Here's a full-length Manga Monday Sketch Blog written for the beginner Mangaka — exploring Page 1 of the 8 Pages of Sketchbooking, inspired by Yama (the first limb of yoga). It sets the stage for the creative journey ahead and makes clear what you are being invited to do, not just think. It weaves in your broader framework (Manga, How-To, WIP mindset, 3D/figure use) while guiding them into meaningful action.

Please comment whether you would prefer to see accompanying graphics or examples with this part or not. I purposely left them out so as not to contaminate your first step with MY imagination so that you would have the best chances of looking into your OWN personal journey for this step.

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Welcome to a new week and the first page of your sketchbook—a blank space full of possibility.

If you're like many beginner manga artists, your head might be brimming with character ideas, storylines, cool poses, or flashy attack scenes. You want to learn how to draw better, what to study next, and maybe even when to call something "done." But before we get tangled in tools or techniques, we pause here, on Page 1, because this is where the real work of an artist begins.

Before any pencil hits the page, Page 1 is where you ask yourself one powerful question:

Why do I draw?

This may sound philosophical (and it is), but it's also highly practical. In fact, the answer to that question is going to steer the direction of every page, panel, and project that follows—especially in manga creation, where style, story, and emotionmust all line up like gears in a machine.

🧘‍♂️ Yama: The Foundation of the Artistic Journey

In the yogic tradition, the first step is Yama—ethical guidelines for how we engage with the world around us. Applied to drawing, this becomes your creative grounding. Your sketchbook is not just a practice pad—it's your temple, your dojo, your secret lab.

So what does this mean for the beginning manga artist?

It means Page 1 is where you clarify:

• What kind of manga you want to create

• What values your characters will express

• What energy you want to invite into your creative routine

• How you treat yourself during the process (with kindness or criticism?)

✨ Action Prompt: Write Your Manga Manifesto

Yes—write. Not draw.

Page 1 should include your Artist's Manifesto, written in your own words. This is not meant to be pretty. It’s not for Instagram. This is just for you.

Here are some starter questions:

• Why do I want to create manga?

• What themes or emotions do I feel drawn to?

• What kind of stories do I want to tell (and why)?

• What kinds of characters do I admire or want to invent?

• What do I hope to learn or become by the end of this sketchbook?

Write freely. Bullet points, mind maps, short sentences—anything. The goal is clarity, not grammar.

Think of this page like planting a seed. You won't see the flower today—but you will return to this root idea over and over when you feel lost or discouraged.

🌀 Beginner to Beginner: Let Go of Perfection on Page 1

Here’s something artists don’t say often enough:

Your sketchbook is not a gallery. It’s a growth space.

You’re not here to impress anyone with Page 1. You're here to meet yourself, honestly, as an artist just beginning the journey.

In yoga, Ahimsa—non-violence—is the first ethical Yama. For us, this means not judging ourselves too harshly. Don’t rip out the page. Don’t redraw the title five times. Just let your truth land.

Want to doodle around your writing? Add a messy character sketch? Go for it. That’s part of this page’s power. The art begins when you’re free to be imperfect.

🛠️ Practical Manga Context: How This Helps with WIP and Advanced Tools

Let’s be real—you’re probably already looking ahead.

You want to use 3D modeling tools, maybe apps like Design Doll, Clip Studio Paint's Pose Tool, or real-life figurative references. You might already have pages of manga in progress and dozens of unfinished ideas.

That’s okay. Page 1 isn’t a detour—it’s the foundation for managing all of that.

When you return to your manifesto, it helps you:

• Choose which Work In Progress (WIP) deserves your energy today

• Decide when to pause or abandon a piece that doesn’t serve your bigger goals

• Know when using 3D or life reference is adding clarity vs. adding clutter

• Stay focused in your learning path (not every tutorial is meant for you right now)

Without this anchor, even a talented artist can drift into burnout or creative paralysis.

🔁 Sketching as a Weekly Practice

Here’s a suggestion: every Monday, revisit Page 1.

You might want to add a new sentence. A quote that inspires you. A new goal. Or a gentle reminder, like:

"I’m drawing because I believe my story matters."

You could even tape a sticky note on Page 1 with your weekly focus, like:

• “This week, I’ll explore character facial expressions.”

• “This week, I’ll try using 3D poses for foreshortening.”

👣 Closing Thought: The First Step Is the Deepest

Every manga you love started with someone doodling on Page 1.

They probably didn’t know where the story would go. Maybe they were unsure of their abilities. But they knew enough to begin.

Let this be the week you begin—not just drawing manga, but becoming the kind of artist who draws with intention.

Let Page 1 be your home base.

The rest will follow.