I do nearly all of my work inside a sketchbook, so I thought it might be helpful to share all the different considerations I make when deciding on a sketchbook. There are a lot of variables (and probably some more that I haven’t thought of!) so in the second half I will share my preferences. Softcover works well as I often use a support board for my book, paint tin and water container, and this board means that any floppiness in the cover is not an issue. I also do a lot of cafe sketching in my everyday life!

My 3rd sketchbook is Moleskine landscape in A4. This I use when I go out sketching for buildings. I have tried the Etchr sketchbooks. I found a big learning curve with the cold press, it was rough, so hard to use pen and ink but loved the hot press.Well, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a sketchbook, and if you are just beginning it might seem overwhelming. A great article. Thank you so much for putting it together. I would like to be using one sketchbook but find myself using three. One is watercolor paper, my favorite is Winsor & Newton 100% cotton cold press. It does not have a rough service like most cold press and is a dream for watercolor. This I use for people and portraits and to develop my watercolor skills.

The way in which you work will also affect your paper decision – but that needs a separate article. As you might guess from the photo above of just some of my Alpha sketchbooks, my favourite Stillman & Birn is the 150gsm Alpha, which is a bit of a surprise as it is not, strictly speaking, a watercolour sketchbook. However it is designed for 'dry media, light washes, ink' and works very well for these.

Black Book

As mentioned above, I have separate books for my travels but once I return home I will resume working in my latest everyday book. As sketching has now become my career, I have accepted the fact that I will spend a lot of money on sketchbooks! So cost is not something that affects my decision as to which book to use. I find that an A5 sketchbook is a good general size for everyday use – if you sketch across the fold you can create work which is A4 in size. We carry a large selection of sketchbook sizes - everything from small A6 notebooks to square and graduate sizes and even huge expansive A1 sizes, there's a sketchbook for everyone. Our large format sketchbooks are truly unique, available in different ranges and finishes, both in case and spiral bound options and popular with artists who work big and education as classroom floor books. When I travel I want to use watercolour paper but I prefer paper made with wood pulp and a little bit of cotton, rather than 100% cotton paper. (I need to write a separate article about this!)

The important thing is simply to choose a book and start sketching! The only way to discover what suits you best is to fill a book and then start another one. The ability to be able to write and draw in ink is as important to me as my watercolour painting. Therefore I have to find sketchbooks with paper that work for both. As a result my watercolour technique has developed so that I can achieve the results I want on paper which is not true watercolour paper. Landscape (horizontal) sketchbooks are great for landscapes and wide panoramic scenes (especially when you sketch across the fold). However it’s harder to sketch tall subjects without rotating your book. Some people are happy to do that, others are not. What different media will you be using and how will you be using it? Is there one medium that you will be using more than the others, one medium that is more important to you? Also consider how robust the cover is. Will it bother you if the cover gets tatty (if it’s a softcover) or grubby (if it’s a light covered fabric cover)?

Kraft Paper Sketchbook & Booklet

Another consideration with landscape books is that they take up a lot of room when you open them fully. The A4 landscape Moleskine which I use frequently, is difficult to use on a plane, on a small cafe table and in high wind situations. It’s generally awkward to hold when sketching without a support board.

Great post Liz. I am working on one myself! Just did a video but hadn’t positioned the camera correctly so have to do it again 🙁 When I travel I do use A4 hardcover sketchbooks, but as sketching is my main focus, I normally roam the streets holding the book in my hands! Shopping for someone else and looking for the perfect gift for a budding artist? Give the gift of a sketch pad! Kit them out with some high-quality art pens and drawing tools. The environmental aspects of whomever I am dealing with is important… How they source their water and paper pulp. Hahnemühle fits that bill, and I am pleading with them to do a bamboo sketchbook in the A5 landscape size. When travelling I’ve been happy with A4 landscape Moleskine, but this year (2019) I loved using the new portrait format version and at this stage, intend to continue using them.

Sketch Booklet Black

I’m not a fan of the light coloured fabric covers (Handbook, Etchr) but it’s not a big deal and wouldn’t affect my decision to use a certain sketchbook. A great choice for the travelling artist, the Indigo Sketchbooks are suitable for a range of creative purposes, and accommodate graphite, ink, markers and other soft media.