Hello and welcome to the Sketchbug! A newsletter/blog that will update biweekly / monthly

My name is Julie Benbassat and I’m an illustrator, painter, avid sketchbook/ sketch scrap user, and passionate soup lover based in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2019, I have worked for a variety of clients in editorial, publishing, games and animation.

This space will feature a variety of things that make up my studio practice, including:

• Sketchbook scans

• Behind the scenes photos and drawings

• Upcoming projects

• Comics

• Answering your questions

• Inspirations & reference resources

• Things that spark joy

• And more

Subscribe for free to get access to all of these resources while also helping support my work. Paid subscribers will have additional access to process videos, in depth notes on works in progress and notifications on merch drops before the general public.

Thank you for checking out this page! Feel free to comment, share with a friend, or invite the feeling of the Sketchbug in your life to create something for yourself.

BONUS INFO:

Curious about upcoming and current books?
Check them with at these links!

Untitled (Winter 2026)
Tove Grows a Tree (Fall 2025) written by Larissa Theule
There’s That Sun Again (Fall 2024) written by MK Smith Despres
The Book From Far Away (Fall 2023)  written by Bruce Handy 
The Screaming Hairy Armadillo (2020) written by Matthew & Steve Murrie
You be You! (2019) written by Jonathan Branfman
The Merms of May (2019) personal zine

Want to buy some cute reverse mermaid stickers?
Buy them HERE