re sketching wide or flipping it vertical, the key is to let your ideas flow across the page. Don’t fight the format — play with it.
