Artists kept asking for a smaller Luchetti.
So we made the Via.
Same 600gsm, 100% cotton paper.
Same gutter-free, True-Flat binding.
5.5" square. Opens completely flat to a seamless 11" panorama.
Luchetti Via True-Flat™ Sketchbook - 5.5" Square
5.5" Square • 11" Flat Spread • Gutter-Free • 600gsm • 100% Cotton
Luchetti Via True-Flat™ Sketchbook - 5.5" Square
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DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
The Luchetti Via.
The thickest paper ever in a travel sketchbook.
The only gutter-free travel sketchbook that lays truly flat. Edge to edge.
Our original 8x8" square Luchetti Sketchbook has over 1,500 five-star reviews. But artists kept asking for a travel size.
So we made the Via.
Small enough to fit in a coat pocket. Just 5.5" square.
Via is Italian for road. Create wherever yours takes you.
2× thicker paper than any other travel sketchbook.
Until now, travel sketchbook paper topped out around 300gsm.
The Via is 600gsm. 100% cotton.
Same paper as the original 8x8" Luchetti. Here's what artists say about it:
"Beautiful book, thickest paper I've ever seen in a sketchbook"
— Amelia
"With this thickness, it handles heavy water washes beautifully without any warping."
— Rashid Almuhannadi
"Being able to use both sides of the paper and not have to worry about the color bleeding through is a relief."
— Amy McCauley
"The thick paper handles everything that I throw at it like a champ!"
— Carla Bond
Choose Cold Press for a subtle watercolor texture or Hot Press for a smooth, refined surface.
Both are made for generous watercolor washes, gouache, acrylic, ink, colored pencil, and mixed media.
Small when you carry it. Not when you create in it.
Until now, a small sketchbook meant a small canvas.
Thanks to its patent-pending True-Flat™ binding, every spread in the Via opens completely flat.
Gutter-free. Nothing in your way.
Two pages become one 5.5x11" surface.
Choose your canvas: square, panoramic, or tall.
Same binding as the original Luchetti. Here's what artists say about it:
"It really can be painted across two pages with no gutter in the middle and lays completely flat."
— Paula Cantlon
"Every spread completely flat for miles. No bumps or gutters."
— Pierr Morgan
"So amazing that it always opens completely flat, even for the last pages."
— Lyn Mazey
“They lay truly flat, and have given me the space and freedom for my creativity. I’ll never go back to another.”
— Megan A.
FAQ
FAQ
What makes the Via different from other travel sketchbooks?
The paper: 600gsm (300 lb), 100% cotton. Twice as thick as the paper in any other travel sketchbook.
The binding: its patent-pending True-Flat™ binding is gutter-free, so two pages work as one 5.5x11" flat surface.
How is the Via different from the original 8x8" Luchetti Sketchbook?
The Via is 5.5" square and opens flat to a 5.5x11" spread.
The original Luchetti is 8" square and opens flat to a 16x8" spread.
The Via has 40 pages. The original has 44.
Everything you love about the 8x8, just in a travel size. If you already own our 8x8", the Via is the one that goes with you everywhere.
Same 600gsm, 100% cotton paper and gutter-free, True-Flat binding that thousands of artists love.
Does it really lay completely flat?
Yes, our True-Flat™️ binding allows every spread to open fully with no gutter or stitching. There is only a thin seam in the center where the paper folds, so you can work seamlessly across both pages.
Will it buckle with watercolor?
The 600gsm, 100% cotton paper is designed to handle heavy watercolor with minimal buckling, even under heavy saturation.
How many pages does it have, and can I really paint on both sides?
40 pages. That is 20 sheets, painted on both sides. Paint does not bleed through, and the finish is the same on both sides, so every sheet gives you two painting surfaces.
Should I choose Cold Press or Hot Press?
🧊 Choose Cold Press if you…
- Primarily paint with watercolor or gouache.
- Enjoy a little texture beneath your brush.
- Like expressive washes and granulating colors.
- Prefer a forgiving surface with a traditional watercolor feel.
🔥 Choose Hot Press if you…
- Love smooth, crisp detail.
- Work with pen and ink.
- Enjoy graphite or colored pencils.
- Prefer clean edges and controlled washes.
- Want the smoothest possible surface.
Same 600gsm, 100% cotton paper either way.
Can't decide? Most artists eventually own both: Cold Press for expressive work, Hot Press for detail.
How much is shipping, and what if it is not for me?
U.S. shipping is $4.95 on one Via, or free when you buy two. We ship worldwide. Every order ships from Lake Forest, California.
If the Via is not for you, you have 30 days from delivery for a 100% refund with a free prepaid U.S. return label. Normal handling or brief testing of the sketchbook is fine.
Received my Via cold press a couple of days ago and decided to start on a couple of practice pieces for a new commission. The paper was lovely, allowing me to layer colour, scrub out where required and make precise marks too. I can thoroughly recommend the notebooks and have already done so to a couple of friends. Thanks Trish from South Australia.
These are the best lay flat sketchbooks I've ever had. This size is perfect for traveling. So easy to always keep one in your bag. The paper is amazing!
Give it a try, I was not disappointed, at all!!
It’s landscape, I prefer portrait
Haven’t had a chance to use it yet. I’ll use it for December's Doodlewash prompts which I use for an Advent calendar.
Fabulous sketchbook. Takes so much torment ….using graphite, watercolor, ink, gouache. Paper holds up to the all bad treatment an artist can give it😘😘😘
Absolutely love these sketchbooks. Makes on the go art easy, no worry about tape or buckling paper.
There is not one bad thing I can say about this sketchbook, it is simply wonderful. The book truly lays flat and is smooth at the center - NO gutter. REALLY! The paper which is thick (300lb!) is a dream to paint on and the CP has just enough texture to grant you the gift of some interesting dry brush work and beautiful results from paint that granulates. The paper’s sizing allows the watercolor to stay on the surface long enough to mingle and mix, a truly desired effect that watercolor artists love. Thank you Luchetti for creating this beautiful product.
Oh my goodness. I just received this beautifully packaged sketchbook! I cannot wait to use it. The sketchbook is a high quality product. The paper is premium, the cover is beautiful, and there truly is no "gutter" present. I also love how flat it lays open. My only problem? I'm having trouble trying to decide what to paint in it first!
This is a really nice sketchbook. Love the paper and the lay flat binding. My only bit of feedback on the smaller size is that it is heavier than I like to carry around. Would love it if you made one with fewer pages and smaller price tag to make it lighter to throw in my bag and take everywhere
The size is perfect for travel painting
The little sketchbook is just as awesome as the larger one. The paper is the BEST paper I’ve ever painted on-it absorbs and leaves the colors vibrant without buckling. The book comes with an elastic to hold it together, an attached ribbon bookmark, and arrives in most beautiful box with a drawer! It literally felt like a gift when I opened it.
Sounds silly to say, but having a top quality sketchbook slows me down, makes me take my time, plan, increases my enjoyment and, perhaps, even a better sketch…
I know this is long winded but I should also say something about the sketchbook I painted this in. I was on a wait list to get one. It is by Luchetti and is the best of all the sketch books I have purchased and used lately. It is a collectors version of a sketchbook. The cover is leather, the pages are 8"x 8", center gutter to distort your art when you paint over both pages, 300lb., 100% cotton, Hot Press paper. Cold Press paper is another option if you prefer it instead. Because of the weight it holds up well to a lot of wet on wet technique, with no wonkiness as a result of the amount of water. For me anyway!
I have been painting a lot lately but not just for the joy of it. I have been painting for classes, challenges, and commissions.
The painting I did in my 8” Luchetti was mostly for my own pleasure. It brought some peace, pleasure, and joy to my soul, which is my whole reason for painting. I hope this beautiful sketchbook brings some of those things to you too!
(Chip Beck)—I have used various brands of sketchbooks on my global travels for decades. Some were suitable for pencil, some for pen & ink, and a few for watercolor. All were functional, but some were better than others. In my estimation, “The Luchetti” is the best of the best and is now my go-to Watercolor Sketchbook on my travels and plein aire outings.
I was among the first artists to take a chance on The Luchetti and I’m not going back. I love it. I’ve been a Navy Combat Artist in war zones, a vagabond artist in Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and all over Europe and the U.S. Looking back, I wish I had processed The Luchetti in those days. But that was then.
Beginning in Spring 2026, I bought my first four 8x8 (aka 8x16) Cold Press and Hot Press Luchetti Sketchbooks. So far they have gone with me to England, The Azores, Portugal, coastal California, northern Virginia, and South Carolina’s beaches. The sketches allow me to create a collection of ideas and possibilities that, in conjunction with my reference photos, allow me to go home to my studio and create larger, more detailed or refined paintings.
I have 160 paintings in official government collections and museums, but until I die The Luchetti books will remain in my library as special travel books. Not for sale…unless I get an offer I can’t refuse!
Love the texture, softness, thickness. Perfect size for traveling. I also ordered the other size available. Grazie
LOVE these sketchbooks -- I now have six of them. They're perfect for nature and travel sketching. Wonderful thick paper, sturdy construction. I'm addicted to their quality! Will I buy more? Of course, because I want to make sure I have a supply on hand when I finish one!
Perfect, the only way to put it. The texture is spot on, pencil lays down and more importantly picks up with ease. Fineliners work like a joy and the paint is just the coup de grâce. So yes, perfection in a travel sized sketchbook. I am now waiting to grab a full sized one to match.
Love it. My plein air group loved it Expect orders.
I am the proud owner of three original Luchetti Via True-Flat™ Sketchbooks and two Luchetti Via True-Flat™ Sketchbook - 5.5" Square.
I have filled my sketchbooks with multiple water colors, pencil and ink, and collage art pieces. The quality of the paper and the ability to utilize the flat surfaces while working is extraordinary. I can recommend these sketch books without reservations
