Strathmore400 Series Sketch Pad, Toned Tan, 5.5x8.5 inch, 50 Sheets - Artist Sketchbook for Drawing, Illustration, Art Class Students

I absolutely love these toned paper books. The quality is very good and the price point is excellent. I also love that they use 30% post-consumer fibers and are, therefore, more environmentally friendly than virgin sketchbooks. I have the toned tan and toned gray books in multiple sizes. I use them mostly for sketching in the field with graphite, colored pencil, oil pastels and micron pens, dip pens or fast drying markers. I use the tone of the paper for my mid tone values, then build form with added lights and darks. Even quick gesture sketches have more innate character than those drawn on plain white paper. They offer a nice change of pace from my usual white watercolor sketchbooks.The paper in these books is 80 lb (118 gsm) weight, so it is ideal for dry media. The pages can be lightly sanded to add tooth for soft pastels/pencils, though I think oil pastels or artist crayons work better, since they tend to stay in place. The pages will also accept very light watercolor, gouache or acrylic painting techniques, such as dry brushing in small areas, but are guaranteed to buckle if the paper gets too wet. So, if you use any wet media beyond alcohol-based inks, exercise some caution.In addition to these books, I also have the Strathmore 400 Series Artagain black paper pads, which contain a even higher percentage of recycled fiber (50%) and I enjoy those, as well, for working from dark to light. In those I tend to work with oil pastels, colored pencils, artist crayons, acrylic inks and/or some gouache. If these books were offered in other neutral tones, I'm sure I'd buy them, as well.

I have seen this Tiktok And YouTube shorts comma A lot of people refer to it as the hairy paper, so I was surprised to find it so cheap on Amazon. However, it does its job, and I don't know if I'm going to be going back to white paper anytime soon after this.

This is the best sketchbook! It fits great in a handbag. I love the toned paper because it "automatically" gives you a middle value. Can't say enough about it! Just get one and see if, like me, you don't fall completely in love with it. You'll be inspired to draw in it a lot ...it's easier than facing the stark white blank page!

I love this paper. Good weight. Color perfect for my projects. Priced well.

This is always a worth while purchase! While the sheets feel a bit diffrent than when I used them previously I still do really like it! The paper is thick and using acrylic markers I have minimal bleed though! It's easy to sketch on and easy to use! The spiral binding is study and has never gotten in the way! Thank you so much!

The tan toned paper is beautiful. I like the strings, and the woodsy color of it, but it has absolutely no texture. Many reviews mention good, great, wonderful texture, but it is very smooth -- very. I love the look, and I will use, but am disappointed about the lack of texture. If Strathmore were to make another version that actually has texture, then the paper would be perfect.

Nice quality

This review is for the three colors of the 5.5" x 8.5" 400 series Strathmore sketchbooks because although they are marketed to be identical with only a color variation, they are completely different.Gray, Strathmore Spiral Toned Sketch Book 5.5"X8.5"-Gray 50 SheetsTan, Strathmore Spiral Toned Sketch Book 5.5"X8.5"-Tan 50 SheetsWhite/Off-White, Strathmore Sketch Spiral Paper Pad 5.5"X8.5"-100 SheetsGray:1. 50 sheets, yes2. NOT perforated like the other colors3. NOT 80 lb weight although it claims to be, much thinner4. Darker than quality gray art paper in the larger sizes--markers and pencil don't show wellTan, hands down my favorite:1. 50 sheets, yes2. Perforated sheets tear out easily3. 80 lb heavyweight paper, ink and marker do not show through to the other side4. Perfect darkness for ink and marker to show up well and bright5. Perfect amount of "tooth" to sketch with pencil or markerWhite:1. 100 sheets because it's only slightly thicker than plain printer paper (20 lb)2. Perforated sheets but they tear the entire sheet because the paper is so thin3. NOT 80 lb paper, supposedly 60 lb but it's so thin it's more like 26 lb weight4. Pencil, ink, and marker show right through this thin paper5. Unusual color with little to no toothI would NOT recommend the gray or white, although larger sizes might be fine (the larger gray in particular is better quality than this size).The tan is heavenly. I love it.