My Top 5 Favorite Sketchbooks

Some recommendations

This post has been a long time coming. I’ve been drawing in a sketchbook since I was about five years old so I’ve used all sorts of different brands, sizes, and paper types. From inexpensive dollar store sketchbooks to so expensive I-almost-can’t-bring-myself-to-draw-in-it sketchbooks. I finally feel like I have my thoughts together enough to recommend my five favorites. And by favorites I mean the ones that I will be repurchasing again and again.

That being said I want to preface my top sketchbook recommendations with a few small disclaimers:

1. These are the sketchbooks and the mediums that I use and that work for me. It doesn’t necessarily mean they will work for you and your practice. We all do things a little differently.

2. I hate strongly dislike spiral bound sketchbooks. They irritate me to no end and thus you won’t find any spiral bound sketchbooks on this list. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any good spiral bound sketchbooks out there, it just means they’re not for me.

3. I also don’t do any sketchbooks that feature tear out pages. I find that pages end up tearing out that you didn’t want torn out and I prefer all of my pages to stay very much ‘in’.

1. Moleskine - Art Collection

This is my tried and true. I always have a spare moleskine sketchbook ready and waiting on my shelf should I be in desperate need of a fresh notebook. Here are a few of the reasons I like them.

1. They’re relatively easy to find. I’ve been able to locate them in major retailers, bookstores and art shops- also online of course although I’ve personally only ever purchased them in person so far.

2. I like the hard cover on these. It keeps my pages protected especially if I throw my sketchbook into a bag. And it’s perfect for customizing with some fun vinyl stickers

3. It handles most of my mediums well. It’s great for pencils, pens, gouache etc. I even have used copic markers in it (side note: my copic markers definitely bleed through the page in every one of the sketchbooks I’m mentioning here. I have yet to discover a sketchbook where this doesn’t happen. I usually just glue or tape a clean sheet of paper on the other side and move on.)

The paper in these sketchbooks are relatively smooth but is a creamy off white color so if super bright white is your thing this might not be the sketchbook for you.

2. Hahnemuehle - Pocket Sized

This cutie little sketchbook is one I picked up here in Germany. It’s my current daily sketchbook. It has a TON of pages but is conveniently pocket sized so it’s extra easy to carry around. It handles all of my mediums with ease (haven’t tried watercolors in it but I don’t really plan to). The hardcover makes it extra convenient for throwing in my backpack without worry.

One thing I really love about working in a small sketchbook is it takes a lot of the overwhelm out of filling a page. It’s easier to start something knowing I can turn the page soon if it turns out terrible, haha.

Sketchbook Pages by The Primrose Corner

3. Etchr Hot Pressed

This one I originally purchased because I think it’s pretty, haha. It’s got a blank fabric white cover that can be painted on top of. It also has a classic elastic strap which I do love to help keep it closed in my bag, and a handy pocket in the back to hold little scraps of paper. (Side Note: I usually keep a few post it notes in these type of back pockets that I can slip between pages when I need to keep mediums from rubbing onto other pages when closed).

The paper quality is lovely for watercolor and wet gouache. It’s smooth but still has some texture to it. This is mainly what I am and what I will be using the sketchbook for. Arguably it’s one of the most expensive sketchbooks I’ve come across. So I am savoring each page.

P.S. The paper is bright white for those who care!

4. Archer & Olive Blank Notebook

Arguably Archer and Olive notebooks market themselves to bullet journalers, writers, and planners. However with the paper thickness sitting at 160 gsm, the blank versions of these notebooks make PERFECT sketchbooks. And I honestly wish they would release more designs with blank pages because I am itching to buy a new one. (If you feel so inclined please feel free to send them a request for more blank notebooks, haha 😉)

Not only do they have perfectly thick, smooth, bright white paper but they also have quite a few pages per sketchbook so one of these babies could last you quite a while depending on how much you are drawing. I have already filled three of them cover to cover and it takes me around a full year to completely use one up.

5. Stillman & Birn - Zeta Series

Ok my friends, here we are. This is the GOAT. Which is actually pretty funny to me because I actually know of several artists who really DON’T like these sketchbooks. It just goes to show that everyone is different and what works for one person might not necessarily work for the next.

The paper is super thick at 270 gsm. The paper is bright white and it is so deliciously smooth almost buttery. My gouache glides across the page in the most satisfying way. I also love using my neocolors on these pages and it can even handle a certain level of watercolor. Perfect if you’re a painter or mixed media artist. Pages I’ve scanned in to my computer scan so beautiful and crisp.

That said if you’re simply sketching or drawing then I recommend one of the other sketchbooks mentioned here.

I will be purchasing this sketchbook forever and ever. The End.

I hope you learned something or were at least entertained by my monologue on the best sketchbooks on the market (in my opinion).

Until the next post!

🤍Amber

P.S. Forgot to mention nothing in this blog post is sponsored. I purchased everything myself and have used all of these sketchbooks in my regular practice.

P.S.S. Oh and I did go over all of this in a Youtube video on my channel if you prefer to listen to me and see me flip through some pages from my sketchbooks: