Sketches, Pencil Drawings

The term sketch comes from the Italian “schizzo” and means “draft”. It refers to a hastily executed pictorial composition of a planned painting (draft) or study. Sketches are especially lively and expressive. Just a few strokes can capture the mood of a person or a moment. For ideas and thoughts to be converted into sketches the corresponding painting base is required.

Recommended Paper
The paper should posses a grainy, rough, slightly harder surface. Harder pencil varieties will therefore leave fewer pressure marks, adherence is greater so that the strokes are clearer. In addition erasability on harder surfaces is better. The paper must be properly sized so that the fibres are not abraded through repeated erasures, etc. If softer pencils are used then the finished drawing must be fixed, otherwise the sketch may become slightly smudged.

The Hahnemühle FineArt sketch papers are particularly suitable for these applications as we offer many qualities with a variety of surface weights and structures made from high quality ingredients.

One of the most popular Hahnemühle sketch papers is the “Nostalgie” pad. “Nostalgie” is a 190 gsm, natural white sketch paper with a pleasant graininess. It has an attractive, fine grain that permits good colour adherence and gives clear, intense line and colour. This sketch paper is acid free and age resistant. Suitable for pencil, charcoal, crayon, pastel, red ochre and all dry media. The “Nostalgie” sketch pad is available in A5 to A1 format and also as sheets in size 50 x 65 cm.

A new addition to the Hahnemühle range is the 150 gsm, spiral-bound “Dessin” sketch pad. The paper has a very smooth appearance but nevertheless possesses a fine grain that ensures good colour adherence. The natural white tone allows good contrast and colour vibrancy of the sketches or pastel drawings. The exceptional pigment bonding property prevents pigment that has not been fixed from flaking. The spiral bound sketch pads are available in A2 to A6 format. The larger formats are suitable for drawings of all types. The spiral bound versions are ideal for travelling.