Sketch Pads, Drawing Pads, and Watercolor Pads - What’s the Difference?
Sketchbooks come in landscape and portrait orientation. You will sometimes see references to “A” sizes which are international sizes (I indicate next which A sizes are close). Common US sizes are 4”x6” (A6), 5”x 8 1/2” (A5), and 8 1/2”x11” (A4). Of course, there are many varieties beyond these. There are small, medium, and large square sketchbooks, for example. There are ones that are wire bound, soft cover, and hardcover. Popular and quality brands you will see in Michael’s and Hobby Lobby locally as well as online are Strathmore and Canson. Etchr is an Australian company that produces high quality art supplies including sketchbooks. They are pricey. Moleskine is an Italian company that also produces quality notebooks and sketchbooks.
There are several different paper types (sketch, drawing, watercolor, mixed media) and paper weights (60 pound, 140 pound, etc.). In this lineup, “sketch” paper is typically the thinnest and lightest followed by “drawing” paper. Next comes watercolor grade paper which is thicker and heavier so it can withstand the addition of water. In addition, watercolor paper sometimes contains a surface sizing to help it deal with the application of water. You will also see “mixed media” paper as you browse the drawing pad section. In my mind these fall between “drawing” and “watercolor” grade paper and though “mixed media” paper can take water, I find I like watercolor paper better.
The weight designation for paper is also a way to decide what paper is appropriate for your purposes. The US designation of a ‘pound’ weight is arrived at by weighing a ream (500 sheets) of the paper at a particular size (called ‘basis size’) in question. The problem here is that different papers have different ‘basis sizes.’ Watercolor paper is 22” x 30”, drawing paper is 24” x 36”, etc. The international approach, on the other hand, calculates paper weight in grams per square meter. You see this as 300 g/m2 or 130 g/m2 (sometimes simply “300gsm”) on pads or packages. This is a better measure to use when trying to compare papers as each weight is calculated on the same basis, i.e., a square meter.
The original idea for sketchbooks was for artists to use them to experiment with ideas before doing a bigger, “proper” painting. Paper quality didn’t really matter. However, travel, nature, and urban sketching have become so popular that sketchbooks have become an end in and of themselves. That’s the case for me and, personally, and because I’ve been surprised that people have wanted to actually purchase some of my sketches, I will now only use a sketchbook with quality (200 gsm minimum) watercolor grade, cold press (textured) paper. The danger with having such high quality paper is that you are afraid to use it because you think your sketch isn’t going to turn out to be that great. THAT is the first fear to get over! So far in my ‘artistic career’ (6 months) I’ve sold two sketches/paintings. Both were ones I didn’t really like and were not on quality paper! We are our own worst critics!
If you are starting your artistic journey, my recommendation is to buy a sketchbook with “drawing” quality (at least 60lb!) paper. Use it to practice your line work (circles, ellipses, squares, diagonal lines, horizontal lines) with pencil AND pen. Then buy a good quality watercolor sketchbook in the size you think is best for you (I like 8 1/2” x 5” landscape). Currently, my go-to sketchbook is a Moleskine Art Watercolor Album, 8 1/4” x 5” landscape, acid-free, cold press, 200gsm paper with 72 pages (i.e., 36 both sides). I’m still working with myself to do all of my sketches in this sketchbook so that if a sketch turns out to be worthy of adding watercolor, I will have done it on paper that can handle it! I’m not 100% there yet, but I’m talking myself into it.
