IAN DAVID MARSDEN — PROFESSIONAL SKETCHBOOK & CONCEPTUAL ILLUSTRATION PRACTICE

Exploratory sketches, character concepts, visual problem-solving, and spontaneous ideas from the sketchbooks of illustrator and designer Ian David Marsden. A candid look at how hand-drawn ideas evolve into professional visual storytelling.

Case File: Sketchbook Exploration & Concept Development

This page is part of the curated Marsden Creative Case Files — a portfolio series documenting the thought process, craft, and versatility behind my professional illustration and visual storytelling projects. This section offers a behind-the-scenes look at how spontaneous sketching and daily drawing practice continue to inform and enrich my commissioned work.

Visual Thinking in Motion: Inside My Sketchbook

As a seasoned illustrator, cartoonist, and visual designer, sketching remains an essential part of my workflow. Whether I’m on a plane, in a meeting, or simply in a quiet moment with coffee, the sketchbook is never far from reach. It serves as a space for reflection, problem-solving, and creative exploration — a testing ground for new characters, layouts, narrative angles, or visual humor.

In these pages, you’ll find a mix of traditional pencil and ink studies alongside digital sketches created using my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. Some of these concepts evolve into polished illustrations for print, animation, or packaging. Others remain as they are — loose, gestural ideas that capture a moment or spark a future direction.

Doodling also plays a critical role in overcoming creative roadblocks. Many of my most successful client solutions began as casual sketchbook riffs, developed with no agenda other than curiosity. This open-ended process is often where the strongest visual narratives emerge.

Hand drawing cozy interior ink illustration with sleeping cat, window, and table items.

Artist's workspace with watercolors, palette, and cozy interior illustration of chair by fireplace.

Whimsical illustration of animals with cheeses labeled in playful French names.

Artist sketching quirky character photographing a big-eyed bird on a rock.

Pen and ink drawing of a head with abstract floral and bird designs emerging from it.

Hand drawing a dog in a suit with a teacup on its head, sitting at a table.

Statue taking selfie in a fountain with classical arches in the background.

rocket, gear, fish, wine, cheese, motel.

Sketchbook on metal table with drawing, pen, coffee cup, and pastry on tray.

Satirical drawing of a head as mechanical parts labeled with personality traits and issues.

Hand drawing realistic ink sketches of a man and woman on paper.

Bearded man with hat-nose compass in mountains, speech bubble shows uncertainty.

Artist's desk with Ecoline inks, brush, white paint, palette, and snowy dog walking painting.

Humanoid figure with dog's head in robe holding staff, cat beside, clouds and landscape background.

Witch with stars, speech bubble says "I put a spell on you!", cat nearby, green pen below.

Cartoon lizard with backpack hiking uphill near smoking volcano and palm tree, "HIKE" above.

Hand drawing cartoon of person walking a rubber duck on leash in rain, pen visible.

Sketch of Lowly Worm in a green hat, red bowtie, blue shirt, and one boot, with black marker.

Cartoon of soldier with ink cartridges forming rifle, ink splatters depict firing action.

Hand draws bird-headed figure on book about Franz Kafka's works with German text and credits.

IKEA manual illustration of creature driving in a drawer labeled ALEX, with pen on top.

Hand drawing on IKEA manual with cartoon character in MIKAEL cabinet.

Red polka dot cup and elephant drawing on desk with keyboard and office supplies in background.

Hand holding cartoon sheet above desk with coffee mug, keyboard, and computer screen.

Statue of armored figure with weapon on street corner, depicted in photo and detailed drawing.

Hand drawing a surprised rabbit creature with candy cane body; orange highlighter on paper.

Cartoon dog in robe drying fur with hairdryer, exclaiming "Aaahhh!" and "Wheeee!" Nearby pen.

Hand drawing a sketch of an alien creature emerging from an egg, with notes around it.

Ink sketches of patterns, figure, cityscape, clouds with ink bottle and pen on paper.

Illustrated storefront with "The Fuzzy Pint" sign, whimsical decor, tree, and Cornelia St. signs.

Person drawing a medieval knight in a sketchbook on a wooden table with snacks and pen cap nearby.

Cartoon dog in hat playing guitar next to a potted sunflower with "You Are My Sunshine."

Clown with sad expression and raised arm, "What Next?" in bold, colorful letters in background.

Illustration of a sleeping bear in heart pajamas on a computer keyboard.

Cartoon rabbit astronaut on moon by NASA spacecraft, touching ladder to open hatch.

Staedtler pens with drawings of animals at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mm line widths.

Sketch of a man bust with cheese hat, credits inventor Alphonse Lamertume, 1867, Musée d'Orsay.

Ink sketches on paper with a cup, lighthouse, reading person, "The Magician" card, ink bottle, pen.

Cartoon dog holds a birthday bone with hearts, bow, and question marks overhead.

Man in suit watering tree from ladder, dog watching; pen and eraser beside drawing.

Surprised person stares at a jack-in-the-box with a clown holding a hammer, "SHBOING!" above.

Handwriting lines about not drawing on Facebook wall with small creature holding a pencil, 2015.

Line drawing of a man with large mustache, signed on paper with pen in corner.

Notebook open on table with two ink sketches, a pen, and a cup on a saucer nearby.

Cartoon sketch of a person at a desk with glasses and suit next to complex machinery and coffee.

Hand drawing character with mustache, goggles, riding bird with skis on paper.

Man in jester hat with demanding cat on pedestal, candle nearby, humorously referencing "Illu-meow-ti".

Cartoon creature with pink umbrella, speech bubble "READY!!", pen, orange highlighter, coffee.

Person sculpting a large wolf's head, garden visible through open door, dog lying on pillow below

Woman with briefcase and lollipop stands by man in fedora; cityscape background with "CLICK!".

Black and white drawing with creature, human figure, ink bottle and brush.

Cartoon bird-like creature with long beak, feathers, branch, speech bubble saying "SQUAWK!"

Child gazes at starry night through window, holding paintbrush over colorful paper.

Small animal with hat and scarf touches a bear-shaped snowman in snowy scene with pine trees.

Cartoon sheriff with drink, fireworks, and text "Happy 4th of July" and "There! I heard it again!!".

Humorous stamp of a man with a mustache, glasses, and fake nose; commemorates leaving work early.

Cartoon of a person with glasses, sash reading "La Ministre," celebrating 60th anniversary.

Comic illustration of surprised person with glasses, seated, large content cat on lap, text "Scratchy".

Sketch of two figures and book titled "Guide de la Provence Mystérieuse" with an eraser nearby.

Hand illustrating two figures with a paintbrush near an open ink bottle on paper.

Hand drawing a detailed doodle with TV face, plants, swirls, and abstract shapes on paper.

Man with beard in armchair, cat on lap, decorative vase on mantle, framed picture on wall.

Cartoon dog and cat as cowboys at saloon, with sheriff badge and holster in wooden frame.

Illustration of a cowboy dog and cat with holsters, near saloon doors; ink bottle in foreground.

Cat and dog as sheriff and deputy in front of saloon, artist details with ink and watercolor.

Green lion eating a sun above a castle with symbols like snow globe and rocket around border.

Artist paints in studio while a nude figure walks away with a bottle, nightscape in background.

Hand holding brush completes illustration of person with monocle near tree and mushrooms.

Cartoon of person writing with large pen, flock of birds overhead, ink bottle on desk.

Illustration of a person facing a snarling creature with long teeth and claws, pen placed nearby.

Person pouring tea into teacup, text reads "A lovely cup of tea," pen with "uni pin" shown.

Man in suit reads newspaper with hat of flowers, glass of wine, "l'Artiste" above.

Cartoon girl in serpent-like chair illustration, with Staedtler pens alongside drawing tools.

Drawing of a man's head split open revealing mechanical insides, with ink and brushes nearby.

Stylized figure in a suit with a bisected head, revealing a mechanical puppet inside.

Cartoon of a yellow sponge character at a restaurant table with a champagne glass, 25th birthday.

Black and white drawing of two guitarists and a cat drummer with musical sound effects.

Ink drawing of a whimsical character with ornate hat, long beard, holding a large flower.

Cowboy drawing holding a pen like a gun titled "Quick on the Draw," featured on Wall of Fame.

Hand with pen above sketchbook showing detailed drawing of a person writing amid floating papers.

Pen drawing on graph paper of an adventurer with flashlight near ancient carved statue.

Smiling creature with a figure on its head, and a man with a pipe; pen beside the drawing.

Person at desk drawing, imagining a castle, crescent moon, clouds, and large floating bottle.

Surreal illustration of a split head with mechanical interior and small figure in a top hat, by Ian Marsden.

If you’re interested in how a spontaneous line becomes a branded character, or how observational drawing evolves into editorial commentary or product artwork, I invite you to explore more of my work in the full case study archive.

For inquiries about commissions, collaborations, or licensing, you are welcome to get in touch at any time.

Download PDF Portfolio

You can also follow current sketches and studio insights via my Instagram channel.

Ian David Marsden
www.marsdenillustration.com

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For a partial client list and testimonials, please visit my biography page.