Level: Beginner

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.9

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 60.1
Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R6 – 4 Pages and 4 Illustrations

Sketchbooks and
Drawing Papers
Choosing the right size, quality, and
weight of drawing paper

This resource has three

sections:
ArtSpeak
• Sketchbooks Versus
Individual Sheets Drawing paper: Acid-free paper that’s designed specifically for
• Deciding on a Paper Size artists and is available in various weights, colors, textures, and
sizes.
• Weighing in on Paper
Hardcover: A durable type of book cover made from a thick
and unbendable material.
Picking out paper to draw
Hot pressed: A type of paper that is pressed through hot
on can be daunting for even cylinders during the manufacturing process. Many smooth
experienced artists. Your watercolor papers are hot pressed.
choices include different Portfolio of work: A body of work (such as drawings,
types, weights, colors, paintings, and designs) created by an artist for self-promotion
textures, and sizes. and/or to supplement applications for career advancement
opportunities, such as educational applications or gallery
Some papers are great for exhibits.
quick sketches but not for Portfolio: A hard-sided case in which artists transport and
detailed drawings, and some store paintings, drawings, sheets of drawing paper, and/or a
might look good at first, but collection of their artworks.
will become yellow and brittle Sketchbook: Several sheets of drawing paper that are bound
over time. together and contained within a soft or hard cover.
Softcover: A flexible book cover that is usually made of paper.
Figure out the type of drawing
Storage portfolio: A hard-sided foldable case in which artists
paper you need before you store drawings and sheets of drawing paper to protect them
go shopping, so you don’t from damage.
become overwhelmed by the Texture: The surface details of an object that can be identified
selection. by sight, touch, and/or a general knowledge of the subject.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright © 2015 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
2 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R6: Sketchbooks and Drawing Papers

Art supply stores sell individual Figure 1

sheets of papers that are designed
specifically for drawing, as well as
sketchbooks that have many sheets of
drawing paper in a book format.
However, the size, quality, and weight
of the paper are much more important
choices than whether you purchase
individual sheets or a sketchbook
(Figure 1).

Sketchbooks Versus
Individual Sheets
Sketchbooks are available in softcover
and hardcover. Softcover sketchbooks
have to be carefully stored on a flat
surface because the paper can be ArtSpeak
easily wrinkled and damaged.
Newsprint: An inexpensive paper that is not acid-
A hardcover sketchbook is much more free and is generally used for printing newspapers.
durable than a softcover one, and Weight of paper: The thickness of individual sheets
better protects the paper itself and of paper. Thin paper weighs very little but is easily
your drawings (Figure 2). torn and damaged. Thick paper is more durable than
thin because it weighs more.
Figure 2

As an extra perk, the hard cover provides a

solid surface on which to work when you’re
away from your desk or table.

Caution!

Newsprint can be used for quick, preliminary

sketches or practicing drawing skills, but is not
recommended for drawings you might like to keep.
Sheets of newsprint or newsprint pages in a
sketchbook are very thin, tear easily, and eventually
yellow due to the high acidic content of the paper.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright © 2015 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R6: Sketchbooks and Drawing Papers 3

Figure 3 Individual sheets of drawing paper are

available in oodles of different types,
weights, colors, and textures.
They need to be kept on a flat surface
such as a large shelf, or stored inside a
large drawer, storage portfolio, or hard-
sided portfolio (Figure 3).

Deciding on a
Paper Size
Choose sketchbooks and drawing papers
in sizes that are easy to transport when
As an Aside you travel. However, avoid sketchbooks
or paper smaller than 9 by 12 in (23 by
Portfolios come in many different sizes and types, 30 cm) or your drawing options become
ranging from simple, inexpensive cardboard to too limited.
high-quality expensive leather.
Most sketchbooks that are larger than 16
by 20 in (41 by 51 cm) are softcover and
Figure 4 bend easily. When you draw in a large
sketchbook, you need to place it on a
large, hard surface to keep it rigid while
you draw.
Another option is to tear out only one
sheet at a time. A large sheet of drawing
paper can be attached to a drawing
board with a clamp (Figure 4).
Individual sheets of paper range in
size and price. You might find it more
economical to purchase a large sheet
that can be cut down into smaller sheets
as you need them.

Weighing in on Paper
Thin paper weighs very little but is easily
torn and damaged. Thick paper weighs
more and is therefore more durable, but
is often more expensive.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright © 2015 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
4 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R6: Sketchbooks and Drawing Papers

Caution! Tip!

Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations of high- Before you buy drawing paper, check out art
quality drawing paper. supply stores, and also stationery and department
stores in your community to find out what is
Just because the cover of a sketchbook
available.
says it’s suitable for drawing doesn’t mean
it’s acid-free.
Before you buy a sketchbook, always look
for a label that says the paper is acid-free.

As an Aside
Choosing the right paper means finding
the right weight at the right price. Drawing Papers during the Renaissance
Shopping for drawing papers is a challenge ‒ but
Printer paper that you use for your can you imagine having to make your own paper?
computer has a 20 lb (75 g/m²) weight. During the Renaissance, every piece of paper was
Even though the cost is low, it’s too thin made by hand.
(and too smooth) for drawing. This time-consuming process included the
following seven basic steps:
Heavy drawing paper, such as hot-
pressed, watercolor paper made by • Materials such as plants, vegetable matter,
and/or rags were chopped up into fine fibers.
Arches, has a 140 lb (300 g/m²) weight
• Water was then added to create a soupy mix.
and is perfect for drawing masterpieces,
but is much too expensive for everyday • The mix was scooped up with a screen and
placed into a wooden mold.
use.
• The mold was shaken until most of the water
A good compromise is a professional had drained through the screen leaving a
quality, acid-free paper with at least a 50 flattened layer of fibers.
lb (260 g/m²) weight. The weight of the • Flattened sheets of fibers were stacked into
paper in a sketchbook is usually marked a pile with a layer of woolen cloth or felt in
between each.
on the packaging or front cover.
• Most of the remaining moisture was squeezed
Once you’ve tried a few different out by pressing down very hard on the stack.
weights, you’ll find that you can simply • The sheets of paper were then hung to dry.
feel a sheet of drawing paper to make When completely dry, the paper was usually
sure it’s thick enough. coated with a substance (such as a gelatin
mixture) to make it suitable for drawing.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright © 2015 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.