A sketchbook seems like a simple purchase until the paper buckles under your watercolor, the spiral gets in the way of working flat, or the pages don't tear out cleanly. The right sketchbook genuinely changes how you work.
Here's what we've learned after years of designing and making drawing notebooks in Montreal.
Paper weight — the most important spec
It's the first thing to check. Paper weight is measured in g/m² and indicates the thickness and density of the paper.
Paper between 90 and 120 g/m² works well for pencil, pen, and light markers. As soon as you introduce moisture — watercolor, gouache, ink — the paper warps, tears, or bleeds through to the other side.
For mixed media or watercolor, you need at least 180 g/m². Our sketchbooks use 200 g/m² cold-pressed, fine grain, FSC-certified paper — thick enough to handle watercolor, gouache, and mixed media without warping, while staying smooth under pencil and pen.
Fine grain or textured?
Paper grain directly affects how your work looks and feels.
Fine grain (hot press) offers a smooth, even surface — ideal for detailed linework, illustration, gouache, and precise washes. It's the grain we use in our drawing notebooks.
Textured grain (cold press) has a more pronounced surface — popular for traditional watercolor and painterly effects, but less versatile for linework or mixed media.
If you're looking for a sketchbook that adapts to multiple practices, fine grain is the most versatile choice.
Binding — a detail that changes everything
Binding determines how your sketchbook opens and how usable it actually is day to day.
Our drawing notebooks use a spiral binding that allows the book to open fully flat at 180°. You can work across a double page without the cover pushing back, lay the notebook completely flat on a table, or fold it all the way over so only one page is exposed — useful when you're drawing standing up, on transit, or with limited space in front of you.
It's a practical advantage over glued or sewn bindings, which tend to resist opening flat or warp over time — especially when the paper absorbs moisture.
Micro-perforated pages — why it matters
Every page in our sketchbooks is micro-perforated at the base. That means you can remove a page cleanly — no tearing, no ragged edge — which is useful if you want to share a piece, frame it, or scan it separately.
Format — portable or studio?
Our drawing notebooks measure 5.25" x 8.5" — a standard watercolor format that's compact and light. It fits in a backpack, a tote bag, or most handbags. It's the sketchbook you actually bring with you: to a café, on the subway, while travelling.
For artists who work primarily at a desk, a larger format might be preferable. But for a daily, spontaneous practice, this size offers the best balance between working space and portability.
Cover — rigid or soft, smooth or fabric
A rigid cover protects the sketchbook better in a bag and provides a stable surface when drawing without a table. Our sketchbooks all have a rigid cover with an elastic closure to keep pages shut between sessions.
Some covers are smooth, others are fabric — same structure, same paper quality, same specs. It's a matter of aesthetics and feel. Every design is hand-illustrated by Mélanie, co-founder of Baltic Club.
The back pocket — the small thing you'll use constantly
Every Baltic Club sketchbook has a pocket inside the back cover. For reference images, magazine clippings, tickets, swatches, small pieces of paper. Artists who work with reference materials tend to appreciate this quickly.
Who is this sketchbook for?
For illustrators looking for a technical sketchbook that can handle their mediums. For artists who want a portable sketchbook for everyday drawing. For beginners who want a solid starting point without buying watercolor paper and a sketchbook separately. For anyone who wants a beautiful, functional object that makes them want to draw.
Our drawing notebooks are designed and made in Montreal, with FSC-certified paper and attention to every detail — because a good sketchbook is something you use for years.
