28 Popular Sketchbooks! // Sketchbook Masterlist (based on your comments!)

[@JelArts]

What's your favourite sketchbook to use?

[@Titiparana]

My favourite sketchbook to use which is cheap ( because I’ve only ever used cheap ones ) is the the Talens art creation sketchbooks

[@liesbethartlife]

I’m currently obsessed with an Aurora A4 sketchbook in A4 size. I found it here in Belgium. I’m just finishing the first one, and already have 2 others of the same one. Don’t know if they sell this brand outside Europe 🤔 Here in Belgium the a4 size Talens sketchbook is only around $12

[@chuckillustrates9115]

I really love the Montana Gold sketchbooks. I have a tiny one i can fit in my pockets and it can take so much watercolor and gouache. I think the brand is know for their spray paints so that might be why there no bleed through.

[@joshuawilkins6311]

Napkins.

[@CreativePhenomenonArt]

I hand make mine but you definitely have a lot of people who know what they’re talking about the mentioned sketchbooks sound amazing for the most part and the ones that I have tried are definitely exactly how you explain them well done

[@Titiparana]

To me a cheap sketchbook is a sketchbook below 10 dollars also a cheap sketchbook I do not I said DO NOT recommend is the brustro sketchbook I bought it because I love all they’re products but the sketchbook seems to be literally transparent and you can see the pencil through the page

[@crybaby_M00N]

Seems perfect for traditional animation then lol

[@Titiparana]

@@crybaby_M00Nyea but it states that it is mixed media which is a lie

[@crybaby_M00N]

@titlisadhukhan7421 yeah I hate when that happens

[@Titiparana]

@@crybaby_M00N fr tho

[@Lee-ll6xc]

I absolutely agree with you for the Talens Art Creation sketchbook ! I have one that I use as a travel sketchbook. I really like it ! It doesn't handle mixed media perfectly, it does buckle a little with watercolors, some of my ink tends to feather a tiny bit.. But for a sketchbook, to experiment and have fun, it's absolutely great ! HOWEVER the off-white definitely bothers me. BUT i recently discovered that the one with a cork cover has whiter paper than the others. So that might be a solution for anyone who's been put off by it !

[@bethaniepetitpas5699]

I love the Hahnemuhle watercolor sketchbooks. They take a lot of my abuse.

[@bethaniepetitpas5699]

I always have a Canon Field Sketchbook going for my general sketches/ideas. I have lots of Pentalic Travel in the tinier pocket sizes. Would not recommend for markers, really bleedy paper. I got a bunch of the Talens Art Creations recently for just daily sketching, and off-white pages aside, I've been really impressed with the paper quality. So far I've just used it for pencils and pens, but there's been no bleeding through pages or ghosting. Have not yet used with wcs, gouache, or alcohol markers.

[@ktown.]

I bought this sketchbook 2 times. I am buying it again. The first time I bought it, the size was 13 × 21 (that's the size I like). Next, I bought it for 14 × 9 (It was too small for me. The one I will buy this time is I think 14 × 21. I wanted to get the 13 x 21 but couldn't find it. I still love these sketchbooks. It's an extremely cheap option. In Malaysia, it's 32 rm. 32 rm in usd is 6.77 dollars. Insanely cheap, great quality paper (140 gsm), warm tone (I love warmer tone sketchbooks), lots of pages (140 pages, 80 sheets), and colour variation. Moleskins aren't that great. I mean, in Malaysia, Moleskins are 125 rm, but there aren't any differences. For example, the Moleskin art sketchbook is 165 gsm, 25 GSM DIFFERENCE! Moleskins have less colour variation and have fewer pages. This entire comment is fully personal preference, so dont take it to heart. I have only been drawing for 2 years. I dont have that much experience but I think I know some basics.

[@angeliqeskiies]

thank you for this video!~ i really needed a new sketchbook, and this video really helped me decide to buy which one!

[@babyspatter6075]

Can’t STAND the arteza toothed pages… The way the pencil literally RIPS the paper no matter how light you draw

[@bunnyblue_studio]

Definitely try the 4.7x4.7 royal talens sketchbook especially if you have a hard time filling a sketchbook, do urban sketching or just love sketching on the go. It’s a comfort size to hold as your sketching and it holds up well with wet media such as ink, alcohol marker and watercolor. I mainly us mine with ink, color pencil and watercolor.

[@alondraflo]

How well would you say it does with alcohol markers, in your opinion?

[@silvyghostie_melo]

Leuchtturms actually have a sketchbook version with very thick paper and works with mixed media. It’s my favourite sketchbook despite it being pricy. The gsm is 150 g/m^2.

[@JelArts]

That sounds like a great option!!

[@peachybunstudio]

it’s the one i use for my daily sketchbook ☺️ i love the smooth paper for markers

[@acehello]

I’m gonna try that one out and see if I like it! Thanks for this comment because I was a little skeptical lol

[@LoverCandy02]

There is one listed on their site with 180gsm only available in A4 and pocket?? it has 96 pages. i am going to order it soon I really enjoy Leuchtturm since I also use their journals for Bullet journaling.

[@KidCat2k]

i'm on my third leuchtturm currently and i love them so much 😭🧡

[@randomdancerdibz6043]

as a relatively beginner artist (only been drawing more seriously for about 1-2 years), i love the art creations one! i use the smallest size which i love because i don’t have the pressure of filling up giant pages and i can take it with me wherever i go. art for me is a lot more of a hobbie than something i would hope to study or make money from so it’s great to be able to experiment:)

[@ellenfry]

I'm on my 8th talens art creations sketchbook rn 👀they're great. I also like sakura sketchbooks but I think they both are from the same brand so they're quite similar

[@ChantelleArts]

There’s definitely some new sketchbooks here that I might try! One that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition is Khadi sketchbooks!? They’re so good 😍

[@JelArts]

Khadi! I'll look them up :)

[@ChantelleArts]

@@JelArts yes definitely 🙌🏻 fab for watercolour

[@beatekausch4745]

Beautiful art as usual! I use all kinds of sketchbooks, sometimes just super thin paper, sometimes watercolor paper. I have to agree with the recommendation on Hahnemühle watercolor sketchbooks, I like them a lot. Currently I have one of their toned watercolor books in gray. Love that one

[@itsdaelis2554]

I’ve been using the ohuhu sketchbook for almost a year now, and I can recommend it a lot. If you’re looking to mostly work with colored pencils or just pencils I can’t recommend it, the paper has no texture. Otherwise it’s very smooth and thick and good for markers and wet media

[@beeswax5575]

Not really considered a sketchbook per say, but the Paperblanks notebooks (they have many paper types: grided, dotted, blank..) are just amazing ones to draw in!

[@tamriis]

My personal favorite sketchbook is the Strathmore soft cover. The size is ideal and it just feels nice. I don't do much mix media, but if I ever do I know it'll hold up well. I mainly just sketch in ballpoint pen and a bit of alcohol marker. It does bleed through the other side, but that doesn't really bother me too much as I can just put a few post-it notes over it and, not only does it cover the bleed through, it also gives my sketchbook some visual interest. 😊

[@kristaboyle4152]

I'm currently finishing up an Illo, love it for sketching but not so much for my wet media. I bought an Ohuhu mixed media to try as my next one. Also this spread is so cute!!

[@JelArts]

Yeah I had the same experience with illos!

[@findekano1981]

How It is nearly impossibly to find

[@crybaby_M00N]

​@@findekano1981 ik, they're always almost out of stock and it takes months to get back in stock, I literally looked on Amazon and the official website the other day and there were only 6 left, not to mention they literally just got a dollar cheaper since Christmas

[@liesbethartlife]

Talens Art Creation just released a sketchbook collection with white paper here in Europe (Belgium, the Netherlands). It has a cover with famous paintings like Vermeer

[@JelArts]

Ohhh good to know!

[@stellarartanddesign]

I love the piece you're working on! Thank you for putting so much into making a cohesive sketchbook comparison. Every time I finish a sketchbook, I spend days researching and deciding if I should use the same one, or try something different. This video is an amazing resource!

[@JelArts]

I'm so glad you find it helpful! I just wish I have actually tried each one myself but that would take so much time and money haha

[@NightPhoenixPress]

I love Stillman Birns sketchbooks!

[@prix_Ilustração]

I like using clairefontane art graf 360 sketchbook

[@Sevvin89]

Five below has a sketchbook that's pretty cheap. I think it's similar to the Michael's sketchbook. They also have a big spiral bound one too.

[@luchanart]

I love the Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook and I work usually with Gouache, Ink, Alkoholmarkers, Posca, Charcoal, Pencils and one layer of Watercolor in this book. It works perfectly fine for all of my beloved media. The only thing is, if I decide to do a full watercolor and not just a layer or in some areas, than I work with a watercolor sketchbook from Hahnemuehle. I would not recommend this brand if you work with a lot of water in your art. My Hahnemuehle sketchbook looks like the surface of the moon and I'm still searching for a better option.

[@Sarbeararts]

Lovely art as always!! ❤ My favorite sketchbook is the Moleskine art sketchbook!! I like the off-white paper but I can see why others may not like that! ☺️

[@JelArts]

I'm glad you like them! They're definitely very aesthetically pleasing

[@bostonblackie9503]

In 2020 I bought the smallest sketch book Pentalic had. It cost just over $5.00 CAN. Today it costs over $21.00. Ridiculous!

[@jonas.x.buchmuller]

i have a moleskine sketchbook and i absolutely loove it!

[@hammydown9942]

I love Walmart sketchbooks with hard covers and lots of paper because I fill so many pages not stressing complete or masterful work. Also, I’ve done some watercolor in it (and it can’t handle a lot of water, but you can still get a pretty decent result). Not my favorite sketchbook ever, but for a low effort, high practice sketchbook it’s really good

[@ohhhcrud..]

I'm always looking for new sketchbooks to try out so I'm definitely gonna save this video lol. I've already tried a small handful of these but my favorite is the Illo sketchbook. It's not for everyone, the paper is super smooth (which I love) and the normal kind doesnt do well with watercolors (there is one specifically made for watercolor though). I really wish it came in different colors though lol

[@cyt0skeleton934]

Elements of Art makes a good sketchbook. Im currently in their A4 wrap sketchbook. Comes with a dust cover which is really fun, super nice paper for mixed media, cardstock-ish cover with stitched binding. Im pretty sure it's over 200 pages. Acid free, and the binding holds together well even if you rip pages out.

[@foreverchizuru]

Hi! My birthday is coming up and I'm wanting to get a new sketchbook. Does anybody know what the red sketchbook at the top of stack of sketchbooks in the thumbnail of this video? Cause it would really help if I knew cause that's the sketchbook I would want :D

[@Titiparana]

I’m pretty sure it’s a moleskin or leuchtturm sketchbook

[@salicyn.willow]

Yall I lovee the talens sketchbook! I picked it up by accident one day and I think Im going to make them my main, they lie flat, they're in pretty colors and they can take watercolor washes! Nothing to crazy like you can't do a whole watercolor painting but they can take a few layers. I highly recommend. I would also say that the off white color of the pages isnt terribly noticable

[@KetchupCanvas]

It's funny you said 8.5 X 11 pink Artist Loft sketchbook because I have that exact one 😂

[@mio1260]

A bit late but I think I’ve got two / three solid favourites in sketchbooks: currently, Pith Sketchbooks (small UK-based brand focused on sustainability) are great albeit a bit pricey. Awesome binding, great looks, and the paper works great with what I usually do (inks & waterbased markers). Outside of those, the 8x8 inch Seawhite or Hahnemule sketchbooks are by far my favourite for the cost - I think they’re around 15USD each, really thick, last a long time, great paper, and square. While not budget price, they are hefty books so they’re going to last you a long time.

[@sharkfilledstarship]

Have you tried out/looked at Cresent Rendr sketchbooks ?

[@JelArts]

I've heard of rendr, but I don't really need something that heavy duty. It's cool how alcohol markers won't bleed through though!

[@fuzzydragons]

I used a lot of Seawhite sketchbooks at college and uni, since the art stores stocked them and they wee cheap. they do provide a lot of bulk supplies to schools/college/unis. they are pretty basic, but do the job cute page of pooches 🥰

[@Namoraslife]

Leuchtturm has so much nicer paper than moleskine. I always find the moleskine sketchbooks and Notebooks to have almost flimsy paper whereas Leuchtturm is really great. It just can not handle water, it'll warp really bad with wet media and alcohol markers bleed heavily, but with a plastic page protector, you are able to draw on every other page with no issues.

[@Fish_out_of_watercolor]

my new favourite , the Jerry's Artarama SOHO sketchbooks and mix media sketchbooks!

[@damsamiam]

I love the Jane Davenport sketchbooks! They are closer to a hot press watercolor paper and work with everything I threw at it. It used to be sold at michaels, but I can't find it there anymore. Also, the mossery sketchbooks are great, but as you said, SO pricey. Especially once you get to the shipping.

[@usagiakileo]

I love Jane's journals as well! She doesn't work with Michaels anymore which is why you have to order them from her website now

[@rdg4671]

I personally love the ohuhu sketchbooks because I am really into markers and pens. The paper feels smooth, and I love how it comes with that page protecter or whatever you call it to prevent any bleed through on the other pages. The Rendr sketchbook was also a really great one that showed no bleed throughs on the other side of the same sheet of paper.

[@JelArts]

oooh I forgot to mention the ohuhu page protectors! They're so cool for including those.

[@ChiseledDiamond]

Just finished my Hanehmülhe sketchbook (student a5 portrait watercolor) and i am now using Norways equivelant to artists loft; Panduro.

[@snowqueen_8958]

I like Canson and artist loft mixed media sketchbooks

[@alphonzosolorzano5011]

Wow Super comprehensive list. I guess it ultimately comes down to what kind of media you're using. I prefer heavier slightly toothy paper that can handle some wet medias as well. Strathmore mixed media, Stilman & Burn Zeta, & Hahnemühle watercolor are great. But living in a smaller town over seas has limited some of those options due to availability and price. So I've recently bought Fabriano 1264 drawing pads 180 gsm (Spiral bound even tho I don't use spiral bound) and began just making my own sketchbooks with that paper. Using the A3 (tabloid) size I can get about 2 nice square format sketchbooks 21 x 21cm. Use the backing of the pad for the covers and some inexpensive bookbinding supplies from a local shop. Plenty of good tutorials online and the sketchbooks in the end come out to about 6 euros each & they're as nice as the Etcher Perfect Sketchbooks in my opinion. And they're exactly to my specs. Linen hardcover top, coptic stitched so they lay flat, elastic band, internal pocket on back cover. I change the cover colors often with each new sketchbook. Worth the time in the end to have something exactly the way you want it.

[@Ana36377]

I personally used Moleskines in the past (I have two of them already) but since they’re like super expensive where I’m from I’ve been thinking to switch. I’ve tried Handbook Journal Co. (I really like that one and gifted one of these for my sister) and I recently bought the Royal Talens Art Creations after a recommendation from one of my art teachers. My main watercolour sketchbook is an A4 Hahnemühle which I use for my heavier wet media stuff. Some of these recommendations look promising and I’ll look into them (once I finish my sketchbooks).

[@tabbi888]

Mellow days ,magnolia sketchbook looks worth trying its a larger b size and very heavyweight 50% cotton paper for about $ 35. I haven't tried it yet but it'll probably be my next one. Currently i use the etchr everyday sketchbooks and love them. ❤️

[@Rowtating]

Hi! I was wondering what your favorite types of gouache is. You’re huge source of inspiration for me and I would love to know what brand you use because i want to get started in gouache. (It might be nice to make a video discussing your favorite art supplies or something I don’t know, but have a nice day)

[@JelArts]

I actually have a video about my favourite art supplies! kzbin.info/www/bejne/amqcXnqXnqerj6s I'll need to make a 2023 video soon though. My favourite gouache is the holbein artist gouache, but it's kinda pricey tbh. I also like the Windsor and Newton designers gouache, but I'm not sure if those are any cheaper. Some people will grab a giant white of more expensive gouache and use cheaper gouache as the main pigment but I've never tried that myself.

[@tylermymann]

is 140 gsm in the art creations sketchbook enough for mix media?

[@spilledteaissadtea3037]

Oh I’m so happy you brought up Articka sketchbook cause I actually used it. (Note, this sketchbook has lines that will allow you to tear out your pages if you want to. Don’t worry the way how it’s design, you will have to actively try to tear out the pages for it to tear. So as long as you don’t pick it up by grabbing one page you should be fine) So what I did use multiple art supplies to test out what material works with it. I drew all of my original characters and here are the supplies it tested (Disclaimer I don’t use Acrylic, colored pencil, gouache as much compared to other materials. So someone who uses that more than me would probably have a better time) Colored pencil Acrylic Ink/Dip pen Ink wash Watercolor Gouache Alcohol markers Water based/Tombow markers So just to start off with the bad, I don’t recommend wet medium at all. Like Illo it creates a speckling problem, and it kinda feels like I’m dissolving the paper fiber. Anything wetter than a very thin layer, the paper will act up so don’t try any wet on wet techniques. It also dries very fast so depending on you watercolor technique that could be an issue. Feathering out any inks is very difficult but watercolor and gouache is doable simply because they are water reactive. So if you put down a wash of ink it’s just permanent. But if you let the layers fully dry you can surprisingly layer a lot of color so if it looks dull you can just keep adding layers to get better saturation. However I’m stubborn and I’ll continue to use wet medium in this sketchbook, but make sure you don’t due front page and back page with wet mediums because it will bleed through. Like I now have dark spots from the ink wash onto my watercolor picture. And it’ll make the paper dissolve faster. However gouache works surprisingly well with this paper. I started off with a slight thicker consistency with the first layer, and when I kept making the paint thicker and thicker I did not get any speckling problem at all so there’s that. Watercolor markers already eat up normal paper and like two layers started to tear a bit. Again let it fully dry and then you can add a second layer. Alcohol markers are perfect for this book because while it’ll ghost like crazy, I added a lot of layer and I didn’t get any bleed through. Also I didn’t deal with any bad feathering. Dip pens work amazingly with this paper because it’s smooth and same result with fine liners. Don’t recommend colored pencil because like illo the texture is so smooth that the pencils have nothing to grip on and it took a lot for me to get decent colors before I gave up. Sketching with colored pencil is fine and if you put it on top like a watercolor or alcohol layer it should work. Finally acrylics, like the gouache it took acrylics very well didn’t have issues with layering it was fine. So overall pretty good illo dupe but I will say I feel like illo take wet media better because I didn’t have as much struggle with my tombow markers there and I didn’t have the paper dry to fast for me. But the pro is it does take alcohol markers better so there’s that. But like me you can definitely brute force those wet mediums if you want to but this sketchbook is definitely more built for dryer mediums with gouache as the exception. Hope this review helps anyone who considers the book.

[@blitzie66]

thank you!

[@petrajuricev6126]

I gave up on the Royal Talens Art Creation sketchbook because the paper isn't just off white - it's straight up pale yellow. I had other off white notebooks to compare it to and the Art Creation one looks like it's been glazed with pastel yellow gouache or something. The paper is quite good but the colour was just so off putting to me. And it also has 80 sheets, which is a lot of space to fill up. But if that's not something you would mind, it would be a good sketchbook. They have so many sizes and colours.

[@JelArts]

Ohh so it's super yellow then? I guess some people like that but I don't think it's for me 🤔

[@jcookie9448]

I just ordered the cork-covered art creation sketchbooks. I heard that the paper is white but mine hasn't arrived yet!

[@DamianDiaz325]

What kind of sketchbook do you use?

[@BunNessa_Art]

I've used the moleskine watercolor sketchbook and do NOT recommend it. It does ok with the ohuhu water based markers and tombow ones. Is not for watercolor (basic washes do not perform well) copics bleed through but aren't too bad.

[@shadowqueen6485]

I kinda love using artists loft sketchbooks, even tho it's not mix Media friendly i still use some of my alcohol markers in there despite the back Pages bleeding through, but i do still feel imitated by it because of how many pages they're are. 😅

[@JelArts]

There's something fun about making the most of a cheaper sketchbook!!

[@shadowqueen6485]

@@JelArts so true! I only buy them because it's the only ones I could find at Michael's and they're affordable. 👍🏼

[@anamariefalk3796]

I've also been meaning to try the Nina Cosford sketchbook, I've heard great things but it's a big investment bc of shipping bc she ships from the UK

[@ForeverWildstar]

the denik sketchbooks are really good (hardbound or soft bound) but be warned they do NOT like posca markers at all and they bleed alcohol clear through lol. good news is that the softbound is perfect for sketching and playing with ink and many artist use them as a manufacturer for selling sketchbooks! so theres many patterns to choose from! i love the stilman and birn zetas in particular as a mixed media artist bc its super smooth white paper that can handle just about anything for a decent price! some where between a high quality sketchbook and a doodle one. lays nice and flat but only after the first few pages due to the floppy cover currently using the artika sketchbook bc its slightly cheaper and easier to get then the illo (and ive been wanting to try the illo for awhile) and ill say that i like it for the most part? the paper reminds me alot of the denik sketchbook but with a little more of a bleeding issue. but the paper is smooth and white and feel nice to draw on. just a warning though the pages are perforated for some reason??? but the hard cover protects the cut lines well enough. also thank you JelArts for making a list of available sketchbooks alongside a price range! i feel like its been awhile since ive seen a big and up to date list for newer artists to reference from!

[@bubbsy1313]

I just bought the square talens art creation sketchbook in that shade of purple 😂

[@shyrabenson9320]

I recently got a Soho urban artist sketchbook with kraft paper (there are a couple paper options, kraft is what I prefer). It's been really great! It's coptic bound so it lays flat, I haven't had any bleed through with the tombow markers I use. I don't use paint markers like poscas, but I know that's a popular thing to use in it as well. I do want to see how it holds up to a bit of gouache

[@mizuXmagicXmango]

what paints are you using in this video? they're so vibrant and beautiful

[@UDAYRAJIV]

its actually a sketch+o (yes with a +) its under 5 $ and really good

[@---------M]

Nobody talked about the croquis sketchbooks?

[@AtelierArts]

I have that red sketchbook! I'm trying to finish it as we speak

[@lawsdraws]

Ohhh I love this kind of video [puts kettle on] 😊

[@anaventura590]

What watercolor are you using??

[@Luvstarzxz]

What brush are you using in the video?

[@cre8iveflare]

I love all the beautiful dogs.

[@Sadiefromthecrypt]

8.5x11 artist loft is just the official sketchbook of art students on a budget I guess. But Fr if you buy it duct tape the spine before using it, the spine will fall off if you don’t 💀

[@cpatel5397]

I’m a heavy Leuchtturm 1917 user and I love love them . They have so so many pages like 265 I think I use those ones for pencils and markers and small amount of wet medium but I use the art ones for mixed media . They have so many mini a7 , pocket a6 , paperback b6, medium a5, composition b5 , then the master A4+ which is 100gms the others are 80 but I like for just getting ideas down they have blank , dotted , bulletin, gridded And planners I have a rainbow in my shelve and love it They also have more sizers in the art section like squared and landscape which is 300 gsm . I will mention I hate moleskine Im using a bit of everything in the 80 gsm and it’s handling it very well … if I do get bleed though I use that has a starting point on that page or I put a piece of paper over it .. Sorry it’s 250 pages I checked lol .. Anybody is interested in the actual dimensions of the journals. I would be happy to share them.

[@anothergayartist]

currently I've been using rhodia sketchbooks - they have a bunch of different bindings and paper types and each sketchbook has a list of the medias it can handle. I use the one that's good up with light use of wet medias and I just love it, it's hard to find square sketchbooks especially in person but I saw this one at desserres and it's been my go to forever

[@joobt.3533]

Hello. I love your commission in this video very much. How much is it..if i want you to draw my dogs...in digital file?😊😊 @jelarts