How to Pick Your First Sketchbook

 Picking out your first sketchbook can feel more confusing than it should be. GSM, cotton content, dry media, mixed media and so much more new vocabulary that you haven’t heard before. The good news is that finding the best sketchbook for beginners doesn't need to be complicated. It just needs to match how you actually want to create.

Here's a simple way to think it through.

Step 1: Start With Your Medium

The single most important question is: what are you going to draw or paint with? This decides almost everything else.

• Pencil, charcoal, or fineliner: Look for a dry media sketchbook like the Wireo sketchbook. It won't need heavy paper or water resistance, just a smooth, sturdy surface that can handle line work and shading without smudging or tearing.

• Watercolor, gouache, or ink washes: You'll need paper built to absorb water without warping or buckling like the gouache paper or watercolor paper. This usually means higher GSM and a cotton-rich paper.

• A bit of everything: If you like moving between pencil, ink, and light washes without committing to one medium, a mixed media sketchbook is built exactly for that kind of flexibility.

 

• Bold, opaque mediums like white ink, gel pens, or metallics: A black paper sketchbook lets these mediums pop in a way white paper never will.

If you're not sure yet, that's completely normal. Most beginners start with dry or mixed media since it's the most forgiving to learn on.

Step 2: Understand Paper Weight (GSM)

GSM tells you how thick and heavy your paper is. Lighter paper is easier to carry and great for quick sketching. Heavier paper holds up better under water and layering.

·         110 to 140 GSM is where most dry media sketchbooks land. This range is light enough to keep your sketchbook portable, but sturdy enough to handle pencil, charcoal, and fineliner without the page feeling flimsy or prone to tearing. If your practice is mostly drawing rather than painting, you don't need anything heavier than this, since dry media doesn't put the same strain on paper that water does.

• 180 GSM sketchbooks are the versatile, everyday choice. Good for pencil, ink, and light washes without weighing down your bag.
• 240-300 GSM sketchbooks are built for serious gouache, watercolor and mixed media work, where you need the page to hold up under water and repeated layering.

Step 3: Think About Size and Format

A sketchbook you'll actually use is one that fits your life. Consider:

• Portability: If you want to sketch on the go, a compact size that fits in a bag is essential.
• Format: Square sketchbooks are increasingly popular for their versatility in composition, while rectangular ones feel more traditional for both drawing and journaling.

Step 4: Don't Forget the Little Things

A few small details make a bigger difference than people expect:

• Case bound vs spiral bound sketchbook: This affects how your sketchbook feels to use day to day.
• Case bound sketchbooks have a sturdy, book-like cover and a more polished, permanent feel. They're great if you want something that feels durable and finished, almost like a keepsake.
• Spiral bound sketchbooks when you want to fold pages back while sketching outdoors or for tearing and gifting a piece of your artwork to someone else.

• Page count: More pages mean fewer replacements, but also a heavier book to carry. It's better to start with a sketchbook of moderate page count, like 50 sheets, so it's easier to carry around and doesn't feel intimidating to fill.

• Personalization: If your sketchbook is going to be a companion you carry everywhere or gift to someone else, personalization can make it feel like it's truly yours.

Quick Recap

• Know your medium first. It decides everything else.
• Lighter GSM (110-140) for everyday dry media sketching, 180 GSM to experiment across mediums and heavier GSM (300) for watercolor and layering. Pick a size and format that fits how and where you actually create.
• Small details like binding and page count matter more than you'd think.
• It's okay to explore. Your first sketchbook is a starting point, not a commitment.

Your first sketchbook doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to get used. Pick one that feels right. It's the one that gets used, filled and enjoyed.