Journals and Notebooks ⁽⁵⁶⁾

Sketchbooks, Visual Diaries, Journals and Notebooks

Choosing a book becomes easier once you know what will happen on the page. An art student may need a specific visual diary for class, while someone sketching or writing for themselves can choose by paper, binding and size. Browse A3, A4 and A5 options, or use the guide below to find a book that suits your medium. 

Sketchbook or visual diary

Sketchbooks and visual diaries can look almost identical on the shelf, although people usually buy them for different reasons. Artists tend to compare the paper weight, surface and binding according to how they work. A visual diary is more commonly bought for school or TAFE, where the course may specify the size, page count or paper.

A3 and A4 visual diaries are common for pencil work, research notes, thumbnails and project development. If you are buying for a course, check the booklist first or start with our visual diaries for school and TAFE 

Choosing by size

Working on large drawings or layouts usually calls for A3, especially when a course brief requires plenty of space on the page. A4 is easier to manage and remains a common choice for schoolwork, everyday drawing and note-taking. For travel or quick sketches, A5 fits comfortably in a bag and is far easier to use on your lap. 

Paper weight explained

GSM stands for grams per square metre. Higher number, thicker paper, better at coping with wet mediums or heavy layering. Too light and your marker bleeds through, or your watercolour buckles the page.

Rough guidance by medium:

For reference from the grid, the Flexbook Smartbook sits at 70gsm and is fine for writing and pencil notes. The Flexbook Ecosmiles at 100gsm handles ink and light drawing comfortably.

Watercolour and mixed media

Watercolour puts more moisture into the page, so heavier paper usually gives you an easier surface to work on. Paper below 200gsm is more likely to cockle unless it is designed for wet media or secured before painting. Around 200gsm can handle light washes, while 300gsm is the more dependable choice for wetter techniques. 

Hot press is smooth, which suits fine detail and ink-and-wash. Cold press has a light texture and holds pigment well for looser washes. Mixed media paper sits between drawing and watercolour stock, handling light washes, marker, gouache and collage in the same book. If a bound sketchbook feels too limiting for wet work, our watercolour pads give you heavier single sheets that lie flat while you paint.

Visual diaries for school and TAFE

Most Australian art courses ask for an A4 visual art diary. Some senior and tertiary subjects ask for A3. The paper is usually lighter (around 110gsm) because the book is for research, thumbnails, annotations and process work rather than finished pieces.

Check the course booklist before you buy. Some briefs specify a size, a page count or a particular brand. The right visual arts diary is the one your teacher asked for, not the largest or the dearest on the shelf.

Bound, spiral or hardcover

Spiral lies completely flat and lets you tear pages out cleanly. Good for working across a spread or submitting individual pieces. The Art Spectrum Spiral Sketch Book is a straightforward example.

Sewn or bound gives you a clean spread with no wire in the way, and travels well without catching on things. The Flexbook range uses a flexible bound spine that opens flat, which is unusual for a bound book.

Hardcover protects the pages and gives you a firm surface to draw against at a desk. It's the safer pick if the book lives in a bag.

Softcover is lighter and cheaper. Better if portability matters more than protection.

If you're after a recognisable brand, browse our Moleskine sketchbooks .

Journals and notebooks

If you're buying to write rather than draw, the choice is simpler. Ruled pages suit journaling and study. Blank suits free-form thinking and sketch-noting. Dotted is a middle ground for bullet journalling. The Flexbook Smartbook ruled range is a solid daily writing option, and the Art Spectrum A5 Soft Cover Notebook has blank pages if you prefer an unruled page. For dated planners and diaries, see our planners and journals .

FAQs

What does GSM mean on paper?

GSM stands for grams per square metre and measures how heavy the paper is. Higher GSM means thicker, sturdier paper that handles wet media and heavy layering better. Notebook paper sits around 70 to 100gsm, drawing paper around 100 to 150gsm, and watercolour paper 200gsm and above.

What paper weight is best for a watercolour sketchbook?

Look for 300gsm for proper watercolour work, or 200 to 250gsm for light washes and sketching on the go. Lighter paper is more likely to buckle, especially when you use generous amounts of water. 

What paper weight suits markers without bleeding through?

Alcohol markers work best on paper made specifically to resist bleeding. The coating and construction matter more than GSM alone, and some dedicated bleedproof papers are only 70 to 75gsm. Standard sketchbook paper may still ghost or bleed even when it is heavier. If markers are your main medium, dedicated marker pads are the more reliable choice. 

What size visual diary do I need for school?

Most Australian schools ask for A4 as the standard visual art diary size, with A3 requested for senior art subjects and some TAFE courses. Always check the course booklist first, because some teachers specify a page count or a particular brand as well.

Is a sketchbook the same as a visual diary?

They often use similar paper and bindings. A course may prescribe a particular visual diary, while a personal sketchbook can be chosen around your preferred medium, size and working style. 

What is the difference between spiral and bound sketchbooks?

Spiral binding allows the book to lie flat and keeps the centre of a spread easy to reach. Bound sketchbooks have no wire through the middle and usually travel more neatly in a bag. If you need to remove work for submission, check whether the pages are perforated before buying. 

Can I use a sketchbook for acrylic paint?

Only if the paper is heavy enough, ideally 300gsm mixed media or a dedicated acrylic pad. Standard drawing paper will warp and eventually crack under thick acrylic. For anything more than a thin wash, use a mixed media pad or a canvas panel instead.