(110 gsm) acid-free, bright white paper. I predominately work in sketchbooks as I want to record my life and love the narrative of my creative journey that is created in the pages of a book. An over-sized blank sketch book awaiting your artwork It contains 300 sheets (600 pages) of 75 lb. Sizes, formats and brands that I’ve used over the years Please refer to this article for the main things to consider when choosing a sketchbook A big sketchbook for big ideas, from sketches to planning, the Art Extra Extra Large Sketchbook Album is well suited, available in Black and Kraft Brown. The paper in these books suits the way I like to work – see this post for an explanation. (I explain more during my course SketchingNow Watercolour) However, it is still the best sketchbook paper that I have found which suits my rapid wet-in-wet style of sketching.

Alpha paper also creates a huge variety of textures which is important in my work – see more here.Īs for the Moleskine sketchbooks… The paper changed a few years ago and it is not as nice as it used to be – there is a definite front and back and the front side has a strong mechanical grain to it. I throw a LOT of water and pigment at it, draw into the watercolour with ink and nothing goes through to the other side – well, heavy scrubbing with an Inktense pencil into a wet wash might! The paper buckles a little but I like that ‘lived-in’ feel from my daily book. L love the Alpha sketchbooks because there are lots of pages, the paper is great to use with ink and pencil (great tooth) and although not designed for watercolour, it is incredibly robust. Moleskine A4 Watercolour Folio Sketchbook as my travel and ‘special’ sketchbooks.Stillman & Birn Alpha as my everyday sketchbook (I often change the size and format of the book I use – A4 hardcover, square softcover, 8×10 softcover).The media you use will have a big impact on the type of paper that will suit but you also should consider size, format and binding. The topic of sketchbooks is a very complex one but in summary, there is no perfect sketchbook that suits everyone in every situation.

Big sketchbook