What should you consider when making your selection? Choose a drawing paper or sketching paper that suits your needs based on the type of media you’re using, as well as the desired fiber type, weight, and surface texture or finish. Whether you’re creating a quick sketch or a detailed final drawing, Blick offers many drawing pads and sketching pads from which to choose. Although many artists and non-artists may use these terms interchangeably, drawing pads usually contain heavier-weight, higher-quality papers that may not be archival but are intended for finished work, while sketch pads contain lighter weight paper intended for quick studies or practice, but not for final works of art. Large-format sketchbooks will offer more space and freedom on the page.The difference between a drawing pad and a sketch pad is as different as the process of drawing vs. For sketching on the move, a smaller hardcover sketchbook is handy as it fits into a bag or pocket and protects your work. A spiral-bound sketchbook will lie flat when you work on it, whereas some hardbound sketchbooks can be more tricky to use. The binding of the sketchbook is also worth considering.

Pencils and inks work best with smooth paper, whereas charcoal and pastels are well suited to paper with more bite, as the pits and grooves hold pigment. Different paper is different for different mediums: you'll need thick, heavy paper for markers and watercolours, and lighter paper for dry media. You'll also need to consider the 'tooth' or 'texture' of the paper. The best sketchbook can be different for each artist. Low-tooth papers in contrast feel very smooth and almost waxy. This kind of paper provides the least amount of grip for dry media but is good for fine, precise lines and washes made using wet media such as watercolour brushes. High-tooth papers feel more bumpy and textured. They grab onto pigments and create a more granular, 'grippy' effect with dry media like charcoal, pastels or pencils. Tooth describes the surface of the paper, with high tooth having more texture and low tooth being smoother. What is 'tooth' in terms of sketchbook paper? Cotton paper, sometimes called 'rag paper' is better than wood pulp paper for watercolours, especially if you do a lot of scrubbing and masking, but it is usually more expensive. Ideally, you will want heavier paper than tat to avid having to stretch the paper beforehand. However, it doesn't offer the most satisfying feel and isn't the most practical to carry around and keep your sketches.įor watercolours, you will generally want a paper of at least 300 gsm / 140 lb. For very rough sketches, really any kind of paper can suffice, even office printer paper, which tends to have a weight of around 80 gsm. A weight of around 100-130 gsm / 70-80 lb is generally suitable for finished pieces in a range of media. Paper with a weight of 75-90 gsm / 50-60 lb is generally heavy enough for sketching with pencils, pastels or charcoal but too thin for ink or markers, which could bleed through it.

Generally, the heavier, the higher the quality of the paper. Most of the best sketchbook brands will display the grams (or lb) per square metre of their paper.

Which weight of paper is best for sketching? So if you want to work outdoors, there may be a compromise to be made there. There's no universal answer to this question and pretty much comes down to personal preference. Obviously, smaller pocket-sized books are ideal for quick sketches on the go, while larger books offer more space for detailed work.

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