Pro Art Hard Bound Sketch Book Review

There was a brief period where I was trying to find a cheap notebook that would perform admirably with all kinds of fountain pens. I've since given up on this endeavor. I'm convinced that buying notebooks that use high-quality paper is much more beneficial than buying notebooks that I hope will perform. The Pro Art sketchbook is one of the many notebooks I bought on this ill-fated journey.

For around $7, the Pro Art sketchbook is a pretty solid little notebook. It's 8"x5.5" inches in size, has 110 pages (220 sheets) of 65# white, acid-free paper, and a hard cover. Sounds like a great contender on paper, and I firmly believe that this is a solid notebook. There are just a couple of downsides to this notebook that keep me from carrying it with me and using it daily.

The first, and most crucial, downside is the paper feel. This paper has a tooth on it that's noticeable with every pen I've tried on it. For me, this makes it difficult for long writing sessions or quick bursts. There's too much friction between the nibs and the paper. The finer the nib, the more accentuated the feeling. I'm sad to say it, but this isn't the perfect paper for fountain or gel pens.

Another downside is the cover. I don't expect much from a notebook that costs this little, but the sharp corners are a point of concern for me. They tend to get hung in different parts of my bag when trying to tuck it away or pull it out. Not a big deal really, but I thought I'd mention it. It's one of the small quibbles that adds up in the grand scheme.

It's also a bit thick for just 110 pages. That's due to the thick paper, so I won't complain about that. It's about half an inch thicker than other similar notebooks.

Top to Bottom: Clairefontaine 1951, Moleskine, Leuchtturm softcover, Ecosystem Journal, Pro Art sketchbook.

There are still plenty of positives for this paper. For one, it's thick. I've only noticed minimal show-through with even my wettest pens. Only a couple of my nib/ink combinations resulted in bleeding on the page. Not perfect, but much better than other notebooks in the same price range or even a Moleskine.

Overall, I think this notebook is meant for other dry art instruments, such as graphite and charcoal. At some point I'll give it a shot, but I've misplaced my art supplies from college somewhere in the attic.

It's hard to tell people this is a bad notebook when it costs so little. The paper is scratchy, the corners are sharp, and it's a bit thick. It's also a heavy paper that takes well to wet inks and wide nibs. Keep these things in mind and give it a try if it sounds like your sort of thing.

(You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution, Twitter, and App.net.)

Clairefontaine 1951 Collection Notebook Review

Like any healthy pen addict, I have quite a collection of notebooks. You never know how you'll like a particular notebook until you buy one and try it out for a while. For me, one of my favorite notebooks to carry around and use is the Clairefontaine 1951 Collection books.

There are several things about these notebooks that I love, so let's start there. Paper quality is one of the highest priorities when selecting a notebook, and the paper used in these notebooks is exceptional. It's bright, silky smooth, and well-behaved with every ink I've used. I have not seen feathering or bleed-through. Show-through is very faint on the back of the pages. The paper is described as 90 g/m^2 weight with acid-free properties. Overall, the paper has never disappointed me.

Another part of the paper that I enjoy is the ruling color and spacing. The line color is a light purplish-gray that really stays in the background when writing. I've used some light-colored inks on this paper, and the lines do not overpower the ink. For me, the line spacing is perfect, but this is one of those details that will vary for each person.

For some, the fact that these notebooks are only available with lined paper is an automatic deal breaker. I completely understand and wish that Clairefontaine offered more options. I happen to like using lined paper for some things and find that the spacing in these notebooks is perfect for my journaling or long-form writing style. There's no index or page numbers - just the lined pages.

The book has been very durable for my usage, which is limited to being carried in a bag every day with other objects. The cover reminds me of a composition notebook, which is a plus for me. The diamond pattern is subtle but distinct. There's a Clairefontaine logo and a cream rectangle for labeling the book. The rectangle is about 2x4 inches. The book measures in at 5.75x8.25 inches, which is very similar to many of the “medium” journal options out there.

I'm not in love with the soft cover. I prefer hard covers on my notebooks so I can write in my lap or on uneven surfaces without worrying about my paper not being flat or stable. With that said, this cover is durable and wears very well. Bound by two staples, the notebook has a little trouble staying flat on its own, but a little breaking in will fix that quickly.

The last thing I'll mention about these notebooks is the price. They're very affordable for the paper quality. You can get them at a better deal from JetPens if you buy 2 at a time, and they offer a nice range of pastel colors (black, blue, green, pink, coral, and turquoise).

Emergent Task Planner Review

Pens and paper can be an extremely satisfying obsession. The tools we use to write things down are available in so many unique forms that meet niche needs. Some of them are luxurious, while others are completely utilitarian. I love my tools, but when it comes to getting busy and planning out my days, I always come back to the Emergent Task Planner created by David Seah. Honestly, this planner has kept my cheese on my cracker more times than I care to admit. But while the planner is really good at solving the problem of scheduling my day, it also adds a bit of luxury that makes it delightful to use.

Before diving into the details about the quality of the pad, let me describe the basic purpose of this planner. First, write down the date. The idea is to use one sheet per day to keep everything straight and on task. Next, fill in the three important tasks that you need to focus on. You can write down up to 9, but the pad suggests against it in order to maintain focus. Next, there's a space to jot down the hours of the day, depending on when your day starts and ends. After that, start adding tasks, appointments, and other things that will happen during your day. There's a space in the lower right of the sheet for notes. That's it! It's an efficient way to plan out your day and respond quickly to changes during the day.

So what's so special about this pad? For one, the paper quality. The 75-page pad is printed on 80# paper, which handles most pens with ease, including fountain pens. It's not quite as smooth as Rhodia paper, but it doesn't disappoint either. I've used a wide variety of pens with this paper, and haven't found a bad match yet. It's fair to point out here that this pad is meant for small (ish) writing -- this isn't a tool that most people will want to use with a 1.5mm stub nib or a brush pen. The purpose of the pad calls for portability, speed, and versatility. Some days I use a gel pen, others I use a ballpoint. If I'm feeling fancy, I use a fountain pen. The EF and F nibs do best, while an M nib is a little too large for some of the fields. That's my only gripe, though. The quality of the paper doesn't disappoint. There is slight feathering with some nibs and inks, but no bleed-through. The feathering is difficult for me to notice, and this is a utilitarian pad, so it doesn't bother me. At the end of the day, the sheet is thrown in the trash.

This review is mostly focused on the quality of the paper, because I think it's exceptional for such an outstanding tool. It seems that most utilitarian paper products use cheap paper. I can't tell you if this method of planning is right for you, but I can tell you that it can stand up to most writing instruments you decide to throw at it.

You can download a free copy of the Emergent Task Planner sheet from David Seah's site to see if the format is right for you. If you decide you like it and become hooked (like me), I suggest buying some of the pads that David has made available on Amazon. The pad in this review is a standard 8.5 x 11" size. David also sells other versions of the Emergent Task Planner, such as a spiral bound notebook and a smaller 8.5 x 5.5" pad. David also has lots of other cool forms and tools that I recommend you check out.