That time a sketchbook snob at the Phoenix Art Museum changed my doodle game

I was at the Phoenix Art Museum last Saturday sketching in a spiral notebook. Some guy walks up and says real artists don't use cheap paper. I almost told him off but instead I asked why. He pulled out a 5 dollar Strathmore sketchbook and showed me how the tooth catches pencil marks way better. I bought one that afternoon and yeah my doodles actually look less messy now. Does anyone else find that better paper just makes you want to draw more even if the content is still nonsense?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_johnson311mo ago

Wait, someone at an art museum actually walked up to a stranger and said "real artists don't use cheap paper"? That's wild. I'd probably have laughed in his face. But then he followed it up with actual useful advice instead of just being a jerk? That's even weirder. I guess some snobs do have a point buried under the attitude. The tooth thing is real though, I bought a decent sketchbook after years of using printer paper and suddenly my scribbles didn't look like garbage. Makes me wonder how many other good tips I've missed because the person delivering them was insufferable.

paul2861mo ago

Friendly art store employees will give you the same advice for free.