A pen-and-ink drawing of the Teenage Beast in a variation of its final demonic form. Done with pencil and pen, it was my first test of this sketchbook, and the paper didn’t let me down.
When my wife and co-host of this fabulous site, Tina, calls about a cheap sketchbook she’s found at a big box store, I’ve learned not to question her. I just say, “Buy it!” She’s got a knack for spotting art supplies that work better than their price suggests. Case in point: the Pen+Gear Create a Cover Sketch Diary she grabbed for me at Walmart for under five bucks.
The Pen+Gear Sketch Diary—$5 and ready for my next masterpiece (or at least some decent doodles).
I recently suffered severe sticker shock at my local art supply store while shopping for gifts. I figured I’d grab a small sketchpad for myself, but the princely sum they demanded stopped me cold. I grumbled to Tina about going without, and with that lament in mind, she spotted this gem during a routine grocery run. That’s what brings us to today’s review—a budget sketchbook that punches way above its weight.
The Backstory: Sticker Shock and Salvation
The art store incident left me skeptical about finding quality on a budget. I’m no stranger to overpriced supplies—pads from Strathmore, Fabriano or Canson now cost an arm and a leg, and while they’re great, my wallet wasn’t ready to commit. Enter Tina, my bargain-hunting hero, who snagged the Pen+Gear Sketch Diary for a price that barely dented her grocery budget. At 8.5″ x 11″ with 70 sheets of unlined 80 GSM (grams per square meter) paper, it’s beefier than a dollar-store notepad and comes with a customizable clear cover pocket. I slid in a color copy of my work to make it mine, and suddenly, this $5 book looked like it belonged in my studio.
The Pen+Gear Sketch Diary with an insert in its plastic cover
Tools of the Trade: Pencils and Pens
I kicked things off with Pilot Sky Blue leads in a 0.7mm mechanical pencil—a nod to the non-repro blue leads of yesteryear, which are getting harder to find. Back in the analog days, light blue was king for preliminary sketches since it didn’t show up in reproductions. Now, in the digital age, I just love the aesthetic of those soft blue lines. They feel right, like a warm-up for the chaos to come.
For inking, I reached for my trusty Sailor Fude De Mannen fountain pen—hands down my favorite tool. I used to overlook these, assuming they were strictly for calligraphers, but they’re a game-changer for artists. Unlike technical pens with their rigid line weights, the Fude De Mannen’s flexible nib gives me wonderfully varied lines, from whisper-thin to bold and expressive. Technical pens — my former weapons of choice — were reliable but lacked soul, and dip pens? Don’t get me started. Crow quills and their ilk had character but came with a side of ink blobs and smudges—patience-testers I didn’t have time for. Brushes? I love them, but I’m a brush murderer. They fray, split, and lose that pristine line faster than I can say “whoops, knocked over the ink bottle again.” (Yes, I’ve done that. Multiple times.)
Sailor Fude De Mannen Fountain Pen with 55º Nib
The Sailor Fude De Mannen is my sweet spot—expressive, forgiving, and no ink bottles to tip over which is perfect because I do a lot of my work on a sofa or on the go. But a great pen is only half the equation; it needs paper that can keep up.
The Star: Pen+Gear Sketch Diary
This sketchbook is a revelation. I don’t know if the paper is archival, whether it’s bleached wood pulp or has any cotton (rag) content, but frankly, I don’t care—it performs like a dream. At 80 GSM, it’s thicker than I expected for the price, and it handles ink like a champ. I braced for the usual cheap-paper pitfalls—bleeding, feathering, or ghosting—but the Pen+Gear laughed in the face of my skepticism. My fountain pen glided smoothly, laying down crisp lines without a hint of feathering. For the Teenage Beast drawing, I piled on juicy outlines and dense cross-hatching, fully expecting to see ink seeping through to the next page. Nope. The paper held firm without bleeding.
Why It’s a Steal
For under five bucks, this sketchbook delivers where it counts. It’s not going to outshine a a premium cotton rag pad, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a workhorse for daily sketching, brainstorming, or unleashing demonic creatures in ink. Compared to pricier brands, it holds its own for pencil and ink work, and the price is right. It made this miser happy.
The Verdict: A Budget Monster
Tina’s find is a keeper. The Pen+Gear Sketch Diary is proof you don’t need to break the bank for a reliable sketchbook. It took everything my Sailor Fude De Mannen and I threw at it and begged for more. Next time you’re at Walmart, grab one, pop your own art in the cover, and go wild.
Got a favorite budget art supply? Spill the beans in the comments—I’m always on the hunt for the next great steal.
Yay!!! And yes, the ‘old’ ways still work fine!!!
The old ways don’t require electricity or a subscription to software.