Can exercise books be used for sketching or drawing?

Exercise books can be used for sketching or drawing, but they might not be the ideal choice for certain types of artwork. Exercise books typically have lined or ruled pages, which are designed for writing and note-taking rather than drawing. However, they can still serve as a suitable surface for sketching and drawing under certain circumstances:
Casual Sketches: If you're looking to do quick and casual sketches or doodles, using an exercise book with lined pages can work fine. The lines can serve as guidelines or background elements for your sketches.
Practice and Exploration: Exercise books are often used for practice and experimentation. You can use them to practice different techniques, shading, or mark-making.
Pen and Ink: If you're using pens or ink-based drawing tools, the lined pages might not interfere with your drawings as much as they would with other mediums.
However, there are some limitations to using exercise books for sketching or drawing:
Texture and Finish: Exercise book pages might not have the ideal texture or finish for certain drawing mediums, such as charcoal, pastels, or colored pencils. These mediums might not adhere well to the paper or might not achieve the desired effects.
Ink Bleed-Through: Depending on the quality of the paper, ink-based drawings might bleed through the pages, making the backside unusable.
Limited Paper Weight: Exercise books generally have lightweight paper, which might not withstand heavy use of wet mediums like watercolors or markers.
Size Constraints: The size of the exercise book might limit the size and scale of your drawings.
If you're interested in sketching or drawing more seriously, investing in a sketchbook designed specifically for artwork might be a better option. Sketchbooks come in a variety of paper types, textures, sizes, and formats to suit different artistic preferences. They provide a dedicated space for your creative work and are designed to handle different drawing mediums more effectively.
Ultimately, whether you choose to use an exercise book for sketching or drawing depends on the nature of your artistic pursuits, your preferences, and the materials you plan to use. If possible, it's a good idea to have both an exercise book for casual sketches and a proper sketchbook for more intentional and detailed artwork.