We have a wide range of products for all. Shopping in-store or online for stationery can be confusing. With such a choice, that sketch pad or book may stay in your basket and never make it home. Read this guide to help you find the perfect paper type, sketchbook or sketch pad, spending less time putting sketchbooks in your shopping basket! Art supply shopping made easier! 

Let’s start with our shopping basket favourite Classy Gecko. This range is great for all artists with high-quality 150gsm cartridge paper withstanding sketches, drawing, multi-media techniques, charcoal, light watercolour washes and more! These sketchbooks are available case-bound, for a professional journal style and twin wire sketchbook, that lays flat. Regardless of binding, both have a tactile, soft touch, wipe clean black hardbacks and Artgecko brand, textured green protective sheet at the front of the paper pages. Classy suits every all-round artist, in a range of sizes A6 to A2, portrait and landscape.

Want a sketchbook that matches your colourful art? Flashy Gecko contains Classy cartridge paper, suitable for pencils, a pen and other sketching media. The smooth covers come in colour shades of raspberry, yellow, mint and lilac in A4, twin wire.

Krafty Geckos - containing Classy papers, ideal for all media like pencils, pen, and even a light watercolour wash. Krafty’s covers are smooth, durable Kraft hardbacks, meaning drawing isn’t limited to only paper. Personalise the cover with doodle art! Sized A5 to A3 and 300mm squared, in twin wire, portrait and landscape. The sketch book range for professional artists, amateur or student artists! 

Swanky Gecko, the range for neat sketch book keepers. Covered in flexible vegan friendly faux leather with 124 pages of Classy cartridge paper, Swanky sketch books hold charcoal, pen and pencil drawings in one place. Great for sketching on the go in A5 and A4. Sketch journals that look smart

Eco Gecko may look like Classy but these are green throughout, for the eco artist! Containing 100% recycled all media paper, withstanding many drawing techniques - graphite, coloured pencils and other drawing media. Environmentally friendly creating. Available twin wire A4 and A3, portrait art books. 

Freestyle - perfect for paint marker art sketchbook! With super smooth papers, made from Bristol Board and marker paper, the excellent surface allows easy paint marker layering, avoiding page puckering and bleed through. Ideal for artists wanting more from their sketchbook. Books are available in twin wire A4 and A5, portrait.

Specialist Sketching

Splashy Gecko sketchbooks are filled with pages of 300gsm watercolour paper withstanding pencil drawing and watercolour painting and many drawing techniques. They’re twin wire, portrait and landscape, A3 and A4.

This paper is available as sketch pad and as single sheet drawing paper too!

Tonal drawing? Shady Gecko includes sheets of 200gsm toned card for pencil sketching, drawing pens - even painting! The range includes tones Jet Black, Desert Sand, Ash Grey and Storm Grey. Twin wire A4, A3 and 300mm x 300mm square, portrait and landscape.

Looking for a toned pad? Find out more about our sketch pads below!

Stashy Gecko range features two books which can be used for sketch and even photo album displays. Sized 300mm squared 170gsm Kraft and 200gsm Jet Black card with skip bound twin wire. Keep memories safe by tying the ribbon.

Drawing Paper and Pads

Looking for a pad, not art sketchbooks? Find all our papers in a sketch pad with the PRO Range. Great for drawings on the go and individual drawing paper. Included is All Media Pad (150gsm cartridge paper), Watercolour Pad (300gsm paper), Toned Pad (240gsm of toned cards), Marker Pad (250gsm marker paper) and Bristol Board Pad (250gsm marker paper).

There are also exclusive paper types for art pads. The Acrylic Pad (240gsm textured acrylic paper) ideal tooth for heavy paint layering. The Pro Tracing Pad’s (90gsm quality tracing paper) smooth texture will hold pencils, ink and more. All PRO sketch pads are A3 and A4 with smooth matt laminate covers, featuring artworks from our #artgeckogallery.

Find the Sketch Tiles in this sketch pad range; art pads in a square 148mm x 148mm tile, ideal for Instagram posting filled with Toned Jet Black card and Watercolour paper. There is an A6 Watercolour Postcard pad too!

That’s the full range of sketch pads, books and drawing paper for everyone, whether you’re an amateur, artist, student or hobbyist! With an Artgecko Sketchbook, every art project will come to life, whilst your artistic techniques flourish. Now you have no excuse not to move those products from your basket to the checkout! Find the Artgecko range in stock on our online store, as well as from multiple retailers - shop online for deals.

Go on, empty that basket at the checkout!

FAQs

What is the best size sketch pad?

Choosing the best size for a sketch pad depends largely on personal preference, the type of artwork being created, and the artist's lifestyle.

If you typically work on large, detailed pieces or want more room to freely express your ideas, larger A3 size may be more suitable. It offers a generous space that can accommodate complex compositions and big, bold strokes.

However, if you often sketch on the go, travel a lot, or simply enjoy the convenience of a more compact sketch pad, then an A5 or A6 size might be the better choice. These smaller sketch pads are more portable and easier to handle when space is limited, such as when sketching outdoors or on public transportation.

A4 size sketch pads are a popular choice as they strike a balance between portability and ample working space. They're large enough for most types of artwork, yet still compact enough to carry around easily.

Should I use a pen or pencil for sketching?

Both pen and pencil can be used effectively for sketching in Artgecko sketchbooks, it really depends on your personal preference and the effect you wish to achieve.

A pencil is a versatile tool that allows for lighter or darker lines and can be easily erased, making it ideal for initial sketches or more detailed, realistic drawings. The Classy Gecko, Flashy Gecko, Krafty Gecko, Swanky Gecko, Eco Gecko, and Splashy Gecko books all accommodate pencil sketching well.

On the other hand, the pen allows for sharp, precise lines and can provide your sketches with a sense of boldness and permanence. The Classy Gecko, Flashy Gecko, and Krafty Gecko sketchbooks can accommodate sketching with pens.

Which Sketch Pad is Best for Students?

The best sketch pad for students depends on the specific requirements of their coursework and their personal artistic preferences. However, for a versatile, high-quality option, Classy Gecko from Artgecko is an excellent choice. It features durable 150gsm paper that can withstand various media, including sketches, drawings, dry media and even light watercolour washes.

For students who are environmentally conscious, Eco Gecko could be the perfect fit. These sketchbooks contain 100% recycled all-media paper offering an environmentally friendly option for creative work.

Another great option for students, especially those who often sketch on the go, is the Swanky Gecko. These sketchbooks are covered in flexible, vegan-friendly faux leather and are great for keeping sketches neat and organized.