Best Sketchbooks & Notebooks in 2022

Last update: December 10, 2022

Are sketchbooks supposed to be messy?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question – it is entirely up to the individual artist! Some people prefer to keep their sketchbooks neat and tidy, while others enjoy the freedom of a more ‘messy’ approach. Ultimately, it is whatever works best for you and helps you to produce the best results.

Is an art journal a sketchbook?

An art journal can be a sketchbook, but it is not limited to sketches. An art journal can also include written entries, photographs, clippings, and any other materials that help document and capture your creative process.

Is it sketchbook or sketch book?

The answer to this question is simple – it is sketchbook. While some people might argue that it is sketch book, this is incorrect. The word sketchbook is one word, not two.

Should I draw on the first page of my sketchbook?

There's no right or wrong answer to this question - it's entirely up to you! Some artists like to start with a blank first page, while others prefer to get straight into the drawing action. If you're not sure what to do, why not experiment with both approaches and see what works best for you?


illo Sketchbook, Extra Large, Square, Sketch Book, (10x10), Premium, 122lb Paper, Hardcover Notebook, Lay Flat, Smooth Paper, Thick Paper, Elastic Enclosure and Ribbon Marker (10x10) Review:


I'm delighted I bought this sketchbook after learning about it from well-known YouTube artist DrawingWiffWaffles. Last summer, I started using alcohol-based markers to draw, and I worked in copic sketchbooks and on XpressIt blending cards. I must admit that I like this paper for marker drawings. Yes, once you've colored a page, you can't use the other side, however the bleeding was quite minor! Under the page, I didn't even need any paper! Additionally, the colors were still incredibly vivid.This sketchbook's size fits well when I scan photographs and is undoubtedly simpler to photograph. I adore how silly the instruction about including your contact information on the inside cover is. Additionally, I adore the pocket at the rear. My business cards and references fit well in it. A bookmark to save my page, too? Love it as well! This has resulted in substantially less sticky note waste. I was able to avoid harming it thanks to the elastic holding it closed. My sketchbooks usually end up in a scraggly mess after a month because I travel with them in my bag. In contrast, this one has held up remarkably well. My book is pleasant and personalized to my tastes because the cover is good when it comes to sticking stickers on it.Overall, I believe this would satisfy the needs of any artist looking for an excellent sketchbook. When I run out of pages, I'll order it again.



Artist's Choice Sketch Pad,75 Sheets, Pack of 2 Review:


The paper's quality exceeds expectations. These are being used by me for both my private pre-painting sketches and a drawing class. The thickness, size, and perforated paper are all things I enjoy. Compared to the sketch pad I was using, this is far better. My order arrived promptly and in excellent shape. The cost was extremely fair. It should be noted that after using this paper for sketching for a long, I discovered that it is thin and doesn't withstand a lot of erasing, pencil, or adding colored pencil. The greatest use for this paper is a little sketch made with a soft drawing pencil.



Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 9"x12" Wire Bound, 100 Sheets Review:


I detest ordering drawing paper online. I like to be able to grasp it, feel the paper, look at the color, and analyze it like a monkey would look at a banana. To decide if this is the paper for you, you must consider all of these factors. BUT. I signed my name on Canson paper because it's excellent paper.FOR PEOPLE SHOPPING BUT WITHOUT A LOT OF PAPER KNOWLEDGEPaper is not my preferred medium for pastels, charcoal, watercolor, etc., but I am familiar with graphite or colored pencils for drawing portraits. Therefore, this evaluation is mostly focused on paper for pencil drawing.POUNDS—LBSHave you noticed that the pad says anything like 65 or 100 pounds, or something similar? The drawing pad won't weigh 65 pounds, of course. The stock is referred to here. I think of sketch paper as being 60lbs, which is often how much paper comes in a book referred to as a sketch book. However, I create traditional realistic portraits, and 60lb won't withstand the amount of tearing and wear that will occur over the course of my 12-hour sketching session. I set an 80lb minimum for "completed" parts. Excellent, 80 lbs. It's not too thick, but it's also not too thin that a careless stroke will cause it to wrinkle. I would also recommend 100lb paper because it is also really excellent.You don't need to purchase thick paper if you are purchasing paper that will be used as PRACTICE PAPER. I'd recommend using paper that is roughly 60lb if copying paper will do for your needs. Get 80lb if you want more finished parts. However, with thicker paper, you often receive fewer pages per pad (around 24 opposed to 100 sheets for something like 60lb), but SPEND THE MONEY if you want high-quality paper that will still look decent when the artwork is finished.Drawing vs. sketchingSketch paper is traditionally thin-stock paper, as was briefly noted above. Drawing paper is typically thicker and more durable since it is more "fancy." In my perspective, sketch paper is for practice, while drawing is for serious work. Drawing paper typically costs more per sheet than sketch paper, but quality ultimately decides. I advise beginning artists to get one of each pad (drawing and sketch) that is about 12 inches tall. This will provide them enough space to develop their skills in the Sketch pad before showcasing them on a larger scale in the Drawing pad. 80lbs is the bare requirement for drawing paper! I never use lower-quality paper for portraits than that. Well, for the sketch paper. You have the choice. I use 60lb, which works perfectly and is essentially equivalent to copy paper, I believe.I loved the books, which is the thing with me and VA. Oh, I've had New-VA-Book Withdrawal since since the last one was released. I then made the decision to buy the first and second graphic novels for the Vampire Academy as a birthday present for myself. The story has been brilliantly adapted, and the pictures are amazing and emotive. In particular, I adore how Christian and Adrian are shown in the second book. Perfectly and precisely how I imagined they would appear. Particularly if you're a VA fan experiencing withdrawal, these are an excellent addition to your book collection.LITTER PAD vs. BIG PADThe question, I see. Which paper size should I buy? That is entirely up to you, as is the type of artwork you choose to do. I have paper pads that range in size from 6x8 to 24x18. The type of paper you receive is entirely up to you. Honestly. A large pad is undoubtedly what you need if you want to create large-scale portraits. 9x12 prints are excellent to purchase if you want portraits that are roughly the size of a copying sheet of paper (ABOUT) (I use that size most frequently). The only thing I can advise you to do is to purchase a spiral-bound pad. As a result, you won't have to worry about missing pages or ruining bound books that are sewn or glued in. I prefer spirals because they make it easy for me to flip through and I never have to worry about ruining a prior portrait in order to sketch a new one.GRIT/TEXTURE/GRAINThere are, um, "pot holes" in some paper. I use graphite pencils to draw on smooth, medium-textured paper. The medium you use on it depends on the type of texture you get. Because every piece of paper is unique and will respond to your artistic endeavors in a different way, make sure to follow the instructions carefully.TEXT COLORAh. Color. As long as it isn't stark like gray or pink, I don't really care. I've tried standard paper that doesn't even mention color, as well as paper that has been bleached white. It really just depends on you and what you're sketching for and with, I suppose.ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU SHOULD BUYOf course, the equipment you require will depend on the type of drawing you do. However, I could have a few recommendations if you're interested in accurate portraits of people, etc.- A collection of blended stumps, or as many you can find! In a sketch, I use these more frequently than my pencil!- A charcoal pencil in white. ESSENTIAL for creating highlights that are totally, bright white. Although some individuals like white pens, I favor charcoal.- It must be my preferred pencil!



ARTEZA 9X12" Sketch Book, Pack of 2, 200 Sheets (68 lb/100gsm), Spiral Bound Artist Sketch Pad, 100 Sheets Each, Durable Acid Free Drawing Paper, Ideal for Kids & Adults, Bright White Review:


I didn't expect it to be this thick and sturdy. Although it is not as good as my more expensive acrylic paper, I still like it. fantastic deal for two. I bought it for my mother's birthday because she enjoys drawing just as much as I do, and I knew I'd want one for myself, so I went with the two-pack. A drawer family is what we are! When I present it to her on her special day, I'm confident that she'll be pleased.The use of pencil, graphite, ink, charcoal, and colored pencils for sketches has so far been excellent. Never used any wet media before.



Pentalic Sketch Book, Hardbound, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch Review:


Perfect! Since I was a youngster, I have searched through sketchbook after sketchbook in search of the one that "fits" me. The majority were either excessively big, had paper that was too scratchy or smudged, or were spiral-bound, which is a pain when carrying a book in a backpack. I came across this one during my second year of college and fell in love right away. For how I sketch, 8 by 5.5 inches is a reasonable size, and the paper works well with standard HB lead. I use Sakura Micron pens for inking, and there doesn't seem to be any feathering. I also use grey copics, which produce a good, even color and work well when used with a scrap of paper underneath the page I'm working on. It does somewhat bleed, but that is typical of anything around 90 lbs.I've completed six of these sketchbooks and have just ordered two more online because the one store in my neighborhood that sells them was out the last two times I went in. They are a touch more expensive than what my favorite art supply store charges, but I suppose that's okay since I've been using a backup notebook instead, which isn't the best.My only requirement when purchasing my first purse (at the age of 22, haha) was that it must accommodate my sketchbook, which it does at a fairly regular pocketbook size. The only way this could receive anything less than 5 stars is if Amazon were to send me the incorrect item once more.



Melissa & Doug Sketch Pad 9” by 12” (Arts & Crafts, Fade-Resistant, Acid-Free White Paper, 50 Sheets, Single Pack, Great Gift for Girls and Boys - Best for 3, 4, 5 Year Olds and Up) Review:


These are the best kids' sketchbooks I've ever used.Every type marker my eight-year-old granddaughter and I have used has not bled through to the following page due to the high quality and thickness of the paper.We use a pad that is completely open so that we can tackle drawing tasks while sitting side by side on the sofa, each with our own page.The pages can lay flat because to the ring binding.For fridge art, to clean the pad, or to save the best work in an album once the pad is full, the pages may be easily taken out.The quality of these pads, both in terms of thickness and adaptability with different medium, cannot be overstated.The pads are not only for kids; I also like to use them for my own amateur work.



Melissa & Doug Sketch Pad, Arts & Crafts, Fade-Resistant, Acid-Free White Paper, 50 Sheets, 2-Pack, 9” W x 12” L, Great Gift for Girls and Boys - Best for 3, 4, 5 Year Olds and Up Review:


These are the best kids' sketchbooks I've ever used.Every type marker my eight-year-old granddaughter and I have used has not bled through to the following page due to the high quality and thickness of the paper.We use a pad that is completely open so that we can tackle drawing tasks while sitting side by side on the sofa, each with our own page.The pages can lay flat because to the ring binding.For fridge art, to clean the pad, or to save the best work in an album once the pad is full, the pages may be easily taken out.The quality of these pads, both in terms of thickness and adaptability with different medium, cannot be overstated.The pads are not only for kids; I also like to use them for my own amateur work.



Bienfang Sketch Pad, 8-1/2 by 11-Inch - R237117 Review:


None of the Strathmore sketchbooks I tried to use as journals actually worked well.The pages were too dark a yellowish brown, the spirals too tiny, the paper tore, or all of the above.This pad is excellent for sketching or keeping a journal (pen or pencil).The front cover is not made of hardboard; it is essentially thick card paper.2. Although not as hard as the Strathmore sketchbooks, the rear cover is made of hardboard.Positives: The paper is eggshell or off-white and the perfect thickness.2. To maintain the paper in the book without ripping the holes, the spirals function perfectly.3. Numerous pages. Not 50 pages with two sides, but 100 pages in total.If you're looking for journaling inspiration, I highly suggest the book Journal Sparks, which is reviewed here: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2OJ7A6QQFHY3E/ref=cm cr srp d rdp perm?ie=UTF8.



Adult Coloring Books Set - 3 Coloring Books for Grownups - 120 Unique Animals, Scenery & Mandalas Designs. Coloring Books for Adults Relaxation. Review:


I own a lot of coloring books for adults. One might actually believe that I'm creating some sort of collection. Anyway, I adore adult coloring books and am glad to see them receiving more attention given that there are so many options available. This thing is so lovely, this little set of coloring books. It belongs to the category of adult coloring books because of the intricate and highly detailed illustrations, but what I like most about it is that they combined three of my favorite coloring pages into one kit. The volumes are actually quite small compared to a typical-sized coloring book, despite the fact that the product image makes them appear to be textbooks. There is never a lack of things to do because there are so many photos to color. They are really distinctively created, and I adore the creative flair that they give in place of a simple drawing for coloring. The artwork is wonderful, and I believe any artist will like it. I find that I want to handle each picture carefully, but that's just me. The fact that the pages are double-sided and there is no perforation won't bother you if you don't mind keeping all of your work in these books within the book. I'm the type of person who just leaves everything in a book, so I don't mind if the artist did it this way on purpose. My mother and I have determined that if it becomes a significant issue, we can always scan and print a picture for the kids to color outside of the book. As a result of how happy I am with these books, I expect to see more from the authors on Amazon.


Should I get a small or big sketchbook?

There is no right answer when deciding on the size of your sketchbook. It depends on what you plan on using it for and what is comfortable for you to carry around. If you plan on using your sketchbook for quick sketches and notes, then a smaller size may be better for you. If you want to use your sketchbook for more detailed drawings or paintings, then a larger size may be better. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what size will work best for you and your needs.

Should I use both sides of my sketchbook paper?

If you're a beginner, you might be wondering if you should use both sides of your sketchbook paper. The answer is that it's up to you! Some artists prefer to use only one side of the paper so they can have a clean surface to work on, while others choose to use both sides so they don't have to waste any paper. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what works best for you and your art.

What are art notebooks called?

Art notebooks are called "sketchbooks." They are used by artists to store their sketches, drawings, and ideas.

What can I use instead of a sketchbook?

If you don't have a sketchbook or you're looking for an alternative, any notebook or pad of paper will do. You can also use a journal or diary. If you want to get really creative, try using a blank notebook and decorating the cover yourself.

What is an artist pad called?

An artist's pad is a type of paper that is used for drawing or painting. It is usually thicker than normal paper and has a smooth surface.

What is the purpose of sketchbooks?

A sketchbook is a book or pad with blank pages for sketching and drawing. Sketchbooks are used by artists for a variety of purposes, such as brainstorming, preparing for a project, or recording ideas and impressions. Sketchbooks can be small or large, and can be made from a variety of materials, such as paper, cloth, or plastic. They can be purchased ready-made, or can be homemade. Some artists use sketchbooks as a visual diary, documenting their daily lives through sketches and drawings. Others use them as a way to try