shops.ae
Office supplies
  Close

Sketchbooks

About Sketchbooks

Every artist needs a place a cosy place to experiment with their new art supplies, explore new ideas, and practice with no expectations of perfection. Well, it’s no secret that sketchbooks play a considerable role in the development of your unique sketching style. That’s why having the best drawing sketchbook are a boon. However, for that to happen, it’s imperative to find one that you’ll love drawing on and one that works for your specific needs. To help you with your quest of finding the best artist sketchbook, in this guide, we will go through a few things you should consider before making the final choice. So, let’s get started!

Before getting into the types and technical details, let’s see what the purpose of the sketchbooks is. A sketchbook tells a story. The more drawing books you have, the better it is. In fact, it’s a hybrid of portfolio and scrapbook. You can fill in your ideas, annotations, variations, and sketches that demonstrate a range of your skills. Besides, it puts you one step ahead of your competition. Above all, it’s a super comfortable place to express yourself and develop your ideas without any barriers. However, one of the most exciting things about these drawing books is that they come in a variety of types. Let’s check out some of the coolest sketchbooks you can consider investing in, in the next section.

The five coolest sketchbooks to tweak your inner artist

Luckily, sketchbooks are available to you in a variety of shapes, designs, sizes, with different covers. What’s more, you can also find them with different numbers of pages. Apart from that, you’ll also find them with various paper quality. You usually differentiate them based on their weight and tooth. This allows you to use a wide variety of drawing techniques on them. This ranges from simple pencil drawings to watercolours and acrylic paints or pen and ink. Remember, certain paper quality works well for a specific painting or drawing technique. What’s more, you can also find the sketchbook papers in various tones like cream, pure white, and grey. We’ve compiled below a few such popular sketchpads that you can buy for yourself.

The best overall Moleskine art sketchbook

If you’re in search of sketchpads that make up for the best travel sketchbooks, then look no further than these models from Moleskine. They’re an ideal sketchpad for sketching on the move. They’re larger when compared to the other models and give you enough room to channel your ideas on. Even with their large size, they’re much convenient to carry around. What’s more, it comes with an elastic closure that helps you neatly fit them in your bags. Besides, they also come with rounded corners that ensure that it doesn’t bend when you store them. Apart from that, they come with thick, robust papers.

The Strathmore sketchbook for the professional artist

With spiral binding, smooth and creamy paper, and relatively few pages, the sketchbook from Strathmore is a delight to use. The papers in the sketchpads pay careful attention to the colour, absorbency, weight, and texture. In fact, for professional artists, this model is one of the best sketchpads around. They not only feature a fine-tooth that carries graphite well but also makes sure to carry both the paints and pastels well too. Moreover, you can find them in a wide variety of sizes from tiny pads to sizes way up to 18 X 24 inches. You can go for the larger sizes if you need more space to work on.

The XL Canson sketchbook for markers

This model is another excellent wet media sketchpad from Canson. The product comes with 100 pages of thin, slightly translucent paper that’s quite unusual. However, it still works well for both sketching and tracing. The papers in the books are transparent with little in the way of the tooth. Thus, you need not worry about your markers smudging or snagging while drawing. Besides, the ink will not bleed to the other side of the next page when you’re sketching. Translucent paper typically means that you can see your sketches on the reverse side. Therefore, you cannot sketch on the other side of the paper with these books. But, there are enough sheets in the book for this not to be an issue.

The Canson Artist series watercolour sketchbook

How about a perfect sketchbook for watercolour that will not buckle or ripple when you’re drawing on them? Well, that’s exactly what your product offers you. Mixed media pads can be useful. However, they rarely perform as well as pads designed for specific needs. The book features water colouring pads that withstand repeated washes. The thick nature of the papers in the book does not ripple or deform when it dries. Besides, you’ll find no bleeding. Each paper is perforated. However, this model from Canon has factored that into size. That’s why you’ll not lose an inch of paper when you tear them out.

The Pentalic wire-bound small sketchbook

A small but extra tough sketchpad is always a boon to an artist’s arsenal. This sketchpad from Pentalic is everything that you need. Its small structure enables you to toss them in your pocket. Yet, they’re sturdy and tough enough to survive any kind of rough treatment. The model features hardcovers that prevent damage from everyday bumps and knocks. Besides, its double-wired spiral binding resists bending. Also, note this model doesn’t come with perforations for tearing out pages. Hence, this is best for exercises and rough work, rather than pieces you want to keep in a portfolio. Besides, they’re affordable too.

Tips on how to buy Sketchbooks online

Isn’t it just awesome that you have so many brands of sketchbooks to choose from? Of course, it is! But, quite often it gets hard having to decide the best among all, particularly when you have to pick the best. Below we’ll discuss a few quick tips. We believe every artist or individual must consider these before you make the final call on the drawing book. This will ensure that you reap maximum benefit from the books you buy.

  • Figure out the various size options – Every artist has different ideas and thoughts that they need to paint. The space required to channel your thoughts into determines the extent of your sketchpad. Of course, you’ll find sketch pads in different size options. However, it’s best to pick something convenient for your use.
  • Check out the weight – Another factor that you must give relevance to is the weight of the sketchpad papers and the overall weight of the book. If you’re someone who carries along your sketchpads wherever you go, then you need to buy something handy. Picking a lightweight book allows you to carry them along for quick sketches.
  • Look out for the binding – For a reliable and sturdy journal, it’s imperative to invest in a sketchbook that comes with a good binding. A strong binding ensures that all your sketches are closely knit with no risk of falling out when you’re on the move. Therefore, make sure to look out for a model that incorporates long-lasting binds.
  • Select one with a fantastic cover – Of course, the insides are essential when it comes to sketchbooks. But, the outer covers also play a significant role, though this depends on your personal preference. Today, you can find sketchpads with different types of covers. These include covers from leather, paperback, and hardcovers. Each one has its pros and cons. We recommend you to go for full-grain leather covers, as they last longer.
  • Go for models with default orientation – The ability to draw in the direction you please is paramount when it comes to sketchpads. You’ll find sketchpads with different orientations. Make sure you pick a model with an orientation that you feel most comfortable drawing on. Some of the standard orientations you’ll find include landscape and portrait.
  • Consider the type of paper – Just like you can find several kinds of paints; you can also find sketch pads with different paper qualities to paint on. When selecting the sketchpad paper, your intended use plays a crucial role in it. That’s because there are papers explicitly made for specific drawing techniques.

Being able to express your ideas, thoughts, and feelings are made easy when you have a sketchbook in hand. Although common with professionals, there’s no reason for them to be limited only to that profession. Because even some of the world’s best paintings were just scribbles before they turned into masterpieces. Whether you’re an artist seeking top-quality books, or a beginner starting out to explore your drawing skills, a perfect sketchbook is a must. We hope the tips above will guide you in the right direction when you set out to buy sketchbooks online in UAE effortlessly.

Question & Answer

When was the sketchbook invented?

Sketchbooks have a long-standing history. Besides, we all know that drawings existed long before paper did. People in those days drew or wrote on surfaces such as slates or wood tablets that could be cleaned and reused. Some of the earliest sketchpads were handmade and consisted of a few sheets of paper. However, a proper sketchpad came into being only in the 18th century. Over the years they’ve significantly evolved and have been crucial to the careers of various famous painters.

What sketchbook is best for gouache?

Just like watercolours and acrylics, gouache paint is a water medium. It’s a pigment that you need to mix with watercolours to spread across a surface. We wouldn’t recommend using them on sketchbooks if you plan to use them thickly, just like the acrylic paints. However, if you plan to paint them relatively thin with it, you could use it on watercolour paper. However, you could also use them on thick paper as per your requirements. Therefore, pick a sketch pad that has thin sheets or one with medium thickness sheets.

Which sketchbook is best for Copic markers?

Copic markers are special quality markers that the artist keeps in high regard. They allow the artists to blend vibrant colours smoothly. Besides, they’re streak-free and permanent. However, most Copic markers bleed through thin papers. This is why only a special heavyweight paper can hold their ink. But, certain special sketchpads come with good-quality papers that withhold the ink from these markers. Canson XL Series Mix Media Pad, Strathmore 300 Series Spiral Sketch Pad, ARTEZA Premium Sketch Book, and Bee Paper Company Creative Marker Book are a few to consider investing in.

What sketchbook should I buy online?

Sketch pads are an artist’s soul. This is why it’s essential to buy a book that allows you to bring out your ideas, notions, and creativity onto the paper without any hesitation. To achieve this, you need to pick a perfect sketch pad that fulfils your needs. Besides, it should also be of good quality. Some of the popular sketchbook brands that you can consider investing in includes names like Calarts, Maruman, Maxi, Crayola, Mont Marte, FIS, Disney, Hape, Derwent, Mead, and Meri Meri.

Channelling one’s feelings and thoughts into a sketchbook can be therapeutic. It’s like confiding in a friend because they can remain private as long as you want. Plus, with so many options out there, you do not have to stick with one. Head out and explore the several choices on Shops.ae. Our product search engine brings you some of the best handcraft articles and sketchpads from popular brands and online stores. What’s more, you can also check out several office supplies too right here on our platform! So, get started and discover your options here.

Recent products

Cloud Nine (2 Discs) | Kygo
Cloud Nine (2 Discs) | Kygo
Tracklist:IntroStole The ShowFictionRagingFirestoneHappy BirthdayI'm In LoveOasisNot AloneSerious...
159.-
The Purple Cow Fifty Dot to Dot Card Game
The Purple Cow Fifty Dot to Dot Card Game
"50" was born from our frustration as parents seeing our kids glued to their screens - if it is n...
49.-