The Sketchbook Intensive is an undergraduate Illustration elective that investigates the myriad ways in which a sketchbook practice informs and influences the artistic process. Through material exploration, observational drawing, writing and conceptual challenges, students build an illustrative approach to sketchbook-keeping.⁠ Facing the Blank Page features works from the second project for this class, where students used a sketchbook with black pages for a month. Black paper tends to eat up most things you throw at it, making it difficult to get away with simple linework when the emptiness of the page is palpable. The challenge of facing a black background to draw on, and making creative choices to overcome the paper’s limitations, led to some intriguing and surprising results.⁠ From April 18 - May 13, 2022, the Decker Library will host a new display of sketchbooks from IL 313 Sketchbook Intensive, taught by Priyanka Kumar.⁠