12 Best Sketchbooks for Markers: Minimize The Bleeding!

In this article, we will be looking at the best sketchbooks for markers and why we think that’s the case.

If you’re interested in drawing or coloring with markers, you know that they require a special kind of paper to truly shine.

Wet mediums are more demanding and less predictable in general, and the mistakes made with them are harder to fix. But the right type of paper will decrease the number of possible mistakes and ruined drawings.

Just as it works with any other material, it’s important to swatch the paper first before you start doing some kind of a big project and realize that it’s not a suitable surface at all. You might want to swatch all the paper types you have in the house and find the best option.

But what to do if you don’t have any good options and how to choose the best marker paper before buying it?

Markers Bleeding Through Paper Problem

Probably the biggest issue that artists face while working with markers is that the marker ink used in the alcohol-based markers is a really thin liquid that is bleeding through the paper very easily.

It makes the marker lines blur and spread over the expected contour, as well as causes the markers to dry up really fast. And solving this problem is more complicated than you might think.

It’s easy to avoid bleeding through if you use thick paper, therefore you will be able to use both sides of the paper, you may say. But the trick is – the heavier the paper is, the more ink it’s going to soak up, making your marker lifespan shorter. That’s why the paper for acrylics, gouache, and watercolor is a no–no: they are meant to soak up as much liquid as possible.

The fact is that many artists simply give up on the bleeding through and just use one side of the paper sheets all the time. It may not be this important if all of the paper’s features are otherwise perfect. You just need to remember to put some sort of a scrap sheet underneath the one that you’re working on to avoid staining the following pages as well. The lack of bleed-through may also be achieved by the special cover that the paper has, so if it’s that type of paper, that’ll do as well.

Another thing to influence marker lines blurring might be the paper texture. The term “ink feathering” means that the ink that you apply leaks outside the area you have applied it to. This may happen if you apply too much ink or if the paper is too textured. This shouldn’t happen if the paper is high-quality and in the smooth part of the spectrum.

If your drawing technique includes blending and layering ink for smooth gradients, your perfect paper is required to endure that as well. Absorbent papers don’t allow too much blending since the ink dries too quickly, and low-quality paper will fall apart if you apply several layers.

Due to the fact that alcohol-based marker ink will slightly fade over time, you would want your paper to have certain chemical properties to let your finished work last longer. Almost all of the high-quality paper nowadays is acid-free, but you may need to double-check this fact because the acid-free paper won’t speed up the fading. The ink also isn’t opaque at all, therefore, the paper needs to be white for color fidelity.

Basically, what you should be looking for in the paper:

• quite smooth;
• acid-free and white;
• suitable for layering and blending;
• marked as good for alcohol-based markers, inks, and pens OR has the special no-bleed-through cover;
• isn’t too thick and absorbent.

We have listed some examples of sketchbooks that have the marker-friendly paper below.

12 Best Sketchbooks for Markers

#1 Moleskine Art Sketchbook, Hard Cover, Plain/Blank

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This incredible Moleskine sketchbook has 104 high-quality acid-free pages that will be an absolute pleasure to draw on. It will last for a long time, even if you’ll have to use only one side of each sheet, and the hard binding won’t let the sketchbook fall apart. The paper is 165 gsm thick and perfectly suitable for all alcohol-based markers. 

Its leather-like hardcover and the rubber closure ensures the safety of your drawings no matter where you and your sketchbook are. The entire sketchbook also looks very stylish and satisfying, especially with its lovely ribbon bookmark.

Here is a cool review/unboxing by Gawx Art of this sketchbook:

#2. Bee Paper Company Bleedproof Marker Pad

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Suitable for inks, pens, and alcohol-based markers, this sketchpad is a wonderful and affordable option for marker artists. Its paper is naturally white, acid-free, and super smooth, and allows easy blending and layering. It’s designed to prevent bleeding through as much as possible, so your markers will last longer.

The binding of this sketchpad is meant for easy sheets removal, so you’ll have to be careful if you prefer to store your drawings in one sketchbook. But it’s really easy to carry around, and the hard cardboard cover on the back allows you to draw easily even on the go.

#3. Canson Artist Series Pro Layout Marker Pad

[amazon box=”B00DU694YO” description_items=”3″]

An ideal option for alcohol-based marker drawings, as well as for designers’ sketches. The 70 gsm paper is smooth, quite thin, and semi-translucent, but it’s meant to prevent bleeding through and saves your marker ink. You can also use it for pens, brush pens, calligraphy pens, and pencils.

The paper sheets are easy to separate from each other, and the top cover folds over easily and doesn’t interfere with your working process. However, they aren’t meant to be used on both sides, so you can use it as a complete sketchbook without removing any pages, and it would still be convenient.

#4. Copic Marker Sketchbook

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Copic markers are believed to be the most demanding alcohol-based markers of them all because of their extreme bleeding ability. However, this sketchbook meets all of their needs, being constructed specifically for Copics. 50 sheets will be enough to store a lot of your ideas in one place!

The paper is 70 lbs (104 gsm), made to resist bleeding, and you can actually use it for other marker brands as well. The spiral binding is very convenient and safe, allowing you to lay the sketchbook flat and to store the drawings together. It’s good for both right- and left-handed artists.

#5. U.S. Art Supply Premium Manga-Marker Paper Pad

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This pack of two marker pads will give you enough paper to use for quite a long time. The binding is meant for easy removal of the top sheet after you’ve finished drawing. It has a very convenient size to become your to-go sketchpad no matter where you decide to use it.

The 100 gsm paper is smooth, acid-free, has natural white color and will work perfectly with your markers, pens, and pencils. It can work with dry media as well, but when used with markers, it prevents bleeding and absorbing too much of the ink.

#6. RENDR Hardbound Sketchbook

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The special patented no show-through paper is what makes this sketchbook unique, versatile and amazing. It can be used with almost any drawing medium but is absolutely perfect for markers. The sheets are 180 gsm and acid-free, and they can be used on both sides.

Its cover is hardbound and nice to touch, it feels very satisfying and classy, while also protecting the drawings inside of it. And since the sketchbook is thick and the paper is double-sided, you’ll use it for a long time. Therefore, a hardcover will be really useful to make it look good!

We also found this in-depth awesome review by Lhey Ralston on this sketchbook and the bleed-through:

#7. Bee Paper Company Creative Marker Book

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How about a little change of format? This 50-sheet sketchbook has a square shape (the sheets are true size, binding excluded) and would be really fun for your illustrations! The paper is acid-free, super smooth, 180 gsm thick, absolutely white, and perfect for technical pens, inks, pens, and, of course, markers.

The binding will allow you to open the sketchbook with no problems and lay it down flat. It won’t be suitable for big rectangular drawings on the entire spread, but squares are also great, aren’t they? You can also flip over as many pages as you want and draw on your knee thanks to the hardcover.

#8. Bianyo BN-5801 Bleedproof Marker Paper Pad

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This high-quality paper pad has 50 sheets of 70 gsm bleed-proof paper that is perfect for drawing with markers. The heavy cardboard sheet on the back allows you to draw conveniently wherever you like and also protects the paper from crumpling and damaging.

The paper is acid-free and pH neutral, which prevents the ink from quick fading. It’s also smooth, for easy blending, and super-white so that all of your colors will stand out. You probably won’t be able to use both sides of the paper, but that won’t interfere with your working process since you can easily remove the sheets.

#9. Canson XL Series Marker Paper Pad

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This paper pad features 100 sheets of semi-translucent 70 gsm white sheets that are perfect for any kind of marker art – from sketches to full-on drawings with backgrounds. You can also use it for pens and pencils if you need them in your works.

The paper pad is fold-over bound so that you’ll have easy access to all of the sheets even if you don’t tear them out finishing the drawing. It’s especially easy since the paper is thin and easy to fold over. The markers also won’t bleed through onto the bottom sheets.

#10. U.S. Art Supply Premium Spiral Bound Sketch Pad

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While not being designed specifically for markers, being quite a versatile sketchbook instead, this one is a good choice as well. It would work well with markers due to the smoothness of the paper and to the fact that it’s white and acid-free.

The spiral binding will allow you to easily open it, lay it flat and draw in it no matter if you’re left- or right-handed. 100 sheets of 100 gsm paper would be enough for many drawings and sketches, and since this sketchbook is suitable for other mediums, it can become your trusted companion.

#11. Darice Artist’s Tracing Paper

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If your artistic techniques and practices require tracing paper, this one is for you. It works very well with pencils, inks, and markers too. The translucent paper is 24 lb (90 gsm) thick, smooth, and bleed-proof enough to be used with liquid mediums.

The sheets can be easily removed from the pad without damaging them. Their smooth texture causes no feathering, no matter if you use a marker or a pen. 100 pages would be enough for you to perfect your skills with a lot of practice and to make all of your projects come alive.

#12. Neenah Bright White Cardstock

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Some artists actually prefer using cardstock instead of sketchbooks for their marker drawings. Despite it being quite cheap and simple printing paper that can be found anywhere, it works surprisingly well with markers and will be good for you if you need a lot of practice.

It’s bright-white, acid- and lignin-free, 176 gsm thick, and has a pleasantly smooth finish. And despite the fact that it will bleed through to the other side, it still can be a good option for both beginners and experienced artists, depending on their preferences and techniques.

Cardstock marker drawing review by the awesome Cetriya’s Art n’ Comics Channel:

Of course, no one’s reviews or recommendations will definitely mean that this particular paper is ideal for you. We’d still recommend trying out several types of marker paper to find out which ones are the best for your techniques 🙂

There are a lot of high-quality sketchbooks, but mostly it’s not just about the quality, it’s about the artist’s personal preferences.

So, stock up on marker sketchbooks or paper pads and start your artistic journey through the fascinating world of marker art.

We believe that this list simply couldn’t leave you without inspiration and ideas on what you could buy and try!

Have fun 😉

Hanna is an artist, poet and musician who lives in Minsk, Belarus. She loves food, cats, gigs and esoteric stuff.

Author: Hanna Martsynkevich

Artist and Writer