I don't know the brand that I use (it varies) but I like 8.5 x 11 notebook size hard cover sketchbooks. They're big enough for me to take to figure drawing, and still small enough that I don't stick out with one in a meeting during the day when I need to write down notes from a crit etc. I usually end up drawing on any paper I get though so those are scattered about my desk and I throw away older pieces of paper as I get fed up with their quality.
I'm curious as to your motives for this thread? Are you trying to figure out what type of sketchbook you should buy or are you just curious and want to make a poll for giggles?
It makes absolutely no difference. I'm somewhat partial to Bienfang, but only because it happened to be the brand I was using back in like 11th grade, which was a pretty good year for me.
I use Moleskines for writing though. The paper's too smooth for sketching, the books are too small, and they're too expensive. But for writing, they're awesome. The binding is perfect.
I "use" strathmore, use as in, have, but they remain unused.
I really love massive sketchbooks, though, with hard backing so that you can use it like a table.
I got a couple of moleskines, since they are bound well and are good for small stuff. But for the rest, I don't really worry much about brands to be honest. All I care about is the quality of the paper and the bind, and in that order.
The small ones are perfect for carrying around in my pocket, sketching on the go! And its also replaced my wallet, since it has a pocket perfect for my debit card, train card and business cards.
The a6 is my favorite for sketching in bed. The a4 folio ones are awesome for life drawing!
whatever the shop sells, i don't want to spend to much money on it because i feel like i mess up too much pages by only drawing a single thing on them. I just can't draw anything else on a page when i know i f*cked up a drawing thats already on there so i rip the page out
if i had to do that with a moleskin i would be losing a lot of money
I just can't draw anything else on a page when i know i f*cked up a drawing thats already on there so i rip the page out
Lol I do the same.
The funny thing is that I have indeed done that with Moleskine's, and because of the way they're bound, you rip a page or two out and the next thing you know the damn thing falls apart and you've lost half your book.
Muzz, what's the paper like in those Daler Ebony books? They look awesome but I gotta have super smooth paper, most of the 'blackbooks' I've picked up have been like really rough paper, or even slightly rough, and not nice to sketch on.
I never even looked at the brand till now. Canson. Easy to pull out on the bus to sketch, and the (not coiled, forget what its called) binding holds/protects my pen when its not in use.
having concentrated on fine arts for the last year and a bit dabbling with different sketchbooks i feel its the drawings thats the important thing, not the book. Skines are cool (owned 4, 2 sketch and 2 watercolour) but like lomography over priced and really just a name sake thing. You can find other great books without shelling out, although you can find moleskines cheap on the net.
At the moment im using this no named brand cheap softcover book (man how i love soft covers over hard covers) and love it, pretty poor paper ]but pft, i just dont get fussed over these things.- try various different ones and see what sticks.
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At one time I had a kickass little field sketchbook that was half way lined for notes.
I have on occasion built my own sketchbook out of some kickass paper I got at the art store.
Bristol rocks. I've made sketchbooks out of that.
Canson does well enough for quick sketches
Best thing about hardback as opposed to spiral bound is that they last longer and dont look out of case on a bookshelf.
http://www.daler-rowney.com/content/hardback-books
I'm curious as to your motives for this thread? Are you trying to figure out what type of sketchbook you should buy or are you just curious and want to make a poll for giggles?
I use Moleskines for writing though. The paper's too smooth for sketching, the books are too small, and they're too expensive. But for writing, they're awesome. The binding is perfect.
Good for wet and dry mediums. It will buckle with watercolors and bleed through with markers, but I still like them for general durability.
Using gouache and markers:
Using Dr Ph Martins watercolors.
Typical weekend fun before Cintiq corrupted it all
I really love massive sketchbooks, though, with hard backing so that you can use it like a table.
The small ones are perfect for carrying around in my pocket, sketching on the go! And its also replaced my wallet, since it has a pocket perfect for my debit card, train card and business cards.
The a6 is my favorite for sketching in bed. The a4 folio ones are awesome for life drawing!
mmmm moleskine
if i had to do that with a moleskin i would be losing a lot of money
Lol I do the same.
The funny thing is that I have indeed done that with Moleskine's, and because of the way they're bound, you rip a page or two out and the next thing you know the damn thing falls apart and you've lost half your book.
Muzz, what's the paper like in those Daler Ebony books? They look awesome but I gotta have super smooth paper, most of the 'blackbooks' I've picked up have been like really rough paper, or even slightly rough, and not nice to sketch on.
but just yesterday i think i found a digital replacement for my sketchbook.
easier than carrying your colours and pencils around
Ok thanks man, I'll go check them out at the art store and have a 'feel'
At the moment im using this no named brand cheap softcover book (man how i love soft covers over hard covers) and love it, pretty poor paper ]but pft, i just dont get fussed over these things.- try various different ones and see what sticks.