Favorite Sketchbooks and Why... Go!

jasondmcintosh

I just finished - FINISHED - my FIRST EVER Sketchbook! Thanks to SVS I've sketched more in the past year than in my entire life (we're talking 40+ years here folks)... and now, I need to get a new one. I've settled on wanting one that is able to lay flat for easy scanning / spreads. But beyond that, I'm stumped. Any suggestions?

StudioLooong

@jasondmcintosh what mediums do you use in your sketchbook? Just pencil? Ink? Watercolor or markers?

eddysage

I use moleskine 90lb watercolor paper sketchbooks. Hard cover so I can sketch in my lap if needs be, thick enough paper to do a wash or two, decent price you can easily get off amazon and a bunch of different sizes.

Christine Garner

I just use loose paper for sketches so I can scan them in easy and then if I want to keep them stick them in a big A3 ring binder sketchbook. I keep a little A5 sketchbook for a sketch note diary as well.

Buddy Skelton

Strathmore toned tan and toned grey. Nice texture to the paper and since they are toned it allows you add white pencil/pen to make stuff pop.

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jasondmcintosh

@StudioLooong I do a mix of pencil, ink, copics mostly, but wouldn't mind something that was able to nicely accept watercolors, too. Is there such an animal?

Nyrryl Cadiz

I don’t use sketch books. I just buy cheap printer paper and glue them together into this crappy “sketchbook” but still don’t use it. Lol i do a lot of drawings on random paper and my ipad tho.

StudioLooong

@jasondmcintosh haha i'm not completely sure! This brand is supposed to be really nice and be relatively good at accepting inks and paints w/o bleeding (although I think alchohol markers get the best of em):
https://www.illosketchbook.com/

I really want to try it out when i'm done with my current sketchbook. I told myself that I'm only going to work in one at a time and stop hoarding 1/4 finished ones. I'm currently using a Baron Fig and I love the quality of the book but the paper is too thin so its good for pencil but ink bleeds through and any sort of wet medium is a no-go. Another one i've heard good things about is Handbook (although I think most of theirs are smaller sizes).

https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Book-Journal-Co/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_9461540011?ie=UTF8&node=9461540011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Hand+Book+Journal+Co.

krisblack

I always like the hardback Moleskines, but hated the yellow paper. Even their sketchbooks with the thicker sheets had yellow paper.

Years ago I switched to Leuchtturm1917 sketchbooks. At the time, they were incredibly hard to find in the U.S. so I ordered them from Amazon's German site. Fortunately, you can find them easier on Amazon.com now and they have a U.S. store too.

Their sketchbooks have nice, thick, white pages. They also produce some yellow page variants like Moleskines. Ruled and Dot Grid books. They come in various colored hardbacks.

https://www.leuchtturm1917.us/

jasondmcintosh

@StudioLooong Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to give input!

jasondmcintosh

@Buddy-Skelton I've been dying to try toned papers, but I'm still working on the basics...I'm going to try them one day, though! Thanks!

jasondmcintosh

@krisblack And now...I'm drooling! :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_closed_eyes:

braden H

@jasondmcintosh Nice work! Since I got my ipad I've actually been sketching less and less, so I'm going back to a good ol fashioned pen and paper sketchbook.

I dug out my old one (and the set of brush pens which have been sitting unused for like... 6 years... which still work!) and filled it with new paper.

Instead of buying a new book once in a while I made myself an art clipboard sketchbook! a ruined dollarstore clipboard, hockey tape, mod podge and a couple of artist boards makes an awesome personalized sketchpad.

I can fill it with printer paper, bristol, watercolour, whatever I want. Once it's filled I three hole punch it and stick it in a binder (or just a file folder). If I wanna scan something, I can take it out easy peasy.

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jasondmcintosh

@eddysage Thanks for the suggestion! I may just try them.

jasondmcintosh

@Braden-Hallett Thanks, Braden. Loving the MacGyver-esque approach! And I have really enjoyed watching you church out all of your great artwork. Very inspiring to see!

Sorcha

I use Seawhite, hardback bound A4. It lays fairly flat if you squash the pages out and I keep Scotch tape so if I need a heavy paper or toned paper (I keep aquarelle, marker paper and Canson toned around for that), I can attach a sheet inside my sketchbook. I also keep an A5 for field sketching and an A6 that lives in my bag all the time. They are less used but hoping to use them more as I gain confidence. As I gain more experience, I may change my mind but as a beginner, this system suits me fine at the moment. I also keep a couple of A3 watercolour and sketchbooks around for those times I want bigger sheets.

Like you, being here on the Forums has meant I'm sketching a lot more. I can't wait to start my subscription (two weeks and counting!)

jasondmcintosh

@Braden-Hallett I just re-read this and saw that I said 'church out...' - but i meant, 'churn out' - haha!

braden H

@jasondmcintosh 's all right. I figured it out