Sketchbooks
Frequently used for observation or invention, a sketchbook provides the user with a readily available supply of drawing paper to bound within a book. Sketchbooks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are used for sketching.
A sketch is a quick freehand drawing usually not intended as a finished piece of artwork, although may sketchbooks from famous artists or explorers are now on exhibition in museums.
If you want your sketchbooks to last for years be sure to look on the label for "archival material." Sketchbooks may have a choice of either hard or soft cover. Hardcovers are great for an on the go drawing board but they are also heavier and bulkier. Wire bound are either bound similar to a book or may be bound with a spiral.
Some Sketchbooks have papers that are heavier weight, more so than others and will not be destroyed from constant use of an eraser or blender.
Know whether you will be using dry, wet or mixed media. Heavyweight paper is a must for wet mediums such as watercolor or gouache.
Preferred Brands
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Sketchbook |
A sketch is a quick freehand drawing usually not intended as a finished piece of artwork, although may sketchbooks from famous artists or explorers are now on exhibition in museums.
What you will find on this page
Types of Sketchbooks
Some Sketchbooks have papers that are heavier weight, more so than others and will not be destroyed from constant use of an eraser or blender.
Wet or Dry Medium?
Preferred Brands
- [White Paper] Global Art Materials Travelogue Watercolor Book - Linen, acid-free, soft white sheets, 95lb/200 gsm, durable cover with elastic closure, clear envelope inside back cover, bound in natural linen, made in India (Global Art Materials, Inc.)
- [White Paper] Stillman & Birn (Alpha Series) - Available in both hardbound and wire bound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of 100 lb (150 gsm) natural white paper with a vellum surface and a distinctive tooth. Ideal for dry media and light washes, the paper is both internally sized and surface-sized. (Stillman & Birn)
- [Ivory Tinted Paper] Stillman & Birn (Gamma Series) - Available in both hardbound and wire bound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of 100 lb (150 gsm), ivory paper with a vellum surface and a distinctive tooth. Ideal for dry media and light washes, the paper is both internally sized and surface-sized. The vellum surface is also recommended for dry media, light wash or inks. The ivory toned paper also warms up the cooler temperatures that most charcoal drawings seem to have when done on white paper. The paper also creates a subtle texture from the tooth. (Stillman & Birn)
- [White Paper Great for Pen & Ink] Stillman & Birn (Epsilon Series) - Available in both hardbound and wire bound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of 100 lb (150 gsm) natural white paper with a vellum surface and a distinctive tooth. Ideal for dry media and light washes, the paper is both internally sized and surface-sized. (Stillman & Birn)
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