By The ARTnews Recommends Editors
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More portable than a drafting table and larger than a clipboard, a drawing board is an essential item for draftspeople of all levels. Drawing boards make sure your drawing paper is backed by a hard sketching surface. Keep a larger one in the studio, and slip a smaller one into a portfolio for travel. Boards come in a variety of materials including Masonite, plastic, wood, and resin. Whether you’re looking for a flat board or an option with an adjustable angled top, we’ve got you covered. Browse our selection of the best drawing boards below.
Measuring 20 by 26 inches, this portable sketch board is our top pick. It is made of high-quality resin, chosen for its light weight and durability. The board’s six-position adjustable stand allows you to tilt this board to a variety of angles, and its two clamps clip your work to the surface. At the back of the board is a handle for easy transport.
Crafted from beechwood and finished with natural oil, this adjustable drawing board is a quality choice. With six adjustable settings, the board can be tilted from flat all the way up to an 80-degree angle. The board measures 26 by 21 inches, so there’s ample surface area for you to work on. It comes equipped with a pencil-holding ledge and a drafting T square.
Though this drawing board isn’t adjustable, its traditional design is tried and true. It is made of water-resistant pressboard and measures 23 by 26 inches. Use the double spring-loaded clips and heavy-duty rubber band to keep your work secured and the cut-out handle for convenient carrying.
Made of masonite, this product is lightweight and durable. It measures 18 by 18 inches, a bit smaller than other options, making it a good choice for travel and field painting. It features one sturdy clip, a cut-out handle, and a thick rubber band to hold your work in place.
A portable drafting board is a good choice for technical drawings or any work where straight lines and measurements are of the utmost importance. The Staedtler 661 features a smooth gliding horizontal ruler on a twin-gliding rail that locks into place through a simple one-handed mechanism to make your work quick and meticulous. It also has sheet clamping strips on both sides of the board, rubber feet to keep the board in place, and a grounding compass hole. Note that the drafting arm measurements are in metric.
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