If you want to learn to draw get yourself a nice spiral or book bound sketchpad with lots of pages. If big blank white pages scare you, get a ruled spiral bound notebook and draw over all the little blue lines like you did in study hall. As your confidence increases, upgrade.

Spiral bound sketch pads are easiest to use because all the pages flip neatly to the back of the pad, leaving you a single flat surface that is easy to hold in one hand for support. The drawback being with misuse you can dog-ear the edges of the pad and unfixed heavy drawings may smudge as the pages flex.

Sketch pads have paper that is two or three times heavier than the paper in your computer's printer. Most are designed to be a place for temporary exploration and learning and are made of stable, but not archival, materials. Archival sketch pads of 100% cotton cost a bit more than regular sketch pads.

As well as this particular format being a workhorse item for most artists, they are also the public badges of commitment for art students everywhere.

Sketchbooks that are book-bound like journals are pleasing to look at but are notoriously hard to open flat enough for working without breaking the spine. The rigid spine and hard overlapping covers of bound sketchbooks afford more protection to the drawings inside than a spiral bound sketch pad. Make sure that a book-bound sketchbook opens easily and the paper is pleasing to your tastes before you buy it.

I've encountered one problem with buying a beautifully bound journal...drawing that first sketch. I've had a couple of very nice sketchbooks right here in my studio for over a year. When an idea needs sketching my first inclination is to grab one of my Strathmore pads.

...maybe it's just me.

If you are confident of your skills, work on archival quality 100% cotton drawing papers using fine artist's pencils. If you're timid or frugal, use a pad of manilla paper and a big black crayon. It doesn't matter what you use to draw on, just don't make it hard to do what you're trying to do.

Most sketch books are intended for temporary drawings so after a few decades the edges of the paper will likely yellow from the outside in. Although the paper usually offers a low ph, the materials in the paper are not truly archival in the long haul. They are intended for fleshing out ideas while experimenting with subject matter and technique.

For more serious work use the heavier weight papers found in drawing pads, bristol board pads, watercolor papers, or illustration boards. These papers are available in larger dimensions

For doing your largest drawings you can use single sheet drawing or printmaking papers in sizes ranging from 18" x 24" to 30" x 40" or purchase large rolls of paper 42" or more in width and over 30' (10 yards) wide.

So you'll need something to draw on.

On the left you'll see an assortment of small, pocket sized sketchpads. From 49¢ pocket memo pads to $10.00 Moleskine classic journals you can find something you can afford easily if you keep your eyes open while shopping. The 97¢ faux fur necklace sketchpad was just too stupid not to buy.

The next time you stop at the corner drug store, walk down the school supply aisle and grab yourself a sketchpad. Now turn around. See any interesting marking devices to go with that pad?

Recommended brands: Strathmore, Canson, Fabriano, Bienfang, Hahnemühle, Stonehenge, Utrecht, Watson-Guptill, Winsor & Newton