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The best sketchbooks for artists are well made, feature high-quality paper and give you the perfect canvas on which to sketch, scribble, doodle and more. Our reviewers, who are all artists themselves, have tried out a wide range of products to carefully curate the list below.
The best sketchbooks for artists available now
1. Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbook
Size: 5 x 8.25 inches
Pages / paper weight: 240 / 121lb
The larger of two sizes, this gives plenty of room but is great for sketching on the go thanks to its elastic closure, which keeps it neatly closed, and rounded corners that won’t get bent. We found the ivory-coloured paper to be smooth but with enough tooth for most dry media. With 240 pages, you won’t worry about filling it too quickly.
2. Leda Art Supply Premium Sketchbook
Size: 7×10 inches
Pages / paper weight: 160 / 81lb
We think this superb all-rounder is the best sketchbook for beginners. It’s a little smaller than A4 size so fits into most folders and bags and it’s inexpensive enough for everyday practice. Its cover is waterproof, though it is flexible, so you’ll need a hard surface to support it. The cream-coloured pages have micro-perforations for easy removal.
3. Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Pages / paper weight: 50 / 60lb
With a fine-tooth that carries graphite, coloured pencils and pastels well, we think this is the best sketchbook for professionals. This is the smallest in a wide range of sizes (up to 18 x 24 inches). The price per sheet makes it expensive for regular practice, but we found it a delight to use and ideal for structural sketches.
4. Bellofy Artist Sketchbook
Size: 12 x 1 x 9 inches
Pages / paper weight: 100 / 1.10lb
We found this super-thick, premium paper is strong and smooth enough to carry wet media like ink or watercolour and allow dry media like charcoal and pencil to slide. It’s acid-free, which helps reduce blotches and smudges, and it’s made from recycled paper. Spiral bound at the top, it lies flat without the annoyance of the spiral on the side – great for left-handed artists.
5. Canson Artist Series Watercolor Pad
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
Pages / paper weight: 20 / 140lb
Mixed-media pads can be useful but rarely perform as well as pads designed for specific tasks. This watercolour pad is specially made to withstand repeated washes. Thick paper ensures that it won’t ripple or deform as it dries, and there’ll be no bleeding. Pages are perforated, but Canson has factored that into the size, so you don’t lose paper.
6. Ohuhu marker sketchbooks
Size: 8.3 x 8.3in / 8.3 x 11.7in
Pages / paper weight: 78 / 120lb
Ohuhu creates markers so it makes sense that offer a decent sketchbook for them. The paper is pleasingly thick, and markers glide across it easily. A translucent sheet stops bleed through, but you’ll be able to see markers on the other side of the paper, which means you can only really use one side with markers.
7. Strathmore 400 Series Toned Tan Pad
Size: 9 x 12in
Pages / paper weight: 50 / 80lb
The best sketchbooks with toned paper are ideal for learning to use values since they encourage a whole range, helping achieve more realistic results. Strathmore offers a grey-toned pad, but this is our pick since its warm colour lends life to portraits. The smooth texture works strongly with coloured pencils and graphite, though it carries all dry media well.
8. Pentalic Wire-Bound Sketch Book
Size: 4 x 6in
Pages / paper weight: 80 / 70lb
This is the best sketchbook compact enough to fit in a pocket – and tough enough to survive rough treatment. Its hard cover prevents damage from knocks and scrapes, while its double-wire spiral binding is resistant to bending. There are no perforations for tearing out pages, so this is better for exercises and rough work.
9. Canson Artist Series Universal Sketch Pad
Size: 18 x 24in
Pages / paper weight: 35 / 65lb
Many of the best sketchbooks are around A4 size, but there’s no need to confine your work. This range has a version that’s two feet long. The spiral binding lets it lie flat as you work, while the hard cover provides protection and support. Pages are easy to remove to store in a portfolio. It doesn’t have a great deal of tooth though, so it’s best for pencils and charcoal.
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