Things You'll Need:
- Watercolor Paintbrushes
- Watercolors
- Art Papers
- Graph Papers
- Sketchbooks
- Watercolor Paper
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Step 1
Choose a sketch pad with a paper that works with the pencil that you'd like to use. Fragile paper rips if you use a hard lead, while rough paper produces lots of dust with soft lead.
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Step 2
Select a paper quality that matches the use you have in mind. Choose watercolor paper if you're going to use watercolors or a pad of newsprint if you're going to generate a lot of quick sketches. Ask the art store clerk for advice if testers aren't available.
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Step 3
Choose a graph paper pad if you're going to make measured sketches.
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Step 4
Select a bound book if you're going to make sketches and notes to record a trip and keep them as a memento. Choose one that stays open without damage to the spine.
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Step 5
Pick a sketchbook with replaceable, loose paper if you're tentative about your sketching talent.
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Step 6
Choose a sketchbook that doesn't intimidate you with a cover more fabulous than the sketches you'll make in it.
Comments
robertsloan2 said
on 10/8/2007 My favorite sort of sketchbook is wirebound, double spiral, with hard covers for permanence, microperforated pages and 9" x 12" or smaller so I can scan the resulting drawings. Some people prefer to work larger but I like being able to scan. They're sturdy enough to use for permanent journals, but the microperf pages come out easily if I want to sell or hang one of the drawings. Always work on one side of the sheet in case you want to take it out and sell it.
Olorin said
on 5/8/2007 It's not a matter of the sketchbook being bigger, there are tonnes of diff sizes of sketchbooks out there that go from the standard A4 down to the A8 and up to the A0, you just have to look! Specialised art stores are especially brilliant with art supplies.
iluvstix44 said
on 12/12/2006 I've never thought about that. Wouldn't it be more helpful if the sketchbook was bigger so your hand/arm doesn't lie on the corner of the sketchbook?
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Spiral binding is the best for a non-decorative sketchbook. Paper will lie flat when you are drawing, unlike a traditional glue-and-cover binding. If possible, get a book with binding on the top (rather than the side). This way, the binding never gets in the way of your arm and you can use both sides of the paper.