Sketchbook Showdown: The Best Sketchbooks for Every Medium

✷ Sketchbooks are essential and precious for just about every artist, and finding one that works best for you is key. Breaking down my favorites for illustrators, those that use marker, watercolor, mixed media, colored pencil, etc., what’s the most affordable without losing quality, and my personal favorites that make great gift material for any artist you may know. Longer video this time to stay in depth with each sketchbook
Sketchbooks I Mention:
For pen, pencil, marker, colored pencil, paint marker
✷ Fabriano Ecoqua Blank Notebook
Ecoqua Original Staple-Bound Blank Notebooks 3.5x5.5 Spring Colors Set of 4 | plazaart.com
✷ Stillman and Birn Zeta Softcover Sketchbook
Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Softcover Sketchbook - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", Landscape | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Stillman and Birn Epsilon Softcover Sketchbook
Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series Softcover Sketchbooks | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Artist’s Loft Layflat Sketchbook
Lay Flat Sketchbook by Artist's Loft™ | Michaels
Watercolor
✷ Hahnemuhle Akademie Aquarell Cold Press Watercolor Sketchbook
Hahnemühle Akademie Aquarell Watercolor Book - 5-3/4" x 8" | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Etchr Hot Pressed Watercolor Sketchbook
Etchr Mixed Media Hardbound Sketchbook - A5, 5.8" x 8.3", Hot Press, Landscape | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Stillman and Birn Delta Cold Pressed Softcover Watercolor Sketchbook
Stillman & Birn Delta Series Softcover Sketchbooks | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Paul Rubens Hot Press Watercolor Sketchbook
Amazon.com: Paul Rubens Watercolor Journal, 100% Cotton 140 lb (300 GSM) Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper, 20 Sheets Sized 3.8’’ x 5.2’’ Travel Art Journal for Beginners and Experienced Painters (Black)
Mixed Media
✷ Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media Softcover Sketchbook
Strathmore Softcover 500 Series Mixed Media Art Journal - 8" x 5-1/2", 32 Sheets | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
Personal Favorites
✷ Etchr Hot Pressed Watercolor Sketchbook
Etchr Mixed Media Hardbound Sketchbook - A5, 5.8" x 8.3", Hot Press, Landscape | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Softcover Sketchbook
Strathmore Softcover 400 Series Sketch Artist Journal - 8" x 5-1/2", White, 60 lb, 160 Pages | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)
✷ Artist’s Loft Layflat Sketchbook
Lay Flat Sketchbook by Artist's Loft™ | Michaels
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[@jenneke2]

I really appreciate your in depth review of these commonly known and available sketch books. I typically use watercolor, (some gouache and acrylics) and am on the hunt for something that I can swatch washes into. Particularly want something that will reveal watercolor’s characteristics. So far, I’ve been less than thrilled with those I’ve tried…sigh! Maybe the etchr is in my future. Btw, have you tried any of the baohong products?

[@adriandoyleart]

Thank you! And I’ve been meaning to try BaoHong’s hot press watercolor block. If you don’t mind my asking, I’ve been looking for gouache brands to try that are a little more professional than the Himi Miya or Arrtx gouache but not quite as pricey as Holbein. Would you happen to have any suggestions?

[@adriandoyleart]

Out of the ones I’ve tried I’d suggest Etchr and Stillman and Birn’s Delta and Beta Watercolor sketchbooks for anything good with swatches. Stillman’s the easier of the two to find in store and online and a bit more affordable. I really love both for swatching, but given my budget I’d suggest the Delta. Etchr’s paper is beautiful, but the watercolor sketchbooks by Stillman and burn are also really nice quality, and I didn’t mention it in the video but if you’re looking for a hardcover sketchbook they also come in hardcover versions of the softcover ones I reviewed like Etchr.

[@jenneke2]

I started out with a Royal and Langnickel set bought unused at a garage sale, which were fine to begin with. Then I bought 8 tubes of basic mixing colours from M Graham. They’re beautiful to work with, although more transparent than other legacy brands. After I bought them, RUclipsr Sade Saves the Day produced a 5* review of the better brands. I think she’s left YT, but you can probably still find that video. I highly recommend it!
Another RUclips channel to seek out is Sarah Burns, who is a gouache artist . She recently did an exhaustive research/test & follow-up of several brands of gouache dispensed into palettes, ‘dried’ and then compared with ‘out-of-the-tube’ gouache. I think you’d enjoy the thorough analysis! It was fascinating!

[@adriandoyleart]

@@jenneke2 Wow thank you so much for the rec! I have to say you're great at professionally talking about art supplies and recs. If you're ever thinking about making videos about supplies or anything I think you'd be really good at it!