Whether you are an artist who is just starting out or someone who has been in this field for some time now, you probably know that it is wise to do your research before spending some serious cash on art supplies like best sketchbook for markers.
QUICK COMPARISON: Our Top 3 Picks For Sketchbooks For Markers
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And that is probably what brought you here.
Now, one thing is for sure. There are a lot of different sketchbooks in the market that boast of being bleed-proof and durable. But they fail miserably the moment you try to test them out.
And since you probably don’t have the time or the money to test every single product sold in the market, we decided to make it easier for you.
Best Sketchbook for Markers
Table of Contents
- Best Sketchbook for Markers
- 1. Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pad, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch
- 2. Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book – 9″ X 12″ – Wire Bound
- 3. Strathmore 566-8 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Art Journal, 8.5″x11″
- 4. Crescent Creative Products 12-00011 Rendr Hardbound Sketchbook, 8.5″ x 11.”
- How to choose the best sketchbook for markers?
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | BEST OVERALL Bee Paper Company Bleedproof Marker Pad
| VIEW LATEST PRICE →SEE CUSTOMER REVIEWS → |
 | RUNNER-UP Copic Markers Sketch Book
| VIEW LATEST PRICE →SEE CUSTOMER REVIEWS → |
 | Editors' Choice Strathmore Hardbound Art Journal
| VIEW LATEST PRICE →SEE CUSTOMER REVIEWS → |
 | Rendr Marker Paper Sketch Book
| VIEW LATEST PRICE →SEE CUSTOMER REVIEWS → |
So, without further ado, here’s a list of the best marker-friendly sketchbooks available in the market:
1. Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pad, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch
- Acid-free design
- Natural white sheet
First up on the list is Bee Paper’s Bleedproof Marker Pad. Perhaps not a very well known in the market, but Bee paper is still a brand its loyal users swear by. And with a good reason too.
Bee Paper’s sketchpads are known for their quality and affordability, and this one is no exception. The bleed-proof marker pad boasts an acid-free design while the pages are smooth and thick and come in stark white color.
The ultra-smooth nature of the sketchbook lets you use markers and experiment with varied media, often at the same time, without worrying about bleeding too much.
The sketchbooks are 8 and a half inches by 11 inches in dimension and available with a choice between 30 sheets and 50 sheets, for just a few dollars. But in case you are looking for a larger book, it also comes in the size of 11 inches by 17 inches, giving you ample amount of space to work with.
- Gives you a choice between 30-sheet and 50-sheet sketchbooks
- Comes in different sizes
- Can be used to experiment with mixed media like pens, watercolors, ink and markers
- Affordable
- Some bleed-through is noticed while using Copic markers
2. Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book – 9″ X 12″ – Wire Bound
- This sketchbook is perfect to keep all your...
- Fifty 9x12 inch sheets of 70 pound marker paper
If you are specifically looking to use Copic markers on sketchbooks, this might be the pad you would want to go for. This one is a hefty sketchbook. It is not prone to a lot of bleeding, thus allowing you to work with your markers without worrying.
The sketchbook is bound spirally with wire, which means that your sketches remain more organized and in one place. The pages are stark white and smooth, which not only lets you work with ease and comfort but also makes your art appear brighter.
The Copic markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book also boasts 50 pages worth of heavy, white, bleed-proof paper, so you will almost never run out of space. All the fifty sheets are 9 inches by 12 inches in dimension, thus giving you ample amount of space to work with.
- It is spiral bound, so the sketches are more organized
- It is ideal for using Copic markers
- It has a solid 50 sheets
- It is 9 inches by 12 inches in size, this makes it easily portable as it will fit right into a backpack
- Shows some signs of bleeding on blending Copic
3. Strathmore 566-8 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Art Journal, 8.5″x11″
- Strathmore 500 series mixed media features...
- Excellent for watercolor, gouache, Acrylic,...
Next up is Strathmore’s very own 566-8 500 series Hardbound Mixed Media Art journal. The 566-8 500 series journal boasts crisp white sheets that are 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size. The sheets are given a shine with the vellum finish, which also makes them last for a longer time.
Made in the US, Strathmore’s 500 series is pretty good for any artist looking to use not only markers but other mixed media for their art. This means that Strathmore’s got your art covered – be it a piece made of acrylic, gouache, watercolor, ink, pen, pencil, pastel or marker.
Owing to its compact nature, you can also lug it around in your backpack as you commute all day and use it as a journal. The art journal has 32 sheets of thick white paper, which might seem very few. But then you realize that it is bleed-proof enough for you to use both sides of the same sheet with ease.
- Compact and hardbound
- Very good for mixed media
- Pure cotton fiber paper that is also acid and lignin free
- Smyth sewn binding makes it durable
- The lightly-textured brown cover makes it aesthetically pleasing
- Might bleed if you apply colors too thickly
4. Crescent Creative Products 12-00011 Rendr Hardbound Sketchbook, 8.5″ x 11.”
- Professional Quality hardbound sketchbook with...
- Rendr no-show thru technology allows you to use...
You know a lot of thought has gone into making something when the quality shows, right? That might just be true in the case of Crescent’s Creative Products 12-00011 Rendr hardbound sketchbook.
We know that this is a list for sketchbooks that are compatible with markers, but this covers that and more. The sketchbook comes in a compact size of 8 and a half inches by 11 inches. It is hardbound, which makes it easier to carry along wherever you go. But that’s not even the best part.
Crescent Creative Products used something called the Rendr no-show tech that not only prevents bleeding, but also makes sure that your work is not visible from the other side of the page. This means that you can easily use both sides of each paper without having to worry that it might ruin the other side. Of course, this also makes it environmentally friendly.
The binding of the book is heavy and Smyth-sewn, thus increasing its durability in the process. The paper is also acid and lignin free, and allows you to work with mixed media.
- 48 pages
- Hardbound and compact
- Can be used to work with mixed media
- Rendr no-show technology lets you use both sides
- Does not lie flat
How to choose the best sketchbook for markers?
As an artists, you must know how important it is to choose your sketchbooks well. After all, it will not only go on to affect the quality of your work, but also your comfort and growth as an artist. So, while choosing art supplies for your work, whether you are a professional artist or just starting out, it is important to do your research and make an informed decision.
A lot of factors come into play when choosing a sketchbook, especially if you are going to use markers or mixed media. Some of them have been discussed below to help you choose your supplies well:
1. Choice of the medium
Your choice of medium has a lot of say when you are getting a new sketchbook. Are you going to use a pencil? Ink? Charcoal? Alcohol based markers? Mixed media? While heavy pages are good for almost everything on the list, markers and mixed media demand a bit more from your sketchbook.
So, if you are known to work with those media or are planning on doing so, make sure you choose sketchbooks with heavy sheets that are both bleed-proof and no-show. If you don’t, you will be stuck using blotting paper and tearing out ruined pages for quite a while.
2. Your dominant hand
Whether you are left or right handed can also determine which sketchbook you should go for. Spiral bound notebooks are usually easier to use while sketching with markers and mixed media because they lie completely flat. But before buying a spiral bound sketchbook, check if the side the binding clashes with your dominant hand side or not.
It will obviously not be fun if you are left-handed and accidentally buy a book that’s bound on the left side. It will constantly press against your wrist and cause a lot of discomfort while sketching.
3. Portability
A lot of things determine the portability of a sketchbook, right from its binding to its sewing and even the weight if you are planning on traveling a lot and bringing your sketchbook along, you should make sure you keep these things in mind.
A hardbound art journal is obviously more travel-proof than a normal paperback. It will keep your journal from wear and tear during traveling. Heavy sewing is also important so that the pages don’t come out because of sudden movements during the journey.
If you like traveling light, choose a compact sketchbook. This way it will slip right into your backpack and won’t be a hassle to carry around.
4. Miscellaneous
There are a few other things you should keep in mind while buying a sketchbook where you can use markers. Try to decide if you will be using it for daily practice or for more of a professional use. If you are going to do the latter, it is better to go for the expensive and proven brands on the market.
For daily practice, though, you can go for a cheaper version of the same. A hardbound book is easier to carry around but a spiral bound sketch pad is good when you work at home and don’t travel around with it much. Also note that a spiral-bound journal will lie flat while a hardbound will have trouble with the same.
Conclusion
If you think that buying a sketchbook is as easy as going to your local stationery store and picking up the first one that catches your fancy, then you’re wrong.
So, make sure you do your research before you buy a new sketchbook. And If you are going to use markers and mixed media, be aware that not every sketchbook will let you do so without bleeding through every page and causing a mess.
In this article we have reviewed the best sketchbooks for markers overall yet other sketchbooks have been reviewed as well on Architecture Lab; in here you can also find the best sketchbook for architects, best sketchbooks for ink and the best sketchbooks for watercolors, cast a glance and fuel your dreams with epic tools!
All images via Estée Janssens@esteejanssens
Nice one. Definitely game me some brilliant ideas on which sketchbook to buy next time. Thanks.
The strathmore journal is my personal favorite. It just doesn’t work well for markers but for other media as well
Old school yet new huh? I say Old because we have apps now that can do this but New at the same time because it had a make over. Good stuff!!!
This review will be so useful to artists that needs sketchbook for markers. The bee paper bleedproof Marker Pad, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch is highly recommended because its very affordable and one can get about 50 sheets in it.
The featured sketchbooks are pretty top-notch. And I’d say their con, which has a commonality of the ink bleeding out a little, is a given because the paper has a limitation of course, unless you’re doing your artwork on a board.
I always like copic markers so I will.go for Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book – 9″ X 12″ – Wire Bound because it uses copic markers,has about 50sheets in it is spirsl bound to keep work organised.
I think we always need the right tools when it comes to sketching with markers, this review will definitely make artists choose the best sketchbook for marker. I like the Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book – 9″ X 12″ – Wire Bound because it uses copic markers and its spiral bind for good organisation’s.
this has given us idea on best sketchbooks. widen our knowledge on sketchbooks that we can choose that suits our need.
Could you guys do something like this but for fountain pens? Like a “Best notebooks for Fountain pens” list? I know Rhodia is considered the standard but I would like to know some local finds that are fountain pen friendly.
No. 4, Rendr Hardbound. I have this one. It is specially designed for markers and inks. You can draw on both sides without bleeding (and I have tried) these books come in multiple sizes and you can also find this paper on a roll. Texture is very smooth. I love it!
These are wonderful sketchbooks. I would really want to have one of these. Thanks for the review
Any ideas fora smaller notebook for markers? Like 4 x 6”? My son carries a generic one around in his jacket…i would love to get him a small “marker” one.