Everyone has their own way to do things – and this is my way. Through trial and error I’ve worked out some decisions for basic equipment for travel sketching that make it easy and effortless – and doable almost anywhere and any time. But no worries! The basic equipment for travel sketching is inexpensive and highly portable.

The little notebook pictured above is very tiny – 10 x 8 cm (3″ x 4″) – and it fits into a pocket with ease. Even though small, it works well for a quick sketch, especially if you run the sketch over two pages. I bought this one in Amsterdam because I loved the blue and white Delft pattern on the cover but I have to confess to a weakness for sketchbooks. I can’t seem to resist them – their elegant covers, creamy white papers, – they are things of beauty. This small gem has good quality paper. And really, that is all you need, the absolutely basic equipment for travel sketching. With this little sketchbook and a lowly pencil you can sketch away happily without having to carry around anything that doesn’t fit into a pocket.

Some things to consider when selecting a sketchbook:

Draw a Blank:

Always check that the pages of the notebook you buy are blank – the lined ones are the ones you will find most commonly in stores and they are meant for journaling. That’s fine if you are aiming for a mix of text and sketches, but not ideal for an art sketch.

Suitable for Wet Media:

Also look for ones whose blank pages will take water media without buckling. That’s not a problem if you are going to stick to pencil or pen and ink, but the lighter weight pages will buckle badly if you use washes or watercolours.

Flat Out:

And look for a sketchbook that will open flat – it is much easier to draw in a book that will lie flat, and also you can then stretch a sketch over the two facing pages.

Quality Counts:

Ultimately, go for quality. The best books will let you do your best work.

Personally, I find the pocket sized books a bit too small for me. They are fine if you really want to travel light, but if you have a purse or a backpack, a slightly larger sketchbook is so much more satisfying to use. My preferred size for travel sketching is 14 x 21.6 cm (5.5 x 8.5 in) It’s still small enough to carry easily but it gives you a lot more space to draw.

I like the Moleskine watercolour books, (A4) the 8.8 x 5 size in landscape format. The pages are ivory, and can take water based media. My favourite at the moment is the Hahnemuhle watercolour sketchbook – I love the weight of the paper and you can use generous washes without the pages buckling.

I sometime use a notebook with toned paper, either a tan or grey shade, – Strathmore makes some good ones – but that is a specific kind of sketch and not necessarily something you will reach for every time.

And then there are the sketchbooks that are so beautiful, that feel so good in your hand, that you (me!) can’t resist them.

Bottom line – you can go simple and carry everything you need in one small pocket, and that way you are always ready to grab a sketch when something catches your eye. Or you can explore the pleasures of the truly seductive creamy, stark-white or toned pages of books that are artworks themselves.