Are you looking for the best urban sketchbooks to let your creativity fly? If yes, then you have landed on the right spot. Today we came with a list of the six best quality sketchbooks you can consider for your urban sketching needs.
Bringing the hustle-bustle of the modern metropolis to live on a piece of paper or any other medium is known as “Urban Sketching.” When you see the beauty in the humdrum, mundane city life activities, you are an urban sketcher.
And what better to assist you in your art than the best quality paper, giving you a great experience! You can focus more on sketching than worrying about minor irritants. Your sketchbook should be free from color-bleeding and feathering; it should have a high gsm non-acidic paper. Let’s look at the products which have all these features.
Contents
Art Alternatives Hardcover Sketchbook
This is a large sketchbook that contains 600 pages (300 sheets), which makes it a good choice if you want something which can last many sketches! Each sheet measures 12.5*10.75 inches, and it has 140 gsm paper, which is perfect for any large or small scale sketching. It has the acid-free paper that preserves your art.
Features and Benefits
- Multirole: This sketchbook is not just fit for drawing, but it can play so many great roles. It is compatible with any ink or color, and it doesn’t smudge after you apply. It also makes a presentable gift and is suited to be a coffee table book.
- Acid-Free Paper: It has 75 lb acid-free bright white paper, making a perfect texture for drawing. The paper binding is also very robust, so the pages don’t get detached if somehow they are roughly handled.
- Smooth Pages: The texture it provides for the drawing is one of a kind. It is perfect for both large and small-scale use, such as those of professional artists to Students. It provides smooth usage to everyone.
- Large Paper Count: It has 300 sheets of paper, which translates to 600 pages. So if you are looking for something that you can use for a long time, it is a good choice.
Why should you buy it?
This sketchbook is perfect for long term usage as it has more pages, and these are tightly bound. It has 75 lb (110 gsm) acid-free and bright white paper, which provides an excellent drawing texture. The paper itself is sourced from sustainably managed forests and thus becomes a good choice for use.
- A whopping 600 Pages
- 75 lb. (110 gsm) acid-free, bright white paper
- Materials sourced from sustainably managed forests
CoolLeathor Kraft Cover Sketchbook
This sketchbook is made from 100% recycled, high-quality non-acidic paper. It has a sophisticated yet straightforward Kraft cover with high-quality A5 size paper. It is very sturdy that even if you put it in the bottom of your bag, it remains unhinged. Its pages are feathering and color bleeding resistant.
Features and Benefits
- Durable Cover: This set of sketchbooks is seamlessly durable. You can use it easily without worrying about lumps or bumps, making it a perfect option to consider.
- Paper Quality: It is made up of high quality recycled acid-free paper. The paper is of high gsm, which makes it good for urban sketching work. It has A5 size paper. This provides a great canvas space to let out our creativity.
- Versatile: You can use this sketchbook for making sketches, drawings, record keeping, scrapbooking, or writing a day to day journal on your life.
- Dual Binding: This universal sketchbook features glued and sewn binding that firmly holds the paper. This feature also enables us to keep using this sketchbook longer as the paper doesn’t detach with time.
Why should you buy it?
This sketchbook has everything a good urban sketchbook needs, like high-quality non-acidic high gsm paper and good canvas size. It has a durable cover capable of being handled roughly also it also is effortless to carry. It has 256 smooth pages, which provide much-needed texture for the perfect urban sketching.
- ✔ SIMPLE YET ELEGANT: Made using the high quality acid-free and 100% recycled paper, this blank notebook features a simple yet sophisticated Kraft cover with high quality A5 size, thick yet smooth paper inside to give you the canvas you need to make your thoughts come alive, express yourself creatively and draw what you want on the smoothest, softest and most durable paper you’ll find
- ✔ DURABLE COVER WITH FLAT OPENING: This set of 2 sketchbooks seamlessly lay flat on any surface allowing you to draw, write or sketch without having to worry about any lumps or bumps making it perfect to use no matter where you are. This Kraft notebook is light enough to go with you wherever you go yet sturdy enough to sit in the bottom of your bag without any worries
- ✔ ENJOY CREATIVE FREEDOM: With 256 smooth, acid-free, and resistant to feathering and bleeding pages in each book, this Kraft cover drawing notebook provides you with the softest and most supple pages you need to truly create pieces of art that will last the test of time as well as serving as an elegant backdrop for anything you draw or write in it
- ✔ VERSATILE & MULTIPURPOSE USE: This plain notebook can be used for almost anything you want, Whether it’s making sketches, drawings, manga, record keeping, scrapbooking, or writing a journal of your day to day activities, this multi-purpose sketchbook is the perfect choice for anyone that wants to enjoy a drawing or writing the professional way
- ✔ 100% RISK-FREE PURCHASE: Customer satisfaction always has and always will be our top priority which is why we acquire the highest quality Kraft paper and use a simple yet elegant design for our Sketchbooks. We’re so confident that you’ll love this blank sketchbook set that we offer a 100% Customer Satisfaction Warranty so that you can order today knowing you’re making a risk free purchase
ETCR Mixed Media Sketchbook
It is A5 size 100% cotton cold press paper, which has a textured surface for the perfect experience of urban sketching. You can paint with almost anything on it as it absorbs color very well. The anti feathering and anti-color-bleed design make it perfect for urban sketching.
Features and Benefits
- High-Quality Cold Press: This sketchbook is designed with a cold cotton press, which gives it a textured surface that absorbs colors very well and keeps it vibrant. It is popular among all range of writers from young to pros.
- Multiple Media Friendly: You can paint with almost anything on it, whether watercolor, gouache, acrylic, or oil paints. You can also apply markers, pencil, ink, charcoal for painting and sketching purposes.
- Easy Handling: It is available in A5 and A6 sizes, which can fit into any art case with ease. You can travel with it whenever you want as it takes minimal space in your luggage. It is good for artists that travel a lot.
- Acid-Free Paper: Acid-free paper will show less age with time and thus will keep your sketches vibrant. This vegan, acid-free paper manufacturing also introduces significantly fewer pollutants in the air than a regular one.
Why should you buy it?
We need all the urban sketchbook features, but acid-free paper preserves our creations for a long time. This sketchbook is compatible with various media of drawing, and this makes it a very versatile product. It is easy to handle and available in A5 and A6 sizes and has high gsm paper.
- 100% COTTON PAPER – The ultimate paper surface for watercolor, gouache and mixed media. Cold press watercolor paper has a little texture and is great for accentuating granulation and controlling water. The paper is also acid-free meaning it won’t yellow over time.
- MADE FOR ARTISTS – The little details matter. Our Sketchbooks employ a lay-flat binding technique, and consistent paper grain direction to ensure that artists can easily control washes and paint “across-the-fold”.
- TRAVEL READY - Landscape A5 (5.8”x8.3”) format. With 52 pages (26 individual sheets) you have plenty of room to work while being a great size for travel journal. The back pocket is great for notes, reference images, or mementos from your adventures!
- VEGAN FRIENDLY – We love animals, we don’t want our products to be made of them.
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - We’ve built our products to last. If within 2 years, you are unsatisfied with your Etchr purchase, contact us and we will gladly make things right.
SEAWHITE Black Cloth Hardback Artists Sketchbook
This sketchbook is a hardback Artist sketchbook that has 140gsm portrait A5-149*201mm size paper. It is perfect for sketching purposes of everyone ranging from students to professionals. It is robust, multipurpose, and an elegant product to buy.
Features and Benefits
- Easy handling: It is effortless to handle as it has a smooth black cloth finish. The pages provided are sewn and can keep your sketches together without worrying about the paper getting torn.
- Paper Quality: The paper is 140gsm A5 size paper, which makes it suitable for any sort of drawing work. It has a perfect finish and perfect texture and is suitable to be drawn from any ink or pencil.
- Stylish: This sketchbook has a black cloth finish, making it one of the most stylish products to consider. It is suitable for any age group and any profession as this looks good on both student and professional artists.
- Lightweight: This product just weighs 11 ounces and thus is very easy to carry with you. You don’t feel like you are carrying an extra load with you while going out to work. It enhances your efficiency.
Why should you buy it?
This product is very stylish, reliable, and easy to handle. The A5 size paper provides perfect room for any amateur or professional drawing and thus is suitable for every age group. It is a very light sketchbook to carry and suffice the need for the productivity of a person.
- 1x A5 portrait sewn hardback sketchbook
- Traditional black cloth finish
- 140gsm Seawhite All-media cartridge paper
- 92 pages
SuperiorMaker Watercolor Paint Sketchbook
This sketchbook is multiple media-friendly and comes with no bleed and feathering feature. It is made from heavyweight 220gsm paper and has 100 pages in it. It offers two kinds of sketchbooks, lined and dotted. You can be used to sketch, write, graph and draft. It has precise clean strokes and even spacing.
Features and Benefits
- Portable: This is perfect for the riders on the go. It can fit your other equipment like brushes, ink, and paints perfectly. The journal’s special top binding allows it to lie flat on any open on concealed spaces ease.
- Anti-Bleed Paper: The paper has an anti-bleed feature as it is 220gsm thick. The thick paper is cold-pressed, high quality, and acid-free. You can use every single paper of this book without worrying about the art on other pages.
- Multimedia Friendly: This sketchbook is designed to apply to various drawing media. You can use it for sketching, but it has a wider range of uses like a journal, note-taking, etc.
- For Every Age Group: This sketchbook is perfect for professionals and kids as the paper quality offered is excellent. The paper is so thick that it doesn’t get torn even after rough handling. Its cover provides an excellent sturdiness to the product as well.
Why should you buy it?
This sketchbook has various features, which makes it one of the best options for urban sketch makers. It has bleed-proof 220gsm paper, which gives you a carefree sketching experience. It is a portable option to consider for those who are always on the go. It is compatible with various media and thus a truly versatile choice.
Seawhite of Brighton Ltd Hardback Artists Sketchbook
This brand also produces sketchbooks for hardback artists with a size of 140gsm landscape A4-210*297mm. It is perfect for our day to day creative work as it provides the perfect space to draw. It is suitable for all media cartridge paper.
Features and Benefits
- Perfect size: It is an A4 size sketchbook and thus suffices a working professional’s daily need, as this size is designated for official use. It is also easy to carry like any regular book, and you won’t even feel that you are carrying something extra.
- Sturdy: It is a very sturdy sketchbook as the paper is 140gsm. Also, the paper is sewn and thus very reliable. We sometimes handle our sketchbook roughly unknowingly, but it can withstand any stress.
- Wide Usability: This sketchbook is perfect for multipurpose use. It can be used by students for fun drawing with colors or sketches, and also it can be used by a professional artist for more mature sketching.
- Paper Quality: Paper quality is also one reason to buy this product as it provides the perfect texture for drawing with any sort of media. It is also very stylish to carry because of its elegant black cloth finish.
Why should you buy it?
This sketchbook has a wide range of applications with a comfortable A4 size, which is accepted widely. It is a hardback sketchbook with 92 pages and 140gsm paper size. If you are looking for something fascinating and stylish, then this product is for you.
- A4 landscape sewn hardback sketchbook
- Traditional black cloth finish
- 140gsm Seawhite All-media cartridge paper
- 92 pages
Buyer’s Guide
Paper Quality
The paper quality of the sketchbook should be thoroughly checked while purchasing one. Any sketchbook needs to be compatible with any form of ink and color. It should have high gsm paper and should have properties like anti-bleeding and anti-feathering.
Binding Nature
Never purchase a sketchbook, which is glue-bound, as they are likely to get weak after some time. After a while, pages start to detach from the book, and you are likely to get frustrated. That is why thread binding is considered best in sketchbooks.
Hardcover
Check whether the sketchbook has a hardcover or not; otherwise, it will get easily damaged when handled roughly. No matter how hard any artist tries, there is a slight chance of carelessness, but with hardcover, it is less likely to cause damage to your work.
Acid-Free
The sketchbook we choose should be acid-free as this feature helps preserve our creation for a longer duration with its original lush and beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best option to purchase; thread-bound or spiral bound?
If we consider the reliability, then both of them are very reliable. There is a slight advantage of having a thread-bound sketchbook as it requires less space in your bag. Spirals get damaged if roughly handled, but thread-bound is comparatively less likely to get damaged.
Does the page get damaged if rubbed frequently by erasers?
Normally it does not happen if you are using a good quality eraser mildly or your paper is of high gsm. The problem begins when you start to manhandle the page while rubbing, then it will surely get damaged.
Does paper quality matter?
There is no doubt about that. If you want to have a smooth sketching and painting experience, your page should have the perfect texture to absorb color and ink. The paper should be smudge-proof, and it should be of high gsm to prevent color bleeding.
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