Key features
- Medium-tooth vellum finish surface
- Acid-free, archival-quality paper
- Glue-bound pad with perforation-free tear option
- Compatible with graphite, charcoal, and colored pencil
- Available in multiple sizes and sheet counts
- Sturdy chipboard backing for on-the-go sketching
What we liked
- Smooth yet toothy surface handles multiple dry media well
- Acid-free paper resists yellowing and deterioration
- Reliable quality across every pad and sheet
- Sturdy backing board supports sketching without a table
- Good value compared to premium fine art pads
Worth noting
- Not suited for heavy wet media like watercolor washes
- Paper can buckle slightly under wetter techniques
- Glue binding makes some sheets harder to remove neatly
- Limited color or toned paper options within this line
Our review
The Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Pad is a workhorse sketchbook designed for artists who demand versatility from a single sheet of paper. Made in the USA, this pad features medium-tooth vellum finish paper that accepts graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, and light washes with equal ease. The 400 Series sits in Strathmore's mid-tier lineup, offering a noticeable step up in quality from student-grade pads while remaining accessible for daily practice and studio work alike.,Each sheet is acid-free and made to resist yellowing over time, so finished drawings retain their crispness for years. The paper's surface has enough tooth to grip dry media without excessive tooth-drag, making it a favorite for figure studies, portraiture, and general sketching. The pad is glue-bound along the top edge, allowing artists to tear out finished work cleanly or keep the pad intact as a bound sketchbook journal.,Strathmore has kept the 400 Series consistent for decades, which means art students, illustrators, and hobbyists can rely on predictable results sheet after sheet. It's equally suited to loose gestural sketching in the field or more deliberate studio renderings. For anyone building a daily drawing habit or looking for a dependable pad to fill with practice work, the 400 Series remains a trusted staple in the Strathmore lineup.
Specifications
Paper Weight80 lb (130 gsm)Sheet FinishMedium vellum toothBinding TypeGlue-bound padSheet Count24 sheetsPaper ColorBright white What reviewers say
MMarcus Feldman2024-02-14★★★★★
My go-to sketch pad
I've used this pad for years in figure drawing classes. The tooth is perfect for charcoal and graphite, and the paper doesn't feel flimsy like cheaper pads.
PPriya Nandakumar2023-11-03★★★★★
Great for dry media, not wet
Works beautifully with colored pencil and graphite, but I tried a light watercolor wash and the paper buckled. Stick to dry media and it's excellent.
DDevon Ashworth2024-01-20★★★★★
Consistent quality every time
I've bought several of these pads and they're always the same reliable surface. Great for daily sketchbook practice.
LLena Ostrowski2023-09-18★★★★★
Solid student choice
Good middle ground between cheap sketch paper and expensive fine art paper. My only complaint is the glue binding makes tearing pages a bit messy.
