[soilborn]

for the problem you're having with you paper cumbering, i'd say just get a bristol sketchbook. something with smooth plate bristol board....2 or 3ply are my thing for thick mediums. there's also thicker rag papers, not sure if that's what it's called, but. anyhow you usually can just look at the hard cover of a sketch pad and see the specs before you buy it...it'll usually tell you what types of mediums it holds.

as for me, i use anything that's around me. mostly markers, quill tips and dips (with higgins ink), and lead or charcoal pencils; at times verithins. not much paint or such. i don't really have a set method or tool to sketch, i just grap something.

[jr]

ball point pen is actually great for quick sketching, get paper with a heavier weight, the paper is too thin.

[shinji69]

OK, I know this is a very stupid question....but what kind of sketching materials do you guys use? I use mostly that sketchbook with black hardcover with prismacolor and ball-point pen, either black or blue. The problems are: 1. I can't use watercolor or gouache on the sketchbook without wrinkling the paper 2. Prismacolor wears out too quickly, making dull points all the time 3. Using lead pencil is messy because of the smudges 4. ball-point pen is not really good for quick sketching...

Any tip for my problem? I really want to put all the sketches, color/B&W into one single sketchbook.