Hullo Melanie, Sketchbooks re so tricky! Thanks for giving us a good overview. I found the workbooks from Arches or Kilimanjaro (Cheap Joe's in the States), But they do have the spiral binding and I like those because you can work with either hand and not worry about hitting your wrists on the binding. Sarah Burns likes the toned paper books from Hahnemule for her gouache and watercolors. Sweet video, Thanks!
I was going to suggest Kilimanjaro also! I LOVE the one with the regular sketch paper between each page of watercolor paper, it’s by far my favorite watercolor sketchbook currently! But I’ve always got quite a few going at one time (I think 9 watercolor sketchbooks right now alone, not counting all the other kinds of paper sketchbooks 🤭), so I try a lot of new ones often. This video was right up my alley!
I bought a Hahnemühle watercolour sketchbook (not 100% cotton) and I've kind of hated using it. Thanks for including other ones to compare with, it's hard to find good watercolour books.
Hi Melanie, I really enjoyed this video and I think your old art was beautiful! As for sketchbooks, I recommend trying the Etchr watercolour sketchbooks that have the white canvas cover. They come in many sizes and shapes, including square, and they come in both cold press and hot press, and the hot press has a tiny bit of texture but it’s mostly smooth. They have really nice cotton paper and I use them with all kinds of media. The cover is also fun to customise because it’s a canvas and you can paint on it. For toned paper, I absolutely love the Stillman and Birn Nova sketchbooks which come in beige, grey and black paper, and several different sizes and shapes.
Hello! Thanks for all the sketchbook reviews, it is helpful. So I'm not sure if you know, but what you're describing at 20:52 is called Granulation. Some watercolor pigments chunk together, leaving a "splotchy" look on the paper. This is best seen on cold press or rough press paper. It is not a problem with the paint or paper. In fact, granulating colors are often used strategically in artwork. I'm guessing what you used is a version of ultramarine blue, manganese blue hue, or cerulean blue, which are all based on a single granulating pigment. So, generally no matter what manufacturer you buy the paint from, these colors will granulate. I've had it happen on hot press paper. Your artwork is lovely!
@@BlackPixelDustt thank you for sharing that! I know what granulation is & I can see that there might be granulation involved in the page. However, that's not really what I was referring to. With cheaper paper, you can see the paint being more "splotchy" or "streaky" for lack of a better word. That happens regardless of which pigments are used. I'm not sure if it shows up in the finished result as much as it's a thing you can feel during the process though I recently did a video about White Nights granulating paints in the Etchr sketchbook and they look lovely in that one 😊
I suggest Stillmann & Birn. There are two of them that are watercolor - the Delta and I think Zeta. Both of those have a pretty smooth paper and they are really good. There's a bit of texture, so it's not hot press, but much smoother than Hahnemuhle. James Gurney and Sarah Burns both use them. I;ve also found their mixed media sketchbooks to hold up surprisingly well to watercolor. The would probably do very well for gouache, again very smooth.
You seem to really like smoother paper. Do you prefer hot press then? I've always liked hot press until made a painting on each and I liked the final look for the bumpy cold press.
My absolute forever favorite is the Primrosia watercolor journals! Loads of pages and very lightly had grid lines. That paper can take water like a champ! Markers (alcohol markers will bleed through) colored pencils, gouache especially. The paper in those is amazing! I've talked to the owner, she makes them herself! I buy them from Amazon. I'd love to hear what you think about them ❤❤
Are you able to tell me which palette you used for the painting that looked like an underwater castle with a stingray? It was mostly blues, greens and purples.
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Amazing review!
Hullo Melanie, Sketchbooks re so tricky! Thanks for giving us a good overview. I found the workbooks from Arches or Kilimanjaro (Cheap Joe's in the States), But they do have the spiral binding and I like those because you can work with either hand and not worry about hitting your wrists on the binding. Sarah Burns likes the toned paper books from Hahnemule for her gouache and watercolors. Sweet video, Thanks!
I was going to suggest Kilimanjaro also! I LOVE the one with the regular sketch paper between each page of watercolor paper, it’s by far my favorite watercolor sketchbook currently! But I’ve always got quite a few going at one time (I think 9 watercolor sketchbooks right now alone, not counting all the other kinds of paper sketchbooks 🤭), so I try a lot of new ones often. This video was right up my alley!
Very informative. Thank you.
I bought a Hahnemühle watercolour sketchbook (not 100% cotton) and I've kind of hated using it. Thanks for including other ones to compare with, it's hard to find good watercolour books.
Yeah the cotton ones and the toned ones definitely seem way better 😅 you're welcome 😊
Hi Melanie, I really enjoyed this video and I think your old art was beautiful! As for sketchbooks, I recommend trying the Etchr watercolour sketchbooks that have the white canvas cover. They come in many sizes and shapes, including square, and they come in both cold press and hot press, and the hot press has a tiny bit of texture but it’s mostly smooth. They have really nice cotton paper and I use them with all kinds of media. The cover is also fun to customise because it’s a canvas and you can paint on it. For toned paper, I absolutely love the Stillman and Birn Nova sketchbooks which come in beige, grey and black paper, and several different sizes and shapes.
LOVING the taylor swift themed cover 😍😍
Que bonito y que emocion ver tantos Sketchbooks con tantas ilustraciones tan hermosas... usted muy bien señorita! 💜💜💜💜💜
Hello! Thanks for all the sketchbook reviews, it is helpful.
So I'm not sure if you know, but what you're describing at 20:52 is called Granulation. Some watercolor pigments chunk together, leaving a "splotchy" look on the paper. This is best seen on cold press or rough press paper. It is not a problem with the paint or paper. In fact, granulating colors are often used strategically in artwork.
I'm guessing what you used is a version of ultramarine blue, manganese blue hue, or cerulean blue, which are all based on a single granulating pigment. So, generally no matter what manufacturer you buy the paint from, these colors will granulate. I've had it happen on hot press paper.
Your artwork is lovely!
@@BlackPixelDustt thank you for sharing that! I know what granulation is & I can see that there might be granulation involved in the page. However, that's not really what I was referring to. With cheaper paper, you can see the paint being more "splotchy" or "streaky" for lack of a better word. That happens regardless of which pigments are used.
I'm not sure if it shows up in the finished result as much as it's a thing you can feel during the process though
I recently did a video about White Nights granulating paints in the Etchr sketchbook and they look lovely in that one 😊
Great review! Thanks Melanie
I suggest Stillmann & Birn. There are two of them that are watercolor - the Delta and I think Zeta. Both of those have a pretty smooth paper and they are really good. There's a bit of texture, so it's not hot press, but much smoother than Hahnemuhle. James Gurney and Sarah Burns both use them. I;ve also found their mixed media sketchbooks to hold up surprisingly well to watercolor. The would probably do very well for gouache, again very smooth.
Beautiful art work!! 🤗🥰
You seem to really like smoother paper. Do you prefer hot press then? I've always liked hot press until made a painting on each and I liked the final look for the bumpy cold press.
Love your art amazing ❤
My absolute forever favorite is the Primrosia watercolor journals! Loads of pages and very lightly had grid lines. That paper can take water like a champ! Markers (alcohol markers will bleed through) colored pencils, gouache especially. The paper in those is amazing! I've talked to the owner, she makes them herself! I buy them from Amazon. I'd love to hear what you think about them ❤❤
so nice 😍
Are you able to tell me which palette you used for the painting that looked like an underwater castle with a stingray? It was mostly blues, greens and purples.
🤩
❤❤❤