Moleskine - Art Collection Sketchbook - Sketchbook, Hardcover with Elastic Closure - Paper Suitable for Pens, Pencils, Pastels - Black Color - Large 13 x 21 cm, 104 Pages.

The paper quality in this sketchbook is brilliant — thick, smooth, and perfect for pencils, pens, and light watercolours. It doesn’t bleed through or wrinkle easily, which makes it ideal for experimenting.I love the sturdy cover and elastic band; it feels like a proper notebook you’d want to carry around and actually use. There’s also a ribbon marker to keep your place.It’s the sort of sketchbook that makes you want to draw more often. Even a quick doodle feels like it deserves to be kept.

Using this for sketching when out & about: it is the perfect size - a one page rectangle either portrait or landscape, or a two page spread almost square. The pages fold out flat so you can draw a double page. Paper is perfect - slightly off-white with a very light grain. This makes it perfect for all media (eg pencil - not softer than 2B as in transit you might get smudging if you handle carelessly - pen & ink - I like a dip pen Tashikawa G nip & Pelikan Tuche A inks, also have used a fountain pen with non-waterproof ink). The paper is heavyweight enough to use watercolour too - not really for super-flooded effects needing 300gsm true watercolour paper. Combines well with the Pentel Aqwash brushes for super-portability (I recommend the Schminke Horodam 12 colour box - top quality). With watercolour the paper crinkles a little but flattens gradually when the book is closed. This is much better than the smaller version Moleskine whose paper is too thin. Elastic holds the book closed well - I sometimes add my own thick elastic band if it is going to be treated roughly when travelling. Don't forget to scan & save your work from time to time - imagine the tragedy of losing a Moleskine full of work! There are plenty of pages - but not so many that you have a massive number of drawings (to potentially lose) in each book. Finally - the price is right! Overall PERFECT - I can't imagine anything better.

The rose I’m in the middle of drawing is on the top most page, so you can imagine the quality of the paper for the rest of the book!This is my first Moleskine. I usually use mixed media books as well as lower quality paper, so this is my first investment into a sketchbook that was recommended by a friend.The paper is very thick and creamy in colour. There’s also a little pocket in the back for any extra papers. The book size is not too small or compact- big enough for comfortable drawing and sketching on a small scale, I’d say around A5.Highly highly recommend. The increased price tag is well worth the investment- as quality drawing tools are every artists fancy!

This sketchbook is designed with the traveller in mind: hard, durable covers held shut with a ribbon of elastic, contains plenty of heavy weight, durable paper, and a handy fold-out pocket in the back for loose paper paraphernalia. The size won't hog too much bag space and could probably fit inside a coat pocket. In any event it isn't too cumbersome to carry about in the hand.A thing I would say is the paper is exceptionally smooth, having little tooth, and proves to have a slightly resistive quality with certain media. It's fabulous to work on with inks, felt pens etc., not so easy with water-based paints and some pencils - if you prefer these to inkwork then I would suggest looking at other books, for example the Moleskine watercolour sketchbook, or one with toothier cartridge paper.Another thing is if your book isn't going to travel and what you want is purely a sketch book then possibly you'll need a larger format, A4 or more. The recommended retail price is quite expensive for a sketchbook of this size but at around half-price with Amazon discount they become excellent value for money.

Love it , very good product , easy to work with and draw , great outcomes

Throughout my student art days I've owned many sketchbooks of various sizes and quality (Usually bought based on the amount of pages and the price). This is my first Moleskine.I bought this Moleskine to try and get me back into the habit of sketching and drawing, and away from the computer screen.It's a lovely sketchbook, it's a perfect size to slip in a bag or big pocket. The cover is sturdy and has so far stopped any damage to the pages within.Inside the pages are a slightly creamy colour which took me a couple of minutes to get used to. But I don't notice anymore. The paper stock is pleasingly heavy and I have yet to experience any bleed through - even after using marker pens. I'm sure the pages will hold up to paint as well.The pages are bound so they lie flat while you work. I love this feature (I used to prefer spiral bindings). The binding saves you from breaking the spine by folding the pages the wrong way or by placing a heavy object on the corner of the page to keep the pages flat. It also enables your work to flow right to the spine.The sketchbook has a useful pouch on the back cover which I sometimes use to hold collected ephemera. There's also a useful band to hold the covers shut and a bookmark ribbon to mark your page - which I must admit I don't really use.I guess the only negative I can think of is the price, but it's a classy, high quality sketchbook. I'm no longer as prolific when it comes to churning out pages and pages of sketchbook work so I feel it will last me a while and the fact that it's got me sketching again is priceless.

Very good quality. Got the item today