In a world flooded with images—from Instagram reels to visual resumes to design school portfolios—drawing has taken on a whole new meaning. It’s no longer just about artistic talent. It's about thinking, storytelling, and connecting ideas through visuals.
Yet many of us were taught the same thing: good drawing means making something look real. So we traced apples, shaded spheres, and tried to stay inside the lines—only to end up stuck, unsure how to express what truly lives in our minds.
But what if drawing could be wild, messy, and even a little rebellious?
🧠 Visual Thinking: A New Literacy for the Creative Age
From UX designers sketching wireframes to therapists using image journals with children, visual thinking is rapidly becoming an essential 21st-century skill.
A recent study from the University of Toronto found that students trained in non-traditional sketching methods—like blind contour drawing or diagram-based thinking—showed stronger ideation and communication skills than peers trained in realism alone.
Sketching isn't just for artists anymore. It's a tool used in:
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Design thinking & prototyping
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Animation storyboarding
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Product ideation
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Personal development & journaling
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Creative therapy and mindfulness
💡 You Don’t Need to Be “Good at Drawing”
Here are five real-world ways people use sketching daily—without an art degree:
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✅ Teachers draw quick diagrams to explain abstract concepts
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✅ Founders map startup ideas and product flows visually
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✅ Teens use visual journaling to express emotions
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✅ Designers brainstorm UX layouts in pencil
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✅ Parents illustrate routines or goals with kids
In all these cases, clarity > polish. The goal isn’t perfect perspective—it’s thinking through drawing.
🎨 Creative Sketching: A New Approach to Art Education
While traditional art classes teach realism and technique, a growing number of educators are turning to creative sketching—an approach focused on experimentation, expression, and visual problem-solving.
Some examples of creative sketching exercises include:
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Drawing with leaves or toothbrushes
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Mapping dreams with image-based charts
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Turning ink stains into abstract stories
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Using sticky notes to build visual narratives
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Deconstructing alphabets to express identity
📍 Case Study: Sketch Lab in Toronto
One of the few programs in Canada built around this philosophy is Sketch Lab, run by LoveFunART in North York. Designed for teens, creative adults, and design students, Sketch Lab helps people reclaim their imagination through visual play.
“After years of drawing what others told me to, this class finally let me draw for myself.”
— Michelle, 17, art portfolio student
Instead of copying objects, students in Sketch Lab:
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Build dream maps and visual resumes
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Turn smudges into storytelling moments
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Create illustrated guides or identity diagrams
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Practice outdoor observational sketching
No prior experience is required. Just curiosity.
✏️ What Happens in a Creative Sketching Class?
Sketch Lab includes 10 sessions across 5 weekly classes (2.5 hrs each). Every session explores a different theme in visual creativity.
Highlights include:
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Blind Contour & Experimental Sketching
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Collage with Mixed Materials & Layering Techniques
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Drawing with Unconventional Tools (e.g. toothbrushes, tape)
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Visualizing Ideas: Dream Maps & Illustrated Instructions
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Outdoor Sketching & Observational Thinking
👀 Real Moments from Class
Here’s a glimpse into what Sketch Lab looks like in action:
📦 Materials You’ll Need
One of the best things about creative sketching?
There’s no single “right” tool—just what helps you think and explore.
Here are some recommended materials for Sketch Lab:
🖊️ Essentials:
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Paper (any size or texture—variety encouraged!)
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Black gel pen
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Black ink
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Scissors
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Glue stick
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Colored pens or markers
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Acrylic paint (set of 24 colors or more)
🎒 Optional but welcome:
Bring any materials you love to work with—watercolors, chalk, pastels, crayons, washi tape, calligraphy pens… you name it. The more playful, the better!
Sketch Lab is a space to experiment—so unusual tools and unexpected mediums are part of the fun.
🖼️ Student Gallery: Creativity in Action
These aren’t polished portfolio pieces. They’re honest, imaginative sketches that tell stories only the artist could create:
✨ Creativity Is a Lifelong Skill—Not Just for School
Whether you're preparing a portfolio, designing products, or just trying to reconnect with your imagination, creative sketching offers a path forward.
It helps you:
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Think through ideas
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Tell visual stories
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Express emotion
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Communicate with clarity
And maybe most importantly: it brings joy back into the creative process.
🎒 Curious to Sketch Differently?
If you’re in Toronto and looking for a welcoming place to explore visual creativity—whether for your portfolio, personal growth, or pure fun—Sketch Lab offers just that.
📍 Location: 5635 Yonge St, Unit 202, North York, ON
🕒 Schedule: 5 weekly sessions × 2.5 hrs (weekends)
💰 Fee: $599 + HST
To register for the creative sketch course:
l Online: Visit www.lovefunart.ca and select the corresponding course. Payment can be made by credit/debit cards.
l E-Transfer: Send to LoveFunART01@gmail.com with the security answer “1234” or “123456”. In the message, include your full name, preferred class time, and email. Don’t forget to add 13% HST (Ontario tax).
Whether you're a teen building an art portfolio, an adult rediscovering creative joy, or a designer looking to think visually—creative sketching classes in Toronto like Sketch Lab are changing how we learn to draw, think, and express.