Discover a whole new world of Pads & Blocks with ArtStore Online.

At ArtStore Online, we seek to bring you the best Pad & Block brands available, and have a wide range of art supplies from trusted and respected brands from around the world. Discover our Pad & Block brands including Arches, Art Spectrum, Canson, Fabriano, Strathmore, The Paper House and more!

Whether you are an avid painter, illustrator or a complete beginner, we will strive to help you with whatever Pads & Blocks you need.

What types of art pads are there?

Various art pads are available, each designed for different mediums, techniques, and preferences. Some common types of art pads include:

Sketchbooks: Sketchbooks are versatile pads used for drawing, sketching, doodling, and brainstorming ideas. They come in various sizes, paper weights, and textures to accommodate different drawing mediums such as pencils, pens, charcoal, and markers.

Drawing Pads: Drawing pads typically contain heavier-weight paper than sketchbooks, making them suitable for more finished drawings and artworks. They come in a range of textures and surfaces, including smooth, medium, and rough, to accommodate various drawing techniques and styles.

Watercolour Pads: Watercolor pads feature paper specifically designed for watercolour painting. They are typically made of thicker, heavier-weight paper that can withstand wet media without buckling or warping. Watercolour pads may have cold-pressed, hot-pressed, or rough textures to achieve different painting effects.

Mixed Media Pads: Mixed media pads contain paper that is suitable for a variety of drawing and painting mediums, including pencils, pens, markers, watercolours, acrylics, and gouache. They are versatile pads ideal for artists who like to experiment with different techniques and mediums in their artworks.

Pastel Pads: Pastel pads feature paper with a textured surface that is specifically designed for working with pastels. The texture helps pastel pigments adhere to the paper and allows for layering and blending techniques. Pastel pads may come in various colours, including white, black, and toned paper.

Marker Pads: Marker pads contain paper that is specially formulated to prevent bleed-through and feathering when using markers. They typically have a smooth, non-absorbent surface that allows markers to glide smoothly without smudging.

Toned Paper Pads: Toned paper pads feature paper with a coloured tint, such as grey, tan, or blue, which adds depth and dimension to drawings. Toned paper is ideal for both light and dark drawing mediums, including pencils, charcoal, and pastels.

Tracing Pads: Tracing pads contain translucent paper that is suitable for tracing or transferring sketches onto other surfaces. Artists, illustrators, and designers commonly use them for preliminary sketches and layouts.

These are just a few examples of the types of art pads available, and each type may come in various sizes, orientations, and paper weights to suit different preferences and needs.

What type of paper should you use for watercolours?

If you are planning on trying your hand with watercolour paints, it’s recommended you use a watercolour pad. These are made with pure cotton pages, making it perfect to absorb the watercolour paints without runoff. These watercolour books are also ideal for artists using ink, gouache, charcoal, or acrylic paints.

What is the difference between art pads and blocks?

Art pads and blocks are both types of drawing or painting surfaces, but they have some differences in their construction and usage:

Art Pads

Art pads consist of loose sheets of paper or other drawing surfaces bound together along one edge, usually with glue or adhesive.
The sheets in an art pad can be easily removed for individual use or display once completed.
Art pads are available in various sizes, paper types, and bindings to accommodate different mediums and preferences.
They are convenient for artists who prefer to work on individual sheets and may want to tear out or rearrange their artwork.

Blocks

Blocks are similar to art pads in that they contain multiple sheets of paper or other surfaces bound together. However, unlike art pads, the sheets in a block are secured on all four edges, typically by glue or adhesive.
The binding on all four sides prevents the sheets from buckling or warping when wet media like watercolour or acrylic paint is applied.
Artists working with wet media often prefer blocks because they provide a stable surface and eliminate the need for stretching or taping down individual sheets.
Once a sheet is completed, it can be removed from the block by carefully separating it along the perforated edge.

In summary, the main difference between art pads and blocks lies in how the sheets are bound together: art pads have binding along one edge, allowing for easy removal of individual sheets, while blocks have binding on all four edges, providing stability and support for wet media applications.

Canson Watercolour Pads