Moleskine Art Sketchbook, Hard Cover, Large (5" x 8.25") Plain/Blank, Black, 104 Pages

this is my second sketchbook from moleskine and i can definitely say these are worth the money. these sketchbooks are sturdy and the paper is faniomal. i truely cannot express how much i love these sketchbooks, they are genuinely the best ones i have ever used before. my previous one lasted me a year and its still in great condition unlike my others from a different brand. i love the size, its perfect for my bag and general use. its not to big and not to small. it takes markers like a champ as well, unlike the brand i used to use. i will say that alcohol markers do slightly bleed through but i very rarely use them so its not an issue. i mainly use crayola super tips and tombow markers. if you have the extra money then i would highly recommend this sketchbook!

I love moleskin. Specifically for their sketchbooks out of all sketchbooks I've tried moleskins pretty good for personal on the go works and the multimedia usage on this is amazing! The papers are thick enough to hold and resist bleeding.It's worth the money and is very easy to use~ The quality texture of the pages are nice and smooth! I wouldn't recommend it for watercolor though but for acrylic paint is so on and so forth yes! Apply thinly-

The heavyweight pages are definitely durable enough for pencil, and pen and ink work. I've used Diamine Black Onyx and Noodler's Heart of Darkness Black on these pages with zero bleed-thru. The paper has a smooth finish, similar to plate finish Strathmore 500, and has enough tooth for pencil, yet not so much that it will distort or feather an ink line. Alcohol based markers and Sharpie markers will definitely bleed through these pages, as they do on most papers. The pale cream color of the pages gives a nice classic look to any artwork done on them. Highly detailed cross-hatching and very fine gradients of shading are possible on these papers, and because of their thickness, you'll be able to use both sides of each page. I have cut a piece of 90 lb. index card stock that fits the book page size, and I use it as a shield to prevent graphite transfer to other drawings or to blank pages when working. I simply place it between the page I'm working on, and the page beneath it. Overall, an excellent sketchbook which handles fountain pen in, india ink, and all degrees of graphite very nicely, including a Pentel Brush Pen. I'm definitely ordering more. I have not applied any color media to these pages, such as watercolor, acrylic, or tempera, so I can't really say how they'll hold up under these.

First: If you experience paper turning white when erasing, you need a better eraser. I use Staedtler Mars plastic erasers and Sanford design or Prismacolor kneaded erasers. From my experience, the kneaded erasers work best.I am an illustrator, so sketching is a daily need for me. I always battled with sketchbooks because they felt as sturdy as napkins and just as useless when it comes to archiving. Even the heavy grade more expensive ones felt either TOO thick and textured for graphite and ink or just flimsy and overpriced. I had to use bristol board notebooks for a long time (which was expensive) because I just could not find the right balance. All I have to say it - holy cow, this is THE BEST sketchbook I have ever owned.The paper is thick, poster like (very close to thin bristol board actually) and a very soft beige color. It is, thank God, untextured - very smooth yet holds on to ink perfectly. The thickness allows you to use soft traces of watercolor and diluted ink without a lot of bending. (If you want to go heavier with liquids I suggest you purchase the Moleskine Watercolor Notebook.The pages are just large enough to give you good room yet small enough so the book is portable. The book bends far enough past the first 2 pages so you can actually draw across the pages. I use my book front to back not leaving one sheet uncovered and can draw horizontal landscapes thanks to the ability to use 2 pages at once. There is a small pocket on the back to store small sheets of paper and random things you might find while wandering the streets looking for inspiration. The hard cover is very thick and sturdy plus it has so many pages for this low low price. You can't beat it.My only regret is not having owned one sooner! I will never go back to other brands. Now if only they made larger sizes... :)Edit: January 2014 - Yes, the Folio series was released after this review was written, providing larger format sketchbooks. HOWEVER the paper quality is NOT the same. The pages are much thinner, and the color is different. More of a light, minty color as the classic sketchbooks are a warm beige.

This paper is really smooth! Great for ink, markers, and color pencils! However, due note that the paper is slightly see through but only if you really squish down the page. But I do have a complaint; there is print on two pages of the sketchbook. So instead of 104 pages, you’re really getting 102. I feel like this could be placed on the inner cover rather than the paper itself. Overall, the sketchbook is good quality and great for graphite, color pencils, and some ink.

I love the quality of this sketchbook. I mostly use ink and colored pencils. The heavy ink usage doesn’t bleed into the other side of the page. The paper feels thick and feels like it can handle multimedia with no problem. I like that it comes with a ribbon as a book mark, and that it comes in different sizes. My size is perfect for bringing with me in my bag and to be able to get creative on the spot. It was worth the money.