Customer Reviews

Academie Wirebound Sketch Book, 11 x 8-1/2 Inches, 70 Sheets (54404)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered these some time ago in Walmart, and have since bought several. They are comparable in cost with any similar product, but have a few features that really make them worthwhile. They have a two-sided storage pocket inside for storing your drawings. They also have perforated pages so that you can easily remove a page without tearing or cutting, and a very sturdy pressboard backing, so that you can use the sketchbook without the need of a drawing board. The sketchbooks are sturdy and travel well, and the paper is fine for a variety of mediums- I have used them for ink, pencil, Copic markers, charcoal and pastel with good results. These sketchbooks are, in my opinion, the best designed and most useful such item on the market.

The first review said it all. This is by far the best sketchbook. It holds up very well, and the pages don't smug.

I bought this based on the other 2 reviews, so I wanted to add my own experience in case someone else was on the path to the same problem. I don't know what markers the others were using, but I use Sharpies and Bic Mark-it pens; both of which are acid free permenant markers. I like the set up of the sketch pad, but the paper bleeds. When using my ultra-fine point pens, I can not get an ultra-fine line because the ink feathers out into the paper. It is not horrible, but it is enough to be distracting and frustrating. I am going to try the book for my oil pastels and a regular ink pen, to see if I can make it worthwhile. My favorite medium is Sharpie though, and I spent $80 on 120 colors to go with this book. I'm a little bummed that the set will not be a set. The paper is nice, not thick like a card-stock, but the page I put underneath to stop the bleed-through was almost unnecessary. It's just not the right paper for what I need. Back to my childrens manilla drawing pads from the dollar store.

Best sketchbook yet. I've had many. They were either bad quality, ripped, smudges,etc. This one however is heavyweight paper ( which I LOVE ) , spiral bounds, 70 sheets ( instead of the usual 50 ) and no smudges! feels great drawing on it. finished 2 of these books already. 3 more to go ! aha.

My son, the artist, loves this product. Had an old Academie brand, 70 page, medium weight paper sketch book but prefers the heavy weight paper of this item.

Anyone who journals in order to write lively manuscripts can carry this sketchbook with ease and find their published works coming alive on a printed page. My creative writing teacher encouraged us to start with a picture which can be an original drawing or a collage out of pieces of papers like product catalogs or sales advertisements. Next she taught us to write on a slant inside a sketch book because writing on lined paper keeps our creativity from coming forward. These spiral bound notebooks provide the sketching or art product you can make to induce your imagination to go forwad. The blank pages allow you to journal without being inhibited by lines on a piece of papers. I have written a book and have found an illustrator who produced paintings to compliment the stories and poems successfully. If nothing else, you can cut out pictures of your favorite birds and write your flying haikus after pasting them on a sketchbook page.

Great sketch pad for the price. The paper isnt too thin or too thick. Its just rite. Very durable and very easy to cut pages off the binder. Great to just carry around and have for quick sketches.

My daughter loves to sketch with pencil, and loves using this model sketch book.
We've been buying the 54404 for years, usually from our local WalMart store.
We've had a hard time finding them there any more, so turned to online to get what we needed.

The only real complaint that she or I had was that #54404 USED to come with MEDIUM weight paper.
It was great for what she used it for. (We have several full sketch books with the same cover, same
number and MEDIUM paper weight.

When we got this one (and it arrived quickly and packed well), it was HEAVY paper.
I don't think that is a real crisis, but it isn't exactly what she wanted. Not sure when Academie
made the paper weight changeover, since we have so many of the medium-weight 54404's.

Note that this paper WILL eventually rub off on the back of the previous page unless you use
spray fixative on your sketches. However, my daughter loves the features in this sketch pad - she likes
the stiff back that makes it easy to support while sketching, loves the spiral binding on the left
(she is right-handed), and also likes having the extra pocket for notes or sheets of other papers.

All in all, a good bargain, but be aware that the paper weight in the book has changed over time.

I ordered this for my niece since her passion is drawing, and it is just what I was looking for, the paper is heavy weight and there are 2 pockets to put your drawings in. I just really like the quality, for $6 its a steal!