The one for people who think in shapes rather than lines. The square is the interesting one. There is no implied top and bottom the way there is on a portrait page, so a spread reads as one wide field rather than two tall columns. This one comes with dot grid pages on 80gsm acid free paper, 80 sheets of it, behind a soft cover in a plain soft black cover with no print on it. Made by Royal Talens, who have been making artists materials in the Netherlands since 1899.

★ ART SHED STAFF TIP

Acid free matters more than it sounds if these are going on a shelf. It is the difference between pages that stay readable and pages that go yellow and brittle in a decade.

Perfect for

Bullet journallingPlanning spreadsNote takingLists and trackersSquare formatComposition

What the dot grid is for

A dot grid gives you structure you can ignore. Rule a box when you want one, split a spread into columns when you need to, then stop noticing the page entirely when you are just writing. It is the format bullet journalling was built on, which means any layout you find online maps straight onto these pages.

What the paper will and will not do

Eighty grams is writing paper, and it is worth being straight about what that means. Gel pen, fineliner, ballpoint and pencil are all comfortable on it. A wet fountain pen will show through, and watercolour, gouache and alcohol markers will go straight out the back. If you want to paint, the 140gsm Art Creation sketchbooks are the same range and the right tool.

What you get in exchange is lightness. A soft cover and thin stock make this the book you carry without noticing, and the smooth off white surface is faster to write on than a toothier drawing paper. At 12 x 12 cm you get a composition with room left around it.

What you are actually getting

Paper

80 sheets, 160 sides, 80gsm acid free, smooth and off white

Pages

5mm style dot grid, printed light

Cover

Soft flexible cover, a plain soft black cover with no print on it

Fittings

Elastic closure band and a bound-in ribbon bookmark. No back pocket on this range

Questions about the Black dotted notebook in 12 x 12 cm

What is the paper like to write on?

Smooth and off white, which suits gel pen, fineliner and pencil. There is no tooth to speak of, so it is a writing surface rather than a drawing one.

Is the cover hard or soft?

Soft and flexible, which is what keeps it light and lets it curl into a bag or a coat pocket. If you want to draw standing up with nothing to lean on, choose a hardbound one instead.

How big is 12 x 12 cm in the hand?

Smaller than people expect from the number, roughly the footprint of a CD case. It is a carry size rather than a desk size, and it still opens to a 24 cm wide spread.

Will it lie flat?

Not on the first day. Open it flat in the middle a few times and work outwards over the first week and it will stay open on a table from then on.

Can I get this in other sizes?

Yes. The Art Creation range runs from this pocket size up through 13 x 21 cm and 21 x 30 cm, in a spread of cover colours, so you can keep the same paper and step up in size.

Where can I buy Talens Art Creation books in Australia?

Right here. Art Shed is an Australian family owned art supplies retailer shipping the Art Creation range Australia wide from local stock, so there is no overseas wait and no international freight. You can also buy over the counter at our Melbourne store in Moorabbin or our Brisbane store in West End.

(NU9314404M)

SKU NU9314404M
Barcode # 8712079446475
Brand Royal Talens
Shipping Weight 0.1100kg
Shipping Width 0.050m
Shipping Height 0.050m
Shipping Length 0.050m

More From This Category