Strathmore 400 Series Toned Sketch Paper Pads (Wirebound) Tan 11 in. X 14 in. 24 Sheets (412-11)

I absolutely love these toned paper books. The quality is very good and the price point is excellent. I also love that they use 30% post-consumer fibers and are, therefore, more environmentally friendly than virgin sketchbooks. I have the toned tan and toned gray books in multiple sizes. I use them mostly for sketching in the field with graphite, colored pencil, oil pastels and micron pens, dip pens or fast drying markers. I use the tone of the paper for my mid tone values, then build form with added lights and darks. Even quick gesture sketches have more innate character than those drawn on plain white paper. They offer a nice change of pace from my usual white watercolor sketchbooks.The paper in these books is 80 lb (118 gsm) weight, so it is ideal for dry media. The pages can be lightly sanded to add tooth for soft pastels/pencils, though I think oil pastels or artist crayons work better, since they tend to stay in place. The pages will also accept very light watercolor, gouache or acrylic painting techniques, such as dry brushing in small areas, but are guaranteed to buckle if the paper gets too wet. So, if you use any wet media beyond alcohol-based inks, exercise some caution.In addition to these books, I also have the Strathmore 400 Series Artagain black paper pads, which contain a even higher percentage of recycled fiber (50%) and I enjoy those, as well, for working from dark to light. In those I tend to work with oil pastels, colored pencils, artist crayons, acrylic inks and/or some gouache. If these books were offered in other neutral tones, I'm sure I'd buy them, as well.

What I used to buy.

Is you use markers or color pencils. Or even a white gel pen. This can help make colors stand out and something of a change then the usual white paper. I would say the quality of this is more for a finish piece then a rough sketching book because of what you pay for .

This is the best sketchbook! It fits great in a handbag. I love the toned paper because it "automatically" gives you a middle value. Can't say enough about it! Just get one and see if, like me, you don't fall completely in love with it. You'll be inspired to draw in it a lot ...it's easier than facing the stark white blank page!

I have seen this Tiktok And YouTube shorts comma A lot of people refer to it as the hairy paper, so I was surprised to find it so cheap on Amazon. However, it does its job, and I don't know if I'm going to be going back to white paper anytime soon after this.

Goes well with prisma color pencils and a good book for blending pencils and charcoal etc.

This is always a worth while purchase! While the sheets feel a bit diffrent than when I used them previously I still do really like it! The paper is thick and using acrylic markers I have minimal bleed though! It's easy to sketch on and easy to use! The spiral binding is study and has never gotten in the way! Thank you so much!

Love this paper for sketching with pan pastels!