15 Best Sketching Book For Markers In 2023: A Comprehensive Review
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Do you like to draw and sketch? Are you a collector of markers? If so, you may be wondering what’s the best sketching book for markers. There are many different options on the market, and it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you.
In this blog post, we will look at some of the best sketching books for markers and give you our opinion on each one. We will also provide a buyer's guide to help you choose the right sketchbook for your needs!
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall: Ohuhu Marker Pad, Spiral-bound• 200gsm (12olb) acid-free paper |
Best Black Sketchbook: Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad• Silky, black marker paper |
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Best for Professional Designers: Canson Artist Series Marker Pad• Thin but holds markers well |
1. Ohuhu Marker Pad, Spiral-bound - Best Overall
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers love this sketchbook because the paper is thick at 200gsm, making it less prone to any feathering. This sketchbook also has a plastic liner to protect the following pages to prevent the markers from bleeding to the next pages.
Why We Think It's Great
The Ohuhu Marker Pad uses 200gsm paper, perfect for anyone looking for a quality sketchbook for markers. The pages are true to size, so you get a 7" x 10" sheet after removing the perforated page from the spiral binding.
The smooth surface of the heavyweight paper is best for blending your markers. However, if you over-saturate the surface, it may still bleed through if you leave the marker tips on the paper longer than you should.
The sketchbook has 60 sheets in spiral binding for a total of 120 sketch pages, specially designed for Ohuhu markers.
Who Should Buy It
This sketchbook is best for anyone looking for a portable art journal that you can take wherever you want to go on a creative hunt. You can use it for drawing, illustrations, design, and other similar art jobs.
2. Illo Hardbound Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
The Illo sketchbook is a fantastic sketchbook for water-based markers. The paper is thick, and the sketchbook lays flat on the table if you want to try panoramic marker drawing ideas. Many artists say they're rendered speechless at the excellent quality of travel sketchbooks.
Why We Think It's Great
The Illo sketchbook has a strong construction with the pages sewn together, so you can lay it flat on the table to make better artwork. The PU leather cover is durable too and will protect your work.
It also features a ribbon marker and elastic enclosure to keep your pages secure and has a pocket in the back for additional organization. The sketchbook has 112 pages of 122 gsm paper in 8" x8" perfect square quality paper.
Who Should Buy It
Artists love to work with Illo sketchbooks for their art journal projects because they are portable, made with heavyweight paper, and can take light watercolor washes and water-based markers.
3. Moleskine Art Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
Many users say this sketchbook is their favorite. It takes on light watercolor washes and alcohol-based markers. The paper has a very expensive feel, allowing excellent blending for markers.
Why We Think It's Great
Moleskine sketchbooks have acid-free ivory paper and are heavy enough at 120gsm for marker drawings. This weight allows artists to produce beautiful sketches without running the risk of damaging their work.
The A3 size offers a great space for larger drawings, while the hardcover prevents damage to your art. The inner envelope also provides a place to store small supplies, making it easy to keep everything organized.
You'll get 96 pages on this sketchbook. The A3 paper measures 11.75"x16.5" for those unfamiliar with international sizing. Since you can open the sketchbook to lay it flat on the table, it doubles the workspace for bigger projects.
Who Should Buy It
Illustrators, designers, manga, and portrait artists will love this oversized toned paper. However, you'll need a barrier sheet to keep the following pages clean for more marker drawing projects.
4. Ohuhu Hardcover Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
The paper is too smooth, according to some users. However, to most users, this sketchbook is impressive. The paper quality is excellent and works great with most markers.
Why We Think It's Great
The Ohuhu Hardcover Sketchbook is a professional-grade marker pad perfect for on-the-go use. The 200gsm heavyweight paper ensures that errant strokes won't ruin your sketches and drawings, and the easy-to-tear pages make it easy to share your work with others.
The high-quality PU cover protects your sketches from the elements, and the variety of art supplies you can use with this sketchbook makes it an essential tool for any artist.
The sketchbook measures 8.3" x 8.3". You can lay it flat on the table to double the length of the page. The pages are double-sided, so you can have more pages to draw on, especially if you're blending with colored pencils.
Who Should Buy It
The sketchbook has a reasonable price, so this is an excellent choice if you're an artist on a budget. This is also ideal for anyone who wants a small art journal to take anywhere with them.
5. Brite Crown Mixed Media Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
Brite Crown is a good sketchbook for mixed media art so that you can use it for various art projects, including one for markers. The pages have a nice weight for sketching and writing and are not as absorbent for watercolors.
Why We Think It's Great
The Brite Crown Mixed Media Sketchbook is the perfect way to unleash your creativity. The spiral-bound design lets the pages lie flat, while the acid-free paper prevents fading and yellowing over time.
The sketchpad is also compatible with most pens, pencils, and markers, making it versatile for artists of all skill levels. It has 9" x 12" perforated sheets that you can easily remove from the pad.
If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, they offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee to ease your mind.
Who Should Buy It
This mixed media sketchbook is best for artists who love working with various media supplies.
6. Arteza Sketchbook for Markers
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What Customers Have to Say
It's a great sketchbook, according to some users. The paper has a good texture, is very sturdy, and is an excellent gift item. It is a professional quality hardbound sketchbook that prevents ink bleeding.
Why We Think It's Great
This quality sketchbook is perfect for anyone who loves to use markers for their drawings and sketches. The hardcover protects the pages inside, while the acid-free paper ensures that your artwork will last for many years to come.
It has 100 sheets of 100gsm paper, is bleed-proof, and is sturdy enough to take on various art supplies.
At only 9x12 inches in size, it's convenient to take with you wherever you go. The gray-toned paper provides a subtle background for drawing delicate details.
Who Should Buy It
If you're an artist looking for a budget sketchbook you can use for any of your marker drawings, Arteza is an excellent and versatile choice.
7. Ohuhu Mixed Media Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
These sketchbooks are amazing. They may be too small for other artists' standards, but they're perfect for traveling artists. Many artists recommend these sketchbooks, especially those working on mixed media projects.
Why We Think It's Great
This Ohuhu Mixed Media Sketchbook has 200gsm heavyweight paper to ensure your artwork looks great. The pH-neutral paper prevents your marker drawings from discoloration or yellowing.
The pad includes a soft writing mat to prevent your markers from bleeding through the other pages. After working on your drawings, you can fold up the sketchbook, and because it’s lightweight, you can take it with you wherever you go!
Who Should Buy It
Artists who work with markers, acrylic paint, watercolors, alcohol ink, and colored pencils will agree that these sketchbooks are a great choice. With maximum blendability and easy-tear pages, this sketchbook is a must-have for anyone who loves to draw with markers.
8. Handbook Journal Sketchbooks
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What Customers Have to Say
These cute sketchbooks work on Prismacolor, alcohol and water-based markers, micron pens, gel pens, and pastel pens. It also takes watercolors well and is an excellent sketchbook for young artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Handbook Journal Sketchbooks has 130gsm paper, perfect for various mediums. It has a portable and lightweight design, making it easy to take with you whenever and wherever.
The cover adds color to your workspace, the pages have micro-perforations for easy removal, and the paper has a strong sewn binding that will keep your pages from falling out.
Overall, this cute five 1/2-inch square sketchbook is excellent for small marker drawings and sketches. It has quite an advantage for working on pastels and charcoal pencils.
Who Should Buy It
We highly recommend the Handbook Journal Sketchbook if you're looking for a cutesy sketchbook with markers. You’ll love that it’s colorful and reliable, making you want to take it on your artistic trips.
9. Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad - Best Black Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
These sketching books for markers are an excellent marker pad for metallic markers, gel pens, and even wet media. Many users think this sketchbook has fun surfaces to draw or sketch on. The paper doesn't disintegrate when you use water-based paint on it.
Why We Think It's Great
The Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad uses silky, black marker paper to produce beautiful results with any type of marker. It has micro-perforated pages, so you can easily tear out your artwork. The 9 "x12" pages are true to size, so you can get your drawings on the black paper without any issue with size when framing it.
The sketchbook has 32 pages of cold-pressed, acid-free paper to ensure that your sketches will last for years. The 140gsm paper prevents bleeding, though, seriously, you can't see the bleeding on the other pages because of the dark colors.
Who Should Buy It
Artists who love working with metallic markers should get this sketchbook. It's a perfect surface to emphasize your metallic colors more compared to when done on mere white paper.
10. CooLeathor Hardbound Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
The kraft cover serves as a blank canvas for artists to explore. Some use stickers, while others use paint to customize it. Overall, this sketchbook is great for quick sketches or creative journaling.
Why We Think It's Great
CooLeathor sketchbooks are the perfect place to explore your creative side. The 130gsm midweight paper is acid-free and resistant to bleeding and feathering, ensuring that your sketches will look their best.
The sketchbook has a durable sewn binding to ensure your pages will stay in place, while the smooth pages make it easy to create beautiful works of art. Markers glide softly on the smooth paper surface, allowing the colors to blend well.
Each pack has two hardbound sketchbooks that you can use as a journal, notebook, or scrapbooking. The sketchbooks have 120 sheets each in 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" size for easy portability.
Who Should Buy It
If you're looking for a portable and versatile sketchbook at an affordable price, you should invest in this pair.
11. Mifuner Handmade Notebook
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What Customers Have to Say
The covers are fantastic, and the paper is thick, so any artist working with watercolors or water-based markers will notice this once they get hold of these sketchbooks.
Why We Think It's Great
Mifuner Handmade Notebook features high-quality, 220gsm acid-free paper perfect for water-based markers. The colorful cloth cover will brighten up any day, while the elastic band closure ensures your creative notes stay safe and sound.
The durable sewn binding allows you to open the sketchbook flat on the table to make full panoramic artwork. The sketchbook has 40 sheets, with a slight tooth on the front and a smooth surface on the back.
Who Should Buy It
If you're looking for a high-quality sketchbook perfect for water-based markers, the Mifuner Handmade Notebook is a great option. The colorful cover and elastic band closure make it an excellent choice for those who want a stylish, functional notebook.
12. Hippie Crafter Sketchbook
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What Customers Have to Say
The paper is excellent, depending on your intended use. It's not the best paper for markers, but they still work if you use a great barrier sheet. Many kid artists who received them as gifts think they're very nice and sturdy.
Why We Think It's Great
The Hippie Crafter Sketchbook is the perfect tool for artists and crafters of all experience levels. Its versatile use makes it perfect for everything from preliminary sketches to finished works of art.
The acid-free paper prevents your creations from fading over time, while the double spiral binding ensures that the pages turn easily. Each set has two sketchbooks of 9x12-inch paper with a good micro-perforation so you can easily tear off a page on your sketchbook.
The company also has exceptional customer service to guarantee your satisfaction. The sketchbook has 100 sheets of 100gsm paper. They are not the best choice for alcohol markers, but they work well if you use a barrier sheet.
Who Should Buy It
This sketchbook is a great choice if you're a doodler, a sketcher, or an artist. The paper is thick and perfect for all types of markers so that you can create beautiful works of art with ease. They're also great as a gift for aspiring artists to give them free room for their practice.
13. Canson Artist Series Marker Pad - Best for Professional Designers
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What Customers Have to Say
According to most users, the Canson Artist Series Marker Pad is an excellent marker pad appealing to their professional standards. The sheets are glossy and accept markers well without bleeding or feathering. Not the best paper for newbie artists, though, since most don't appreciate semi-translucent paper for their marker drawings.
Why We Think It's Great
The Canson Artist Series Marker Pad is the perfect surface for your drawing and design projects, especially for the more advanced artists. The paper is thin but holds markers well, allowing you to blend colors with a blending marker for stunning results.
The bright white paper provides an optimal canvas for your artwork and is also great for use with other mediums. The pad has 50 sheets of 14x17-inch semi-translucent paper in a fold-over cover.
Expect the paper to be thin but not as thin as tracing paper. You can still use this marker paper for your design projects.
Who Should Buy It
If you love to draw with markers, you will love this marker pad. However, even if you're a professional designer, the no-bleed paper still works well.
14. Bianyo Mixed Media Paper Pad
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What Customers Have to Say
The paper has beautiful textures and good quality, and many artists recommend using these marker pads. They're perfect for drawing and painting and take to markers well.
Why We Think It's Great
Bianyo Mixed Media Paper Pad is one of the best sketching books for markers because it uses heavyweight paper that can take on various media without bleeding.
The A4-sized mixed media paper comes with a spiral binding. The bright white paper keeps your work looking vibrant and turns out to have a professional look. The acid-free paper is also a plus because it will keep your work in good condition for a long time.
The company is all for 100% guaranteed customer satisfaction, so you can contact them if you find your marker pad defective or not at par with your expectations.
Who Should Buy It
We recommend this sketchbook to anyone who wants to work with thick, good-quality paper for your marker drawings. This marker pad is also a good option to start with if you're a beginner, as it comes with 60 sheets.
15. Bellofy Sketchbook Mixed Media
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What Customers Have to Say
Though this pad is a bit pricey, they give you good quality for your money. The pad is much larger than most customers expect, but they're excellent and work great with various mediums.
Why We Think It's Great
The Bellofy Sketchbook Mixed Media is the perfect way to unleash your creative side. With its heavyweight acid-free paper, double wire binding, and versatile design, it can handle any type of media you want to use - from markers to watercolors.
The pages won't bleed or smudge, so you can focus on your art without worrying about mistakes. Don't use alcohol markers without a barrier sheet on these marker pads, though.
The sketchbook has 100 sheets of 9x12-inch paper for drawing, sketching, and coloring.
Who Should Buy It
Cartoonists, product and fashion designers, and manga and anime artists should invest in these sketchbook markers.
Tips for Storing Sketchbooks for Markers
- Lay your sketchbooks flat on a table to prevent blending, curling, and creasing.
- Use a box or shelf to keep your sketchbooks organized and dust-free.
- Wrap your sketchbooks in plastic wrap or store them in resealable bags to keep them clean and dry.
- If you're using water-based markers, store your sketchbooks in a cool, dry place.
Buying Guide for Sketching Book for Markers
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Texture and Finish
Know your preferences when choosing a sketching book for markers. Some sketchbooks have rough paper, while others are smooth. With a smooth paper surface, you can add intricate details and sharp edges resulting in crisp visuals. However, smooth paper is prone to bleeding.
Textured surfaces are best for adding effects to your marker drawings. This paper is resistant to bleeding, so you can still use the backside of the paper, allowing you to save on your supplies.
Also, avoid absorbent paper like watercolor paper. Some more expensive marker paper has a coating to prevent the marker from bleeding through the paper.
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Weight and Thickness
While it is tempting to work with cardstock and markers, cardstocks are not the best option because they are highly absorbent. To minimize smearing and bleeding, use a high-quality paper with at least 135gsm (90lb) to make it resilient against marker ink.
Since you're working with sketchbooks and may want to keep your artwork in one place, use a separate sheet of thick paper to prevent the markers from bleeding through the next pages.
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Paper Quality and Color
Look for a sketchbook with acid-free paper to prevent discoloration and fade on your artwork. Sketchbook paper color may be white, ivory, tan, beige, or gray.
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Size and Portability
Sketchbooks are available in various sizes. New artists prefer smaller sizes (5 "x7") because they're portable and can double as an art journal. However, note that it’s most common to have letter-sized sketchbooks; many brands offer bigger sizes so you can scale up your marker drawings.
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Binding and Cover
Sketchbooks come in different bindings - spiral-bound, glued, or sewn together. Some sketchbooks have perforated pages, so you can detach them and then draw on separate sheets.
Artists are very creative and want to have pretty things for their art supply. Some sketchbooks are hardbound with leatherette covers, others have soft fabric covers, while the cheaper ones use thick paper with a hard backing.
Sketching Book for Markers FAQ
1. What kind of sketchbook is good for markers?
The best sketching book for markers has a coated or matte surface. The coated surface will prevent the ink from soaking into the paper and ruining your drawing.
You can use any type of paper in your marker sketchbook, but you'll get better results with thicker marker paper.
2. Do alcohol-based markers bleed through paper?
Yes, they can. But if you use the right kind of paper, you can minimize the bleed-through. Look for a sketchbook with thicker paper or coated pages.
3. What GSM is good for markers?
Look for a marker sketch pad that is at least 135gsm or 90lb. However, not all thick paper is good enough for markers. Stay away from absorbent paper like those you use for watercolors and acrylic paint.
4. What is the best sketchbook size?
A good size for a marker sketchbook is A5, 8" x 11", 9" x 12", 11″ x 14″ and 12″ x 16″. These sizes will give you a variety of sizes to work on, including some very portable ones.
5. How do you keep a marker from bleeding on the paper?
Bristol paper with a smooth surface can withstand layers of marker ink, so they're less prone to bleeding. Artists also use a different sheet of paper as a barrier between the sheet you're drawing or coloring on and the next page.
Aside from bleeding, feathering is also another issue you should avoid when working with markers. Feathering is when the ink spreads after applying it to paper. Paper with surface sizing leaves a smooth paper surface, so the markers glide on it.
Conclusion
For this review, the Ohuhu Marker Pad gets the best overall vote. It has good 200gsm acid-free paper with micro-perforated sheets for easy tearing. You can also draw on both sides of the paper, making it a perfect sketching book for markers.
Meanwhile, markers don't only work with white paper. They also work with black ones. Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad has good black sketchbooks for markers. The silky black paper has a smooth surface, micro-perforated pages, and uses cold-pressed, acid-free paper.
If you're a professional designer or artist, Canson Artist Series Marker Pad is an excellent choice because while it is thin, it still holds markers well and allows for blending. The paper is very versatile, and you can use it for various activities.