Yes, I think Moleskine sketchbooks are worth it if you mainly draw with pen, graphite, or other relatively dry media and want a durable sketchbook that is easy to carry. I have used Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbooks for my own drawings, and they are genuinely good books. That said, they are not necessarily my first choice. I tend to prefer similar hardbound sketchbooks such as Leuchtturm1917 because I like drawing on a pure white page rather than Moleskine’s warmer ivory paper.
That difference sounds minor, but paper color affects the entire feel of a sketchbook. Moleskine’s ivory pages have a warm, traditional appearance that many artists love. I personally prefer the cleaner contrast of white paper, especially when I am working with black ballpoint pen or making detailed animal studies.
I have used Moleskine sketchbooks for the bird and parrot drawings shown on this page. The smooth paper works well with the layered linework I tend to make, the binding holds up well, and the finished book feels substantial without being difficult to carry.
The main thing to understand is that you are paying for more than drawing paper. The hard cover, flat-opening binding, elastic closure, compact proportions, and overall presentation are a large part of what makes Moleskine appealing.
This review is specifically about the Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbook. It should not be confused with the thinner paper in an ordinary Moleskine Classic Notebook or the heavier paper used in the company’s watercolor products.
Are Moleskine Sketchbooks Good for Drawing?
Yes. Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbooks are particularly good for pen, graphite, contour drawing, hatching, and relatively dry sketching techniques.
The current Art Collection Sketchbook uses 165 g/m² ivory-colored, acid-free sketch paper. The book also has a hard cover, elastic closure, ribbon bookmark, expandable back pocket, and a binding designed to open flat to 180 degrees.
Those details are part of why Moleskines are enjoyable to use. A sketchbook is not simply a pad of paper. The way it opens, feels in your hand, survives being carried around, and accumulates drawings over time matters.
If paper specifications such as 165 gsm are confusing, my guide to GSM in sketchbook paper explains what those numbers actually tell you.
| Medium | How well it suits Moleskine Art paper |
|---|---|
| Ballpoint pen | Excellent |
| Fineliner | Very good |
| Graphite | Very good if you like smooth paper |
| Colored pencil | Good for moderate layering |
| Fountain pen | Depends on the ink; test first |
| Light watercolor | Usable for restrained washes |
| Heavy watercolor | Not recommended |
| Alcohol marker | Poor fit |
| Charcoal or pastel | Often too smooth |
The Smooth Paper Works Especially Well With Pen
I draw quite a bit with ballpoint pen, and this is probably where Moleskine makes the most sense for me. The paper is smooth enough that the pen can move freely across the page without constantly catching on the surface.
That is useful when I am building repeated contours, hatching, small details, or darker areas from hundreds of overlapping lines.
If pen is your primary medium, you can compare other options in my guides to the best sketchbooks for pen and ink and sketchbooks for ballpoint pen.
I also cover the drawing process itself in my guide to ballpoint pen drawing techniques.
Why I Personally Prefer White Sketchbook Paper
This is where my own preference moves slightly away from Moleskine.
Moleskine uses a warm ivory-colored paper in its Art Collection Sketchbook. It has a pleasant traditional quality and can make a sketchbook feel inviting before you have even drawn on the page.
I tend to prefer a cleaner white surface. That is one reason I often gravitate toward comparable hardbound sketchbooks such as Leuchtturm1917. I like the stronger contrast between black ink and a pure white page, particularly for the black-and-white drawings I make most often.
Neither color is objectively better. The warmer Moleskine page can make graphite and ink feel softer and slightly more traditional. White paper feels cleaner and gives color, black ink, and untouched areas of the page a different kind of clarity.
For me, paper color is important enough that I would choose between otherwise similar sketchbooks partly on that basis.
Moleskine vs. Leuchtturm1917 for Drawing
If you like the general idea of a Moleskine but are not completely sold on its ivory pages, Leuchtturm1917 is the type of alternative I would also consider.
Both appeal to me for similar reasons: they feel like finished books rather than disposable drawing pads. They are easy to keep, stack on a shelf, travel with, and eventually look back through as a record of a particular period of drawing.
My preference comes down largely to the page itself. I like Moleskine, but given two similarly useful books, I normally prefer the one with whiter paper.
That is also why I would not choose a sketchbook based entirely on brand reputation. Paper color, texture, weight, format, and the medium you actually use are more important.
Graphite Works Well, but the Surface Is Fairly Smooth
Graphite feels controlled on Moleskine paper. It works well for contour lines, construction sketches, written notes, moderate shading, and detailed studies.
The relatively smooth surface allows a pencil to move cleanly, but artists who like pronounced paper texture may find it too refined. A toothier paper can grab graphite differently and make broad shading or visibly textured marks easier to develop.
If graphite is your primary medium, I would also look at my guide to the best graphite pencils for drawing before choosing an entire setup around the sketchbook.
Does Ink Bleed Through Moleskine Sketchbook Paper?
With the relatively dry ballpoint pens I normally use, bleed-through has not been a significant problem for me. That does not mean every pen will behave the same way.
A wet fountain pen, brush pen, heavy black fill, or marker can put substantially more ink onto the page than a ballpoint.
It is also worth distinguishing ghosting from bleed-through. Ghosting means you can faintly see the drawing through the reverse side of the sheet. Bleed-through means the ink actually penetrates the paper.
I would test any unfamiliar pen near the back of the book before committing to using both sides of every page.
If fountain pens are a major part of your drawing practice, compare a purpose-specific sketchbook for fountain pens rather than assuming every ink will work equally well on Moleskine paper.
Can You Paint With Watercolor in a Moleskine Sketchbook?
You can use light watercolor washes in a standard Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbook, but I would not buy this particular book if watercolor were my main medium.
Adding a small wash over a pen drawing is very different from repeatedly soaking the page. Heavy washes, glazing, lifting, scrubbing, and lots of water can cause buckling and make the reverse side less pleasant to use.
If you primarily paint, use a book designed for wet media. My guide to the best sketchbooks for watercolor covers better choices for that purpose.
If you move regularly between drawing, paint, collage, and other materials, you may be happier with a mixed-media sketchbook.
The Binding Is One of Moleskine’s Strongest Features
One reason I still like Moleskine despite preferring other paper colors is the book itself.
The hard cover protects the pages when I put it in a bag. The elastic closure keeps loose pages from opening. The back pocket is useful for small scraps of paper or references. Most importantly, the binding lets me draw across a two-page spread without a spiral running through the center.
I like sketchbook spreads that accumulate several related drawings rather than treating every page as a miniature finished artwork. A flat-opening hardbound book works especially well for that.
Which Moleskine Sketchbook Size Is Best?
I would choose the size you are actually willing to carry rather than automatically buying the largest book.
The large Moleskine, at about 5 × 8.25 inches, is a useful middle ground for many artists. There is enough room to develop drawings, but the book is still narrow enough to fit easily into many bags.
One detail worth knowing is that the large version is not true A5. It is close in height to A5 but noticeably narrower.
I actually like narrower, portable books for everyday sketching. A large sketchbook may provide more impressive pages, but a smaller book tends to record more because you are more likely to have it with you.
If portability matters most, compare the books in my travel sketchbook guide. I also have a larger collection of guides and ideas devoted to travel sketching.
Why Are Moleskine Sketchbooks So Expensive?
Moleskine is not really selling loose drawing paper bound together as cheaply as possible. You are paying for the entire object.
The hard cover, sewn binding, elastic closure, ribbon bookmark, expandable pocket, recognizable design, and overall presentation are all part of the price.
If your only goal is getting the most drawing paper for the least money, there are better values.
If you like completing sketchbooks and keeping them as physical records of your work, the value is different. A finished hardbound sketchbook can become an object you keep for decades rather than something you tear sheets out of and discard.
That is why I would first think about what you need from your drawing supplies instead of assuming an expensive brand is automatically better.
A Nice Sketchbook Can Also Make You Afraid to Draw
There is another disadvantage to polished hardbound sketchbooks that has nothing to do with paper quality.
They can feel too important.
A clean new book full of untouched pages can make you feel like the first drawing needs to be good. That is almost the opposite of how I think a sketchbook should work.
Draw badly in it. Make notes. Put several attempts on one page. Draw over older marks. Leave corrections visible. Let the book become less precious as quickly as possible.
If this is something you struggle with, my thoughts on messy drawings may help. Sketchbooks become interesting because they preserve the process, not because every page succeeds.
Who Should Buy a Moleskine Art Sketchbook?
I think Moleskine makes the most sense for artists who primarily use ballpoint, fineliner, graphite, or other dry media and like a smooth drawing surface.
It is also a good choice if you carry your sketchbook frequently, enjoy drawing across spreads, and want completed books that hold together well enough to keep on a shelf afterward.
The format works particularly well with the way I approach wildlife sketching, where a spread may contain several poses, overlapping drawings, notes, and details rather than one isolated image.
I would choose something else if you mainly use watercolor, alcohol markers, charcoal, pastel, or very heavy mixed media. I would also look elsewhere if you strongly prefer bright white paper, which is one of the main reasons I personally lean toward alternatives such as Leuchtturm1917.
How I Would Use a New Moleskine
I would not save it for finished drawings.
Put the date inside the cover and start using it immediately. Test unfamiliar pens near the back. Make the first few pages ordinary. Draw the same subject more than once. Let notes, mistakes, and unfinished studies remain visible.
A consistent daily sketching routine will ultimately make a much greater difference to your drawings than the logo on the cover.
I also talk about treating sketchbooks as working spaces rather than miniature portfolios in my CalArts sketchbook tips.
Are Moleskine Sketchbooks Worth It?
Yes. Moleskine makes a very good sketchbook, especially for pen, graphite, and artists who value a durable hardbound book they can carry almost anywhere. The smooth paper, flat-opening binding, hard cover, and compact sizes all work well for everyday drawing.
I still personally prefer some comparable sketchbooks, particularly Leuchtturm1917, because I prefer drawing on a pure white page. Moleskine’s warmer ivory paper is attractive, but the stronger black-and-white contrast of white paper better suits the way I like my own sketchbook drawings to look.
So I would not describe Moleskine as overrated or poor value. It is simply one good option in a category with several good options.
The best sketchbook is the one whose paper, size, binding, and appearance make you want to keep drawing in it. If you are still figuring out what that means for you, start with my guide to the best sketchbooks for beginners.