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

Picking out paper on which to

draw can be daunting for even
experienced artists. Your choices
include different types, weights,
colors, textures, and sizes.
Some papers are great for quick
sketches but not for detailed
drawings, and some may look good
at first but will become yellow and
brittle over time.
You need to have a good idea of
what kind of paper you want before
shopping so you dont become
overwhelmed by the selection.
Art supply stores sell individual
sheets of papers that are designed
specifically for drawing, and
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 than whether you purchase
individual sheets or a sketchbook
(Figure 1).

ArtSpeak
Drawing paper: An acid-free paper that is designed
specifically for artists and is available in various
types, weights, colors, textures, and sizes.
Hardcover: A durable type of book cover that is
made from a thick and unbendable material.
Hot-pressed: A type of paper that is pressed
through hot cylinders during its manufacture. Many
smooth watercolor papers are hot-pressed.
Sketchbook: Several sheets of drawing paper that
are bound together and contained within a soft or
hard cover.
Softcover: A flexible book cover that is usually
made of paper.
Storage portfolio: A hard-sided foldable case in
which artists store drawings and sheets of drawing
paper to protect them from damage.
Portfolio of work: A body of work (i.e., examples
of drawings, paintings, designs, etc.) created by
an artist for self-promotion and/or to supplement
applications for career advancement opportunities,
such as educational upgrades or gallery exhibitions.
Portfolio: A hard-sided case in which artists
transport and store paintings, drawings, sheets of
drawing paper, and/or their portfolio of work.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright 2011 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

Figure 1

ArtSpeak
Texture: The surface detail of an object
that can be identified by sight, touch,
and/or a general knowledge of the
subject.
Weight of paper: The thickness of a
sheet of paper.
Newsprint: An inexpensive paper that is
not acid-free, generally used for printing
newspapers.

As an Aside

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 easily wrinkled and damaged.

Portfolios come in many different

sizes and types, ranging from simple,
inexpensive cardboard to high-quality
expensive leather.

Figure 2

A hardcover sketchbook is much more durable

than a softcover one, and better protects the
paper inside (Figure 2). As an extra perk, the
hard cover provides a solid surface on which
to work when youre away from your desk or
table.

Caution!
Newsprint can be used for rough, preliminary
sketches, but is not recommended for drawing
because it is very thin, tears easily, and eventually
yellows due to its acidic content.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright 2011 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

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).
Figure 3

Deciding on a Paper
Size
Choose sketchbooks and drawing
papers in sizes that are easy to
transport when you travel. However,
stay away from paper under 9 by 12 in
(23 by 30 cm) or your drawing options
become too limited.

Figure 4

Most sketchbooks that are larger

than 16 by 20 in (41 by 51 cm) are
softcover and bend easily. When you
make large drawings, you need to
place a big sketchbook 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 come
in many sizes. Some types are
inexpensive and others can be
quite costly. You may 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 but is often quite
expensive. Choosing the right paper
means finding the right weight at the
right price.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright 2011 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

Printer paper that you use for your computer

has a 20 lb (75 g/m) weight. Even though the
cost is low, its too thin (and too smooth) for
drawing.
Heavy drawing paper, such as hot-pressed,
watercolor paper made by Arches, has a
140 lb (300 g/m) weight and is perfect
for drawing masterpieces, but is much too
expensive for everyday use.

Caution!
Dont be fooled by cheap imitations of
good-quality drawing paper. Just because
the cover of a sketchbook says its suitable
for drawing doesnt mean its acid-free.
Before you buy a sketchbook, always look
for a label that says the paper is acid-free.

A good compromise is a professional quality,

acid-free paper with at least a 50 lb (260 g/
m) weight.
The weight of the paper in a sketchbook is
usually marked on the packaging or front
cover.
Once youve tried a few different weights,
youll find that you can simply feel a sheet of
drawing paper to make sure its thick enough.

Tip!
Before you buy drawing paper, check out
art supply stores, and also stationery and
department stores in your community to
find out what is available.

As an Aside
Drawing Papers during the Renaissance
Shopping for drawing papers is no doubt a challenge. However, can you imagine having to make your
own paper? During the Renaissance, every piece of paper was made by hand. This time-consuming
process included the following seven basic steps:

Materials such as plants, vegetable matter, and/or rags were chopped up into fine fibers.

Water was then added to create a soupy mix.

The mix was scooped up with a screen and placed into a wooden mold.

The mold was shaken until most of the water had drained through the screen leaving a flattened
layer of fibers.

Flattened sheets of fibers were stacked into a pile with a layer of woolen cloth or felt in between
each.

Most of the remaining moisture was squeezed out by pressing down very hard on the stack.

The sheets of paper were then hung to dry.

When completely dry, the paper was usually coated with a substance (such as a gelatin mixture) to make
it suitable for drawing.

ISBN 978-0-9878229-1-8
Copyright 2011 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.