Top Sketchpad Brands for Artists to Elevate Your Creativity

Creating art begins with choosing the right tools, and a high-quality sketchpad is essential for artists and hobbyists alike. From smooth, acid-free pages to durable covers, selecting the right sketchpad can enhance your drawing experience. Among the brands that consistently receive praise are Strathmore, Canson, and Moleskine, each offering unique features catered to various artistic needs. To find out which of these top brands could be the best fit for your next creation, read on below.

Illustration of sketchpad

Best brands of sketchpad in 2025

Strathmore

Strathmore is renowned as one of the best producers of sketchpads, offering a wide range of high-quality papers suitable for various artistic mediums. Their 500 Series, described as the "Rolls Royce of paper," is premium, professional-grade, and made from cotton fiber, ensuring archival and acid-free properties. Strathmore papers are available in different surfaces, including Bristol Smooth, Watercolor (Hot Press, Cold Press, and Rough), and more, catering to diverse artistic needs. The company's commitment to quality is evident in their extensive product line, which includes journals, sketch pads, and leather-bound journals. Strathmore's papers are highly durable and ideal for media such as markers, colored pencils, and watercolors.

Moleskine

Moleskine is renowned as one of the best producers of sketchpads, known for its high-quality, luxury notebooks that have gained a loyal following worldwide. Founded in 1997 by Maria Sebregondi, Moleskine has expanded its product line to include planners, sketchbooks, and various accessories, with its products distributed in over 22,000 stores across 95 countries by 2012. The brand is celebrated for its traditional black notebooks with rounded corners, ivory-coloured paper, and elastic bands, which are designed to lie flat and include an expandable pocket. Moleskine's paper is Forest Stewardship Council certified and acid-free, ensuring durability and environmental sustainability. The company has also ventured into digital products, such as the Smart Writing Set, which integrates physical notes with digital technology. For more detailed information about Moleskine, visit their Wikipedia page.

Canson

Canson, a world leader in the fine arts market with over 450 years of experience, is renowned for producing high-quality papers for various artistic mediums, including sketching, drawing, and watercolor. Their papers, such as the Canson XL series, are popular among artists for their reliability and affordability, making them ideal for both beginners and professionals. Canson's papers are known for their durability and versatility, suitable for techniques like wet-in-wet washes and mixed media applications. The company's commitment to quality has earned it a significant market share in the global sketchbook market. With a wide range of products available, Canson continues to inspire and support artists globally.

Leda Art Supply

Leda Art Supply is renowned for producing high-quality sketchbooks, particularly noted for their durable and versatile designs. Founded in 2015 by GJ Gillespie and his wife Teresa, the brand offers sketchbooks with 81 lb (120 gsm) paper, suitable for a variety of mediums including pencil, ink, pen, pastel, charcoal, and light watercolor wash. The sketchbooks feature sewn bindings that allow the pages to lie flat, and they come in various sizes, including pocket, medium, and large. The paper is acid-free and Forest Stewardship Council certified, ensuring environmental friendliness and long-lasting art. With options for multi-packs and a 15-day return policy, Leda Art Supply offers excellent value, such as a 2-pack for $17.89 ($8.94 each) and a 3-pack for $26.97 ($8.99 each). For more information about their extra-large Leda twin pack, please visit their website.

Arteza

Arteza is renowned as one of the top producers of sketchpads, known for its high-quality paper and durable binding. The brand has gained significant traction among artists, with a market share that reflects its commitment to excellence. In the art supplies market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2031, Arteza stands out for its innovative products and strong customer base. The global art supplies market, valued at USD 14,581.2 million in 2024, highlights the growing demand for premium art materials like those offered by Arteza. With advancements in education curriculum and evolving artistic trends, Arteza continues to be a preferred choice among artists.

Pentalic

Pentalic is renowned as one of the best producers of sketchpads, offering high-quality, acid-free paper suitable for all dry media. Their sketchbooks, such as the Pentalic Aqua Journal, are praised for their even washes and controllable watercolor behavior, making them ideal for both beginners and professionals. The paper is sourced from certified sustainable forests, ensuring environmental responsibility. Pentalic sketchbooks are available in various sizes, including 5.5" x 8" and 8.5" x 11", and feature durable double-wire binding for effortless page turning. With a long history of satisfying artists, Pentalic continues to be a trusted brand in the sketchbook market. Explore their Pentalic 8x5.5 Wirebound Sketchbook to experience their quality artistry firsthand.

Fabriano

Fabriano is renowned as one of the best producers of sketch paper, with a history dating back to the 1200s in Italy. The brand is synonymous with quality, style, and excellence, offering papers made from high-quality materials such as 100% cotton, which is ideal for artists. Fabriano papers are available in various weights, including 300 GSM, and surface types like hot and cold press. These papers are acid-free, internally and externally sized, and suitable for a range of artistic techniques. Fabriano's products, such as the Artistico series, are highly regarded for their archival quality and eco-friendly production.

Hahnemühle

Hahnemuhle is a renowned brand in the art world, celebrated for its high-quality sketchbooks and fine art papers, with a rich history dating back to 1584 in Germany. Known for their traditional and modern manufacturing techniques, Hahnemuhle produces 100% cotton papers, such as their latest 250 gram, 120 pound cold press sketchbook, which is highly durable and light-fast. Their papers are acid-free, thread-bound, and available in various sizes, including A4, A5, and A6. Hahnemuhle's commitment to combining traditional recipes with modern technologies ensures papers that meet the highest standards of artists. The company's products are widely available through retailers like Wet Paint and Dick Blick. For more information on their sketchbooks, visit Hahnemuhle's official website.

Bee Paper

Bee Paper is renowned as one of the top sketchbook brands, particularly praised for its heavy-weight paper suitable for wet mediums like watercolor and acrylic paints. Their Aquabee Super Deluxe sketchbook is a favorite among watercolor artists due to its thick, absorbent pages that resist warping. Bee Paper also offers textured options that excel with charcoal and pastel artwork. The company is based in the USA and produces high-quality, acid-free papers, such as the Jumbo Bee Sketch Paper with a weight of 50 lb (82 g/m2).

Ohuhu

Ohuhu is renowned as one of the best producers of sketchpads, particularly with their recent release of the bleedproof marker pad, which features 60 pages of 150 GSM paper, ensuring no bleeding through even with extensive use of alcohol markers. This innovation has made it a game-changer for artists, offering a smooth surface similar to X-Press It Blending Card. Ohuhu markers themselves are highly praised for their quality and affordability, with a range of 344 colors and a price point that is significantly lower than industry standards like Copic markers. The brand's commitment to customer satisfaction is evident through their generous replacement and refund policies. Ohuhu's products are ideal for both professionals and beginners, making them a reliable choice in the art community.