Here’s some questions from readers that have come in over the last few months. Some of them are stumpers, for me at least, but I hope some other sharp-eyed readers will be able to answer!
From Chris:
Do you by any chance know what type of notebook/journal Bradley Cooper is using in the movie ‘Burnt’?
I haven’t seen the movie, so I hope someone else can chime in!
From Ernie:
Do you know of a spiral notebook that uses yellow pages like a legal pad does? I’m looking for a spiral notebook but the pages yellow like legal pad instead of white.
This may depend on whether you want top-opening or side-opening. There are definitely spiral bound legal pads that open top to bottom, like this one
From Fuzzy:
I’m trying to find a sketch journal that has both lined and blank paper, lined paper on one side and blank on the other. I’m not looking for the journal where the page is blank at the top and lined at the bottom.
The Dialogue notebooks I reviewed have this feature. I also found this
From Jenn:
I’m experimenting with fore-edge painting. Acrylic paint sits on the outside of the page where I want it, so when I bend the pages the image can show, but it flakes after too many openings and when you separate stuck together pages. Oil and wax bases stain the inner paper. So far, water bases are either not opaque enough or stain the paper. Of course, the type of paper is also an issue. The pages of a watercolor pad would be too thick, but too thin paper would soak through to the next page, the finish on the paper is an issue, etc. So maybe a fake gild edge that I can paint then shut the book and wipe off would be the answer. This would need to be a plain blank book. Everything online is expensive and/or has leather. It would also have to be cheap enough to experiment with and throw away if it doesn’t work. If it really does, I’d buy more. Do you have any ideas of cheap, plain, fake gilt edge notebooks?
I have not seen anything particularly cheap with gilded edges. The Object Series notebook I reviewed is $16 with gilded edges but it does have a leather cover and might not be suitable for painting on.
Check out the Art Alternatives Sketch & Draw
notebooks are quite nice. The larger ones are the size of an iPad Mini. If you want something closer to the size of a regular iPad, the Extra Large size Moleskine Cahier might be a good fit. But neither of these options comes with dot grid paper. If you want dotted paper, Leuchtturm might have some options for you, particularly the medium or large softcovers.
in that size, as it has heavier pages than the regular “Classic” plain notebook, though they may still be not quite heavy enough for some kinds of pens and markers. HandBook Artist Journal
would also be a good option, as they come in portrait and landscape versions in 5 x 8.25, as well as pocket and square formats. If you need something even sturdier, Stillman and Birn has lots of options for different papers and sizes and bindings. You can find a guide to their paper types here.From Brent:
I have been looking for some notebooks I used to get at Target that I just loved.  They weer about 3×5 or maybe slightly larger and had a cardboard cover, were spiral bound (which was big enough to carry a pen in …. the main reason I liked them), and some had an elastic closure (the second reason I really liked them).  I used to get them all the time about 10 years ago, but have been unable to find them recently. Are you familiar with these and if so, do you know where I might be able to purchase them?
I don’t have the opportunity to shop at Target very often so I’m not sure what these might have been. Hopefully one of our other readers might have an idea!
Thanks as always to our readers for sending in questions, and helping answer questions!
Brent, you may find diminutive spirals with elastics at dollar stores. But the closures are rare. I’ve also seen small spirals at Michael’s, a craft supply chain out west. Look for them in the bargain bins near the doors.