The paper I like to use most often has tooth on it. I have been using the Canson brand (I am not sponsored or anything) and it is called the Universal Sketch Series (Click here for the link). It is the 65-pound weight and it is a 9 x 12. It is the main sketch pad I like to use. I like it because it has some tooth to it and it has a binder vs. if you buy a sketch pad that’s a book without a binder. Without a binder, it is hard to fold it underneath and can be uncomfortable to sketch from. Be sure you get one with a binder that you can wrap around so it is just one sheet of paper in front of you vs. two pieces if you had no binder. 

I have used very smooth papers to rough, and I like the in-between when it has some tooth but is not too rough. Give this type of paper a try with the Canson sketch universal series. You can use this for various mediums including charcoal. Be sure to experiment with papers as much as you do with other aspects of art. Drawing is a very important thing for all of us to continue pursuing, it never ends! There is no such thing as “mastering drawing,” but, it should still be fun. It doesn’t matter what you paint or draw.

Again, I have been using this kind of paper for a while, but try different types. Some people like a slick surface and other people like a rough surface. I like to take my sketch pad to the zoo since I love drawing animals, and I find this sketch pad easy to bring along. Drawing is also a great break from painting and is such a fundamental backbone to painting. If you skip drawing, you are making things difficult for yourself. Try to get one of these sketch pads and use it even in your house and start making sketching a habit!

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