Why are 8x10 sketchbooks so rare?
-
I’ve been on the lookout to find an 8x10 sketchbook with perforated lines so I can draw in them, tear out the pages, and sell. Only, I can never find a sketchbook with that dimension.
For instance, yesterday, I went to an art supplies shop that sells a huge variety of sketchbooks. I was only able to find three 8x10 books but they were not for ink which is the medium I’d like to use. One waster watercolour, another for dry media (still a little rough for inking), and the third was all black pages (very cool but not the colour background I need).
Anyone know why 8x10 is so rare? What size do you draw commissioned pieces?
Reason I’m looking for that size is I’ve received a few requests for commissions and they have always been for 8x10 (so they can be easily framed). I had to resort to physically cropping card stock or illustration boards. It would be great to skip that step altogether
-
@danielerossi this is probably because 8x10 is very close to letter sized paper (8.5x11) which is the most popular standard paper size in the US. Since things like envelopes, printers, and the paper mills themselves are optimized for letter sized sheets its easier, cheaper, and creates less waste for the sketchbook companies to offer a letter sized sketchbook instead of an 8x10.
If there is a specific kind of paper you want you may have to go for the slightly larger size and cut down the sheets yourself after you're finished or you could just mark off an 8x10 box in the middle of the sheet and have your finished work be 8x10 on an 8.5x11 sheet and let the customer decide whether they would like to cut it down or frame it with a matte.
-
@danielerossi I mat a lot of pics. 8 x 10 is a standard frame opening size. Most people draw on larger paper so that a little of the paper is covered by the mat or frame. I would get a 9× 12 and just mark off the 8 x 10 rectangle. That's what I do.
-
Thanks @chrisaakins and @StudioLooong!
