A sketchbook is an essential tool whatever your level, as they are the most common surface for drawing on paper. Sketchbooks are great for practicing, planning, and sketching your creations.
Sketchbooks are an artist’s best friend. These notebooks are the perfect place to empty all your thoughts and express them through paintings, drawings, and writing. Artists often fill their notebooks with their sketches, and some are so well done that the book almost looks like a pocket gallery. However, sketchbooks don’t have to be synonymous with beauty and perfection. These notebooks are private places where you can record your doodles, ideas, and observations without the pressure of having to share them with the world. If that’s what you want, that’s fine — but don’t forget that, first and foremost, your sketchbook is a space just for you.
So how can you choose the perfect sketchbook? Well, there are a couple of things you have to take into account.
Picking the perfect sketchbook depends on your preferences
There are some considerations to keep in mind before purchasing a sketchbook.
The size in which you usually work. If you draw a lot, you will naturally prefer to make your sketches at a certain scale. Maybe you only draw in the corners, or you may prefer to fill the entire page. Maybe you are somewhere in between. Be that as it may, keep that in mind when choosing a notebook. If you like to draw big make sure you choose a good size. For miniature drawings, you can choose to use something smaller.
Where are you going to use this notebook? Another aspect to consider is where you plan to draw. Size doesn’t matter much for sketching at home, since you’re not going to take it anywhere. However, if you plan to travel with it, it may be a good idea to choose one that will fit in your backpack.
What means are you going to use? It is important to decide what media to use to draw in your notebook, as you need different types of paper for different types of art. If you draw with a pencil, either graphite or colored, a thin paper with a low weight of 60 GSM works perfectly. For media like watercolors, gouache, and markers, it’s best to use thicker paper that can withstand the heavy saturation of materials.
The top 7 best drawing and mixed media sketchbooks for beginners and professional artists
There are plenty of sketchbooks on the market that come in a wide variety of bindings and covers. The classic spiral-bound models allow you to draw on a completely flat surface. Another style of binding is the perfect or rustic stitched, which results in a notebook that looks like a conventional book. When it comes to covers, you can opt for softcover sketch pads, which are usually cheaper, or you can spend a little more on a hardcover that offers greater durability.
Before you start drawing, take a look at our list of the best sketchbooks below.
Moleskine Art Sketchbook
Several notebooks mimic Moleskine, but I have not yet found any that are of the same quality. The price difference with the imitators is minimal and the quality differences are obvious. Moleskine notebooks have certain characteristics that make them stand out from the rest.
The Moleskine Art Plus Large Sketchbook is made with high-quality heavy paper and is perfect for drawing, sketching, and tempera on top. Each Moleskine product is thread-bound and has a cardboard cover with rounded corners, acid-free paper, a bookmark, an elastic closure, and an expandable internal pocket that contains the Moleskine story.
If you want a notebook for sketches or to make a kind of work journal, I recommend this model. The sheets are 199 grams, so in addition to using a drafting pencil or drawing pen, you can use other media without fear of damage or curling.
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Arteza Sketchbooks for Drawing
I recently discovered this sketchbook and it is becoming my new favorite. It has hard and resistant covers with a material that imitates leather; which gives it a very professional look. It comes in an A4 format, which is the perfect size for me.
The sheets are of heavy GSM, the reason why they admit the use of humid means like the watercolor (until a certain point); but at the same time, they are fine-grained and have virtually no texture.
In addition, it brings 110 sheets in total, more than other similarly priced notebooks. Without a doubt, the quality-price ratio of this pad is amazing.
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Canson Mix Media Sketchbooks
If you are looking for a pad that is good for drawing, but that withstands other types of techniques, this is the best option in terms of quality and price.
This Canson pad has high-quality sheets, 200 grams thick and acid-free, which allows them to be preserved over time without changing color or turning yellow.
As for its surface, it has a bit of texture, but it is not as marked as some handmade watercolor papers. It is quite subtle and will not disturb you when drawing.
The color of the paper is pure white, without any hue, which in my opinion, makes it ideal for painting with Indian ink. But it is designed to be used with any type of technique and they recommend it, especially for drawing pencil, markers, pastels, charcoal, watercolor, gouache, and ink.
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Artway Enviro Notebooks
This professional sketchbook has exceptional quality for a more than affordable price.
The lids are made of chipboard, so you make sure that the leaves are well protected and do not end up breaking. This is an essential point that I look for in-ring books. You can also paint anywhere and use them directly as support.
At the same time, the rings are fat and not easily deformed.
It has 35 sheets of Cartridge paper, which is a hard and absorbent paper and also 100% recycled. The leaves are white but have a very soft warm tone, which makes them especially interesting for pencil drawing.
In terms of thickness, the sheets are very thick, 170gr, and they even allow you to work with a little watercolor and other techniques. In addition, they have a sufficiently marked texture to hold charcoal or pastel, but it is still very comfortable to draw with a pencil or mechanical pencil. We could include this notebook in the group of mixed media. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Strathmore Tan Drawing
When it comes to using colored pencils, I have several options that I like, but I recommend paper with a certain tint, which is not white at all. This Strathmore notebook is my favorite.
Like the previous one, it is a ring binder with totally recycled materials. The main difference is that the sheets have a warm gray tone and a completely smooth surface, which makes them perfect for pencil drawings, mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens, pens, and especially, colored pencils.
Despite being a thinner paper than the previous ones, 118gr, it grips materials such as charcoal or pastel very well.
The size that I leave you in the link below, is practically A4, (22.9cm x 30.5cm), which for me is the most versatile size of all. Although you can also find it in different sizes by searching Amazon. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Faber-Castell Art & Graphic Sketch Pad
Faber Castell is a German company founded in the mid-1700s and is present in more than 100 countries around the world. This sketchbook is perfect for freely drawing with pencil, colored pencils, and markers. It has a standard size (A4) with a weight of 160g / m2. The sheets are white and the surface is rough. Each page can conveniently detach once the drawing session is complete. The sheets have not been treated with any type of acid agent, an aspect that avoids the annoying phenomenon of alteration of colors and lines.
These sheets also prove to be good support for watercolor proofs, thanks to their water resistance. The binding of this excellent and versatile product is with glue. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Winsor & Newton
In 1832 in London the chemist William Winsor and the painter Henry Newton teamed up to work on colors and supports that made the artist’s work more precise. Even today the company, located in London, pursues the same objectives. This paper album is ideal for drawing with markers even with thick lines. Winsor & Newton makes it, it has an A3 format (29.7 x 42 cm) and consists of 50 sheets with a fairly fine weight (70gr / m2).
In addition to felt-tip pens, thanks to its consistency and roughness, it is also quite suitable for inks and highlighters and in general for water or alcohol-based markers, always guaranteeing a precise and smudge-free stroke. It is therefore perfect for professional drawing, for those involved in graphics, and for those who need to combine precise lines and color. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Conclusion
It is very likely that at this point you already know which model you are going to choose among the best sketchbooks for artists that I have shown you throughout this post. To get them at the best price, I recommend making your purchase directly on Amazon.
But, if you still have not made a purchase decision regarding the models that I have shown you, I invite you to see the opinions of other users. Thus, you can make a purchase decision in a much faster and completely correct way so that you have the best results.
Finally, I would like to invite you to share my post with your family and friends. In this way, they can also buy the best for beginners and professional artists at the lowest prices, without having to leave their homes. And don’t forget to share your opinions with us. You can use the comment section below. Thank you.