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If you’re looking for a way to express yourself in a more creative way, buying a sketchbook would be a nice way to start. This simple piece of paper can be many things and you can use it in so many ways. You can practice your skills, create artwork, express your emotions, do some experimenting with shapes and colours or anything else you find helpful.
Why Should I Use a Sketchbook?
A sketchbook is an important item to have among your creative supplies. It represents a place where you can express your creativity, place some ideas you have, and also serve as a safe place where you can make mistakes. You can use it to develop your thoughts and improve your ideas as you see fit.
There are no limits to what you can use the sketchbook for. It’s something that you can turn into your own private diary, and use to express your thoughts, plans, feelings and hopes. You can use it to draw, work on sketches, make collages, write poetry or anything else you find inspiring. Sometimes, it’s useful to have more than one sketchbook and use all of them for different purposes.
What to Consider When Buying?
Size
It doesn’t matter if you browse for a sketchpad online, or you’re visiting your local store, one of the most important things to consider is the size. Think about what you want to do with it. This can give you a rough idea about the size. If you’re comfortable working on smaller pieces, go for a smaller sketchbook. If you’re interested in creating bigger pieces or you need more space for your collage, buy a bigger one.
There are several recommended pad sizes. They’re marked with the letter A and numbers. They vary from A7 to A4. In this case, A7 (7.4×10.5cm) is the smallest one and A4 is the biggest sketchbook (21×29.7cm). Of course, there are larger options, but they aren’t always practical. Smaller sizes like A6 and A7 are suitable if you’re often on the go. Many people get inspired while they’re travelling, at the office or while having breakfast. Not every project you have in mind will work with every sketchpad size, so think about your plans and lifestyle in advance.
Orientation
The orientation of the sketchbook correlates with the length of the binding. If it has a portrait orientation, it will be positioned vertically. This means the binding will run the length of the sketchbook. If it has a landscape orientation, it will be positioned horizontally when opened. In this case, the binding will run the width of the sketchbook.
When opened, landscape sketchbooks are very long and thin, making them ideal if you’re drawing extending horizons. There are also square pads that some people prefer over horizontal or vertical ones. They find them easier to handle and work with. The orientation you choose will mainly depend on the way you’re positioning your hands and supplies.
Paper
There are three main types of paper you can choose from. Hot-pressed paper is very smooth, almost like you’ve ironed it. It gives the lines definition. This paper is good for pen or pencil drawings. However, it won’t work well with watercolours because they won’t sink into the paper easily.
Cold-pressed paper is also smooth but still has some raised paper fibres. This one is good if you’re working with watercolours because the pain will sink inside the paper. There’s also rough paper which has a lot of texture. It may not be good for pen or pencil drawings, but it’s perfect when you want to experiment with texture and pattern.
If you can, avoid paper that has acid inside. Acid can damage the paper after a while. No one wants to see their work destroyed, so keep an eye on acid-free paper. The weight of the paper matters as well. If you’re working with a liquid medium, you should buy a sketchbook with at least 200g or even more.
Cover
If you’re looking for a sketchpad online, make sure you take note of its cover. It’s an important element that can make or break the whole drawing experience. There are several covers you can choose from. Hardbacks will protect your work from the elements. Just make sure it has a good binding, so the pages don’t tear or fall off.
Softback covers can be made of heavier paper, leather or refined plastic. They’re good for travelling because you can bend them easily. If you want it to be more durable, invest in a more expensive leather cover. There are also spiral-bound sketchbooks. They’re good if you’re gathering one-page sketches. However, if you want to draw across two pages it won’t work.
Binding
The sketchbook’s binding isn’t always an important factor to consider but it can make a difference sometimes. There are two option: the standard stitch and the ring binding. The stitched ones will open flat and are great if you’re doing two-page drawings. Of course, this depends on the stitching. Hard-stitched sketchbooks will be harder to open flat.
Ring binding or spiral sketchbooks also have their pros and cons. If it’s larger, you can fold it over and work freely. Some designs allow you to disassemble the rings and take the pages out. On the other hand, if you don’t take care of it properly, the pages may fall apart.
Removable Pages or Not?
While not everyone plans to take out the sketches to put them on display, spiral binders make it simpler to do so. Some of them even have perforated (pierced) pages to make this process much cleaner and easier. There’s almost no chance of damaging the artwork and you won’t have to manually trim the edges.
Number of Pages
How many pages a sketchbook will have mainly depends on your personal preference. Some people are more comfortable with less pages and some don’t mind a thicker one. When buying online, take note of the number of pages it has if you find this aspect important. Some people go for a thinner pad because they don’t get overwhelmed and pressured to finish it faster.
