In the world of art, the tools and surfaces you choose can transform the way you create. Acrylic paints are one of the most versatile mediums available to artists, students and hobbyists alike. Pair them with the right sketchbooks, pads and canvases, and they become a powerful way to explore bold colour, texture and mixed media. In this article, we’ll walk through top tips for using acrylic paints with confidence, and show how the right Artgecko surfaces help you get the very best from every brushstroke.

That moment when you finish a sketchbook brings a mix of emotions. Delight, relief, excitement, inspiration… and then a little dread. Questions start racing through your mind:

"What will go in my next sketchbook?"
"Which media should I choose?"
And most importantly… "what size and format should I pick?"

After a quick online search, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Conflicting advice, endless sketchbook brands, and format debates make choosing your next book, way harder than it needs to be. That’s why we’ve put together this guide! Created to explore why thinking outside the rectangle and going for square as your next sketchbook, could be the creative refresh you didn’t know you needed.

We’ve all been there, you pop round to Nan’s house and she pulls out the photo album. Before you know it, you’re flicking through photographs of your dad as a baby, splashing around with rubber ducks in the bath.

While this process can be downright hilarious (from the expressions on Dad’s face to that very bold green bathtub), it’s easy to assume that scrapbooking is a little old-fashioned.

But scrapbooking today is so much more than faded photos and dusty albums. It’s a creative, expressive, and surprisingly modern hobby and one that truly is for everyone.

Let’s take a closer look at what scrapbooking really is, how it’s evolved, and why it’s a perfect creative addition to your everyday life (and your craft supplies!).