When walking into local bookshops and art supply stores, it’s easy to become instantly entranced by the technicolour sketchbooks, journals and notepads on display. After all, keeping a journal on our person at all times helps us to embrace creativity when inspiration strikes, whenever or wherever this may be.
No matter how many pricey leatherbound options we have stacked at home unused, the prospect of adding another prettily bound pad of luxurious paper to our collection is all too enticing.
Yet making thoughtful purchases when it comes to art supplies not only helps to prevent waste, but also elevates your projects. Whatever your level of artistic ability, being mindful of the kind of sketchbook you add to your bustling supply is key to getting the most out of your artwork.
Rather than purchasing gilded notebooks which have been crafted with writers in mind, opt for lay-flat sketchbooks with high-quality, acid-free paper. The difference in texture will be instantly evident, with pencil and ink alike adhering to the paper without running the risk of transfer and bleeding.
Sketchers who prefer to use charcoal would benefit from heavier paper which can withstand vigorous mark-making, erasure and multiple layers of medium. Just be sure to protect your work with a sealant (hairspray is a common, effective solution) to prevent smudging.
If your medium of choice is watercolour, invest in cold-pressed sketchbooks which have been crafted to hold the medium without warping and elevate your sketches with a naturally textured surface. Cold-press paper is highly absorbent and dries quickly while allowing some lifting for adjustment.
Some professional illustrators may prefer watercolour paper without those characteristic grooves, and hot-press paper offers an incredibly smooth, non-textured base which is designed to hold multiple layers of wash as well as additional mediums including pencil and ink. Hot press paper absorbs water less readily, allowing for more lifting and alterations during the painting process.
We’ve curated a selection of the best sketchbooks for use at home and while on the move, no matter your medium of choice. Keep scrolling to stay creative.
Khadi Papers Block Book Sketchbook Rough 13cm x 16cm
Block book sketchbooks are fantastic options for those who tend to use liquid mediums such as paint and ink. This option by Khadi Papers has a characteristic rough surface and has been crafted from acid-free, 100 per cent strong long fibre cotton rag paper.
This not only helps to prevent yellowing and discolouration, but its extra heavy 210gsm finish works with a wide range of mediums. Beautifully stitched and bound, it’s easy to remove pages for framing while keeping the sketchbook intact.
Buy now £10.95, London Graphics Centre
Pith Oroblanco Sketchbook 200gsm 76 Pages 310 X 222mm
Aesthetically pleasing and available in a vast range of colours, Pith Oroblanco’s sketchbook has an impressive 76 pages of 200gsm paper. Sandwiched between two recycled boards, the sketchbook opens 180 degrees and lays completely flat to help artists create brilliant work without worrying about broken book spines and balancing pages.
Oroblanco is a versatile sketchbook which works brilliantly with wet and dry mediums, though the manufacturers suggest using it with pencils, charcoal, acrylic, watercolour and ink. Pith produces similar sketchbooks in a variety of sizes, including a premium landscape option in 155 x 222mm.
Buy now £21.95, Cass Art
Strathmore 400 Drawing Pad - A3 - 163gsm - 24 Sheets
Draughtsmen who prefer using graphite would benefit highly from premium quality Strathmore paper. This acid-free, heavyweight paper may be pricey, but it offers a luxurious surface onto which artists can layer and erase without worrying about rips and tears.
Available in a range of sizes and always with a ring binding for working flat, Strathmore is a staple within the artistic community for a reason.
Buy now £15.95, London Graphics Centre
Croquis Maruman Premium Quality Drawing Pad and Book (SS-01)
Though made in Japan, Croquis by Maruman takes its name from the French word for “sketch”. The term croquis is employed in fashion design when artists make quick sketches of fashion figures.
This brilliant, extra-smooth paper is perfect for artists who typically work with dry mediums including coloured pencils, pastels and charcoal due to its thin nature. Available in sizes both large and small, it’s a great option to keep with you on the move for quick, dry sketching.
Buy now £15.19, Amazon
Artists Watercolor Sketchbook | A5/ A6 / A7 Handmade Art Journal
This breathtaking, handmade watercolour journal would make a brilliant gift for the artist in your life. It’s crafted with recycled cotton rag paper and is suitable for watercolour, inks, gouache and acrylics. Choose between heavyweight 150gsm paper or an even heavier and ultra-luxurious 320gm – the latter being better suited to wet mediums which require multiple layers.
No matter the quality of the paper in question, artwork crafted with wet mediums can warp inside sketchbooks. We love how this option comes with a pretty ribbon for keeping paintings flat and in place.
Buy now £11.00, Etsy
Talens Art Creation Sketchbook 80 Sheets, 12 cm x 12 cm
This miniature, squared sketchbook may not look like much, but it contains a whopping 80 sheets of 150gsm acid-free paper. Ideal for sketching on the move, it can be used with wet and dry mediums alike, but won’t hold multiple layers of the latter.
Buy now £7.00, Amazon
Moleskine Art Plus Sketch Album Pocket 90x140 Black
For those who are concerned about maintaining a cohesive stationery aesthetic, Moleskine also produces dedicated art sketchbooks to match your daily journals and diaries.
This sleek option contains 72 sheets of easily detachable, 120gsm ivory paper. It also has Moleskine’s signature expandable inner pocket for additional notes and pieces of inspiration.
Buy now £8.75, Cult Pens
Alpha Softcover Sketchbook 8X10
This soft-cover, lay-flat sketchbook is made with heavyweight, acid-free archival paper and is designed for multimedia use, including dry mediums, watercolour and ink washes. It contains 46 sheets of white paper with a medium-grain texture for a highly unique finish.
Buy now £24.53, Amazon
Kraft Paper Notebook
Some artists prefer to work with lighter mediums, filling in the highlights of their subjects before going in with the darker shadows. In this case, tanned paper is ideal and these value-for-money, lay-flat kraft paper notebooks offer a brilliant surface for multimedia use.
Buy now £7.42, Etsy
Strathmore Toned Sketch Spiral Paper Pad, Multi-Colour,14 cm X 21.6cm
Another toned sketch option for dry mediums, this high-quality spiral Strathmore pad is ideal for intricate portraiture and landscape work whether working at home or while travelling. It’s acid-free and made from 30 per cent post-consumer fibre, giving the paper that esoteric darker finish.
Buy now £10.70, Amazon
Strathmore Bristol Str-342-9 20 Sheet
Strathmore’s Bristol paper is incredibly popular among charcoal artists for its acid-free, heavyweight and incredibly smooth finish. Each sheet of paper can be opened to lay flat and easily removed while maintaining the structure of the sketchbook.
Buy now £12.22, Amazon
