Alright, I’ll admit that claiming these are the “best” sketchbook brands is a bold statement, but we live in a world where “clickbait” seems to be how content is made these days. A better way to title it might be “MY Top Recommended Sketchbook Brands.”
But whatever, we’re past that. You’re here for one thing, and that’s what you’ll get. I hate articles that beat around the bush, so let’s jump right in. Here’s a table showing my top five brands and what they’re best for:
| Sketchbook Brand | Best For | Also Good For | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leda Art Supply | Overall | Portability |
| 2 | Strathmore | Pen & Ink | Watercolor |
| 3 | Canson | Budget | Sketching |
| 4 | Bee Paper | Wet Media (Watercolor & Acrylic) | Charcoal |
| 5 | Ohuhu | Alcohol Markers | Mixed Media |
The Top 5 Sketchbook Brands
I ranked the following sketchbooks based on my personal experience and research into the public’s general opinion. So, keep in mind that there’s always some bias. However, I really think these are the best ones you’ll find.
1 – Leda Art Supply
Leda Art Supply sketchbooks are a favorite in the art community, and for good reason. They use smooth, high-quality paper that works well with a variety of mediums and has proven itself a superior option over other sketchbooks.
Their staple sketchbook comes in 8 different sizes (Pocket, Medium, Landscape Medium, Square Medium, Large, Landscape Large, Square Large, and Extra Large) and comes with a sleek-looking all-weather cover. The paper is intended for ink, pencil, pen, charcoal, and watercolor, but reviews have stated they also have had success with other paints such as acrylic.
You’ll see reviews that make bold statements, such as calling Leda Art Supply sketchbooks “absolute perfection” and “the best sketchbook I’ve ever used.” While I don’t know if I can confidently say it’s perfect, I know that it’s a top-tier brand for artists who are looking for a high-quality sketchbook.
2 – Strathmore
It’s possible not all of you have heard of Leda Art Supply, but I suspect you’ve already seen (or even own) a Strathmore sketchbook. Strathmore is a well-respected name in the art world and offers a notable collection of sketchbooks you can choose from.
My first watercolor sketchbook was a Strathmore, and it worked perfectly for my purposes. But they also offer sketchbooks specific to your medium of preference, and are an excellent option both in affordability and quality. They come in a very close second to Leda Art Supply, and you won’t be disappointed if you choose them as your go-to brand.
3 – Canson
Canson takes the third spot largely due to its affordability. It is often the budget choice for artists. However, that doesn’t mean it’s low quality!
Canson, like Strathmore, offers a large variety of sketchbook series based on which medium you intend to use. So, if you prefer watercolor, get their watercolor-specific sketchbook for optimal results. Prefer Bristol paper? They have Bristol sketchbooks in various sizes. They even have Canvas Paper (which I’ve never personally tried but am now very curious) if you prefer the feel of canvas under your artistic touch.
Canson sorts its sketchbooks into “series” from 100 to 500, which indicates the quality of that particular product. 100 is lower-tier and intended for basic sketches or for kids, and the 500 series is the highest quality intended for professional use.
4 – Bee Paper
Bee Paper is my next top pick in sketchbook brands. This brand is renowned for their heavy-weight paper, which means they’re an excellent choice for those of you that prefer wet mediums like watercolor or acrylic paints.
Their Aquabe Super Deluxe sketchbook is a particular favorite among watercolor artists due to its thick and absorbent pages that don’t warp even with heavy washes. With warping being a common issue for watercolor artists, this is a huge selling point, and brought Bee Paper as a top brand on my list.
Bee Paper also offers other sketchbooks of good quality outside their heavy-weight paper, and in particular, has some textured options that do well with charcoal and pastel artwork.
5 – Ohuhu
That’s right, Ohuhu doesn’t just make awesome and inexpensive alternatives to Copic markers, they also make excellent sketchbooks to go with them!
As you may have guessed, their sketchbooks are intended for use with alcohol markers, which makes sense. But man do the reviews speak for themselves. Of the 4 sketchbooks Ohuhu offers, all of them are at least 4.7 stars on Amazon, with thousands of happy reviewers.
If you’re looking for a great sketchbook brand specifically for alcohol markers, Ohuhu is definitely my recommendation.
Which Sketchbook Brand is Right for You?
So, those are my top picks. But how do you pick the one that’s best for you? The easiest way to help with that is to give you my recommendation based on your medium of choice. Here’s which sketchbook brand I recommend for each of the following mediums:
- Pencil/Colored Pencil: Stredo Art Supply or Canson
- Charcoal: Bee Paper (Textured options)
- Pen and Ink: Strathmore or Canson
- Alcohol Markers: Ohuhu, hands down
- Watercolor: Bee Paper (Specifically the Aquabee Super Deluxe)
- Acrylic: Bee Paper
- Gouache: Strathmore or Canson
- Posca Makers: Ohuhu
- Oil Pastels: Bee Paper (Textured options)
- General Mixed Media: Stredo Art Supply
Conclusion
As stated in my introduction, every artist is going to have some level of bias, and I’m no exception. While I recommended Stredo Art Supply as my #1 pick, my most used is actually Strathmore. Not because I like their quality better, but rather because I have this weird anxiety about using higher-quality paper. haha. It’s like I’m worried that I’m not going to create something worth the paper I’m drawing on.
Anyways, I truly hope that this article was beneficial to you, and would love to hear your thoughts if you think there’s a brand that should be on this list. Please leave a comment with your favorite and why you think it’s the best!