TFS! For some reason watching you swatch is so therapeutic. I am guessing it is because you are so thorough. For me personally, I make my own watercolor notebooks. I use my favorite paper and cut it down and I use the happy planner punch and discs. I make my own covers too (which I can switch out) by laminating my favorite imagery. This allows me to to not only fold it on itself like a spiral bound, but it also allows me to pop out the sheet I am working on and then easily insert it right back in the book. I can even change the order of the sheets. And obviously I can add as many or as little sheet as I want in my book. The one I am currently working on is rather thin. When i finish that up I pop them out an pop them into a BIG MAMMA one on the shelf. I then add more new sheet to my thinner working notebook. BTW..I use the Happy Planner as my personal planner so this just seem to make sense to me.
I also do my own notebooks but I use rather cheap paper for that since using a nice and expensive paper such as arches for sketching feels really bad to me😂
I'm so glad to hear that you don't like to use the back side of paper. I really dislike using the backsides of any paper, but being a product of the Catholic school system way way back in 50s and 60s, I always feel extremely wasteful. If I don't use both sides. Have been looking for a Pentalic, can't find it out and about. I'll have to order online! Thanks for the info.
Cheryl Clough ... think of it as a canvas... you would not use the back side of a stretched canvas .. ( I would hope ) .. The back side of watercolor paper is very different from the "intended to paint on side" if you must .. go ahead, but you may fault yourself for poor results when it is really the paper.. but hey .. you do you .. " )
Am I the only person who paints on both sides of Canson XL paper? I've never actually had a problem doing that. If I don't like what I did on one side, I flip it over and paint something else. Usually I use the other side to make two paints and turn it into a journal cover.
If you buy a MiracleBind or Filofax Notebook with the removable pages and a matching hole punch, you can make a never-ending sketchbook filled with whichever papers you prefer. You can also add pockets. (MiracleBind makes the Filofax Notebook bindings, so you can mix and match.)
I use Canson XL for creating swatch cards, but I'm not keen on how the paint behaves on it, it definitely feels and flows like a student grade paper. Fine for swatching, but I don't think I would go beyond that. I've got several of the Bee sketchbooks and they're okay. The 100% cotton is nice, but I'm not really a big fan of their paper in general. I would be hard pressed to explain why, but when I use it, it feels less capable than other 140 lb cotton options and it definitely buckles a lot more than any others that I've used. So, I still use them because I have a few of the sketchbooks, but I'm not really a fan. My two favourites for sketching are Moleskine and Strathmore. Moleskine is generally really good, though not 100% cotton and it's 135 lbs. I find that it doesn't buckle very much, the surface is really nice to work on, and the general quality of the book just feels better. The Strathmore Visual Journals are student grade, similar to the Canson XL, but I find the paper feels a lot more like what I expect from watercolour paper. It holds up very well to washes, the absorption feels more like cotton-based papers, and the surface feels like cold pressed should. It's spiral bound and inexpensive, like the Canson, but I just find the paper feels better to me.
The Conch Shell in the Canson Book! WOW. Thanks for the journal guide. I'm looking forward to your paper list. This top five series has been so enlightening and I have enjoyed it. Thank you.
Pentalic watercolor sketchbooks/journals are really hard to locate right now. Blick, for example, has none, though they usually sell them, and neither does Amazon. I really like my Strathmore 500 Mixed Media hardbound book (which I do use for acrylic but is supposed to be fine for watercolor - but I can't attest to that). The Strathmore 500 Mixed Media hardbound journal is 100% cotton. Strathmore also has several 400 watercolor hard- and softbound books that get good reviews on Blick. They are not 100% cotton but they are acid-free and specifically sized for watercolor.
The Foxes in the Travelouge is gorgeous - I envy the how beautiful your paintings inside the journals are. I wish I have more choices of journal and watercolor paper here. I only have one journal- and i screwed it up with an ugly doodle of mushroom lol. As far as I know the paper is fabriano 300gsm. My only gripes is its in unconventional size. I want to buy another one, this vid comes in great time. I hope I get to see them in store or atleast some more choices.
My favorite is actually the Moleskine watercolor books! A very unpopular opinion as far as Ive seen haha. It doesnt actually buckle much, while for example the stillman & birn beta has giant cavaties if I use water on just one part of the paper! I do like the stillman & birn for sketching, the surface is very nice to work on! I also recently got a pentalic, and I do enjoy it a lot.
I really appreciate that you've reduced speaking with vocal fry and uptalk in your later videos. I came upon to this older video after watching several of yours around 2020 and 2021 and noticed a pretty stark difference. Either you've been working on your voice presentation or your confidence has increased. Well done! Definitely raises your credibility.
While I appreciate the attempt at a compliment, the comments about my speech - including this one - continue to add to fairly debilitating anxiety. It is a constant effort to put my best foot forward, and other people pointing it out to me only perpetuates to my inability to put out content on a regular basis - because if it's not done with every bit of effort, it's not worth putting out at all, right? That's what anxiety brain says, anyway. I don't say this to be snarky or defensive, I just ask that you realize that there is someone on the other side of the keyboard and you don't know what they're going through. A simple compliment about the content in their videos rather than how they sound would be a much kinder compliment and better received. Is pointing out someone's vocal patterns related to their credibility more important than that person's mental health?
I have THE PAPER HOUSE PAD it comes in a4,a5 a3 all 300gsm great for repeat washes really good, a Jasart a5 book that I just tried out on saturday it handled a couple of washes and all my papers are cold pressed,I also have a couple of strathmore journals ,56 pgs1 is a visual one mixed media 100lb ,270gsm which was okay, the 2nd on is also mixed media 100% cotton/Vellum finish 90lb,190g/m it was on special I haven't tried that yet, and last Baohong my favourite 300gsm cold pressed a5. 100 % cotton.
I love wildlife and animals so you’re art was obviously gorgeous,I’ve been doing art since is was little.Im thinking of doing natural wildlife and maybe tree studies and would love to use watercolor for the drawings!
The Canson XL Mixed Media with the blue cover is only 98# paper where I buy (Wal-mart), and one of my favorite workhorse sketchbooks for ink and wash. I'm very fond of the regular Handbook sketchbooks (not watercolor) in the 5.5" square size, too. They work and feel quite a bit like Canson XL, but are book bound. My very favorite for watercolor are Kiliminjaro Paintbooks, but I have to watch for sales--Cheap Joe currently has the most expensive shipping on the market :/ Thanks for the heads up on S & B pilling with the softening off technique!
Thanks Bekki! I haven't used the Mixed Media version of Canson XL but have heard other artists mention they like it quite a bit. I didn't know Killimanjaro had a sketchbook too! I have been wanting to get some of their paper in general since I did my watercolor paper comparison last year but agree about shipping, and the cost of supplies in general are fairly high there for their house brands. But I suppose if I like their paper that much it's justified ;) Anyhoo, if you happen to remember the next time you see a sale, send me a ping! :)
I am an absolute journal HOG, I have about 70, used and and used and somewhere in between. S&B is definitely up there in the top legions, my personal favorite is the Fabriano with the brick canvas cover. I like to write extensively and paint in ink, watercolor and charcoals and it all goes perfectly.
You should try the Canson Mixed media, it's spiral bound but very reasonable in quality for its $5.99 price tag. I use it for messing around with techniques.
So exciting to wake up and have this to watch! I agree about Stillman & Birn. Love, love, love the texture of their covers and the wide variety of journals they offer, but the paper pilled more than others I've used and despite being relatively similar on front/back just doesn't have enough texture to appeal to me. I've been looking for a new journal and debating between Pentalic and other things, so I think I'll go ahead and give Pentalic a try. They've had positive reviews almost everywhere. :) I think my absolute favorite (that I've tried) are Kilimanjaro watercolor field books. They're 100% cotton cold press and I've found I can paint on front and back with little to no difference. They also have a sheet of drawing paper between each page, which is nice if you're someone who likes to sketch before you paint or just likes to annotate your paintings with information about the subject or materials used. The only complaint I have about them is that they are wire bound and the wires don't feel as strong as those used in things like the Visual Journals below. Probably not something I'd want to be pulling in and out of a bag on a regular basis, but fine for quick paintings at home. I've also gone through several Strathmore Visual Journal books. The price is right, pages have decent texture, and I've used front and back (though I don't like the back as well), and the covers are thick and sturdy. The paper doesn't warp too badly and handles my paint reasonably well. I haven't had too many issues with pilling, but I also try not to abuse them with tons of water or scrubbing when the paper is wet. My biggest complaint about them is that paint just seems to sit on the surface and actually lifts when you don't want it to (even just swatching with some brands), but it is great with more staining paints such as M. Graham. I've also had good experiences with the Canson Montval books and always wonder how Canson XL compares to them. I just reach for the Visual Journal more often because it has a nicer cover and after 3 years of using them, it just feels familiar.
I love the texture of the S&B covers too! And that the covers are usable space to paint on. Real shame about the paper pilling so badly. You're the second person this morning to mention the Kilimanjaro books, which I didn't know they had. I fell in love with the sample of paper I got from a viewer last year and have been coveting them since. I keep missing their sales! Haha. I'll have to be more diligent. Thank you for your contributions to the discussion!
I've had a chance to try out two new sketchbooks this week after buying the Pentalic based on your's and other reviews. I also grabbed a Moleskine watercolor journal which has slightly thinner paper but a very similar format. I LOVE the Pentalic and have already filled up 4 pages (oops?) but I feel like the Moleskine is very comparable. It has a nice soft leather-like cover, an elastic band that fits maybe slightly snugger, and a few more pages. (36 versus 24) The signatures all look neater with no glue visible in any (my Pentalic has glue showing in a few). The paper is very, very slightly more ivory and has a similar texture as well. Painting on the back side of pages won't be a problem for me in either. The only major differences I found, besides number of pages, are that the Moleskine doesn't have a pen holder or a bookmark ribbon. Performance wise I really enjoy both. I am able to layer without any real lifting problems of layers underneath. I can work wet in wet on both - though neither has a ton of flow from what I've seen, they do stay wet long enough for me to get something like a sky done. I can easily go back and soften edges once I put paint down, which I know was one of the issues you ran into with the Bee. It did wrinkle slightly more than Pentalic (I didn't use a clip on either one) but dried equally flat even with a few wet washes and multiple layers of paint. I got the 8x5 size in each and I think I ended up paying slightly less for the Moleskine, so that alone may make it more desirable for some people. I'll happily be buying more of both once I get these filled up and may even grab another size to try before then! Thanks again for the great reviews you provide that can help watercolor enthusiasts make more informed shopping decisions. My hunt for a "perfect" (for me) sketchbook is finally over! (And sorry for the novel here, but maybe someone else looking for a journal will find this information useful!)
Thank you for sharing Issa! I'm so glad you liked the Pentalic and that the Moleskine also works for you. I'm sure others will appreciate your account as well!
Enjoyable video as always Denise , I haven’t used a watercolor journal in years, if I need to work small I used a small watercolor block and that suits me fine. I simply don’t get out and do studies anymore although I still know plenty of plain air painters who do! I prefer to work from my photographs. Thanks for the video I hope you have a pleasant day.
I'd really like to try the Bee Creative Journal because I have not found a cotton paper watercolor sketchbook here in Germany. Unfortunately it is not available here. Readily available here are journals from Hahnemühle, Moleskine and Canson. There is a sketchbook with 25% cotton from "Kunst und Papier", the paper is made by Fabriano. I haven't tried it yet but I use their normal sketchbooks which I like very much. I don't know if they sell outside of Germany but they are usually quite affordable at least by german standards. Also, Winsor&Newton has a new cotton paper spiral bound journal, 13x18cm, 15 pages, 300g, 100% cotton. It sells for around 10 Euros at the big art supply store.
I am very new to watercolour - as in I decided in November I might try to make my christmas cards with paint. Out of the blue. I'm like that with crafts. ;) I found your channel some time in December and I love it because I learn so much from you. Everything from brands of paints, paper & more, to how to paint, just by watching what you do in your vids. So thank you. :)
Thanks so much for your kind words Cat! I'm glad that you find my videos helpful. I actually stumbled across watercolors in a similar way! I was pulling together a project at my old job. Super simple, using Canson XL and Crayolas!
Btw denise; i just got the hahnemulle wc sketchbook - bookbound,lol - and i love it, it even holds wet on wet without bleeding and after three layers still no pilling or bleeding,wich is impressive,given its not 140pound paper. In europe it retails for 7 euro, i took the a6 size,since i was skeptical,but i would happily advise them to even you and would not mind to purchase any size. i test later today if it will blend in your style of painting and i will let you know.
it does holdup to all the qualities that owings claims; however it does not seem to like my sennelier to much; but it does just fine with schmincke or white nights; i have to test ds on it as its layering qualities to me feel close to white nights, i dont expect much issues; but given the us price i think it is to much for a sketchbook; non the less i will swach out these paints as for eurpean prices 7 euro for an a6 is crazy cheap. I'll post the link with pics on your fb later this week ☺ I think i am most impressed with its non pilling thing; if anything i hate it when i find 'fuzzies' all over my paints due to that; dont have to be much but those fuzzies tend to dry all sticky on my paint,grin; i think for a similar but slightly less quality you can also use fabriano, i forgot the name,that lindsay uses for her sundays. As i understood her last painting didnt bleed or pill wich is impressive since she went bananaś with wet media on those strawberries,haha
Thanks for this review. I've been surprised to see you using a Canson book bound on the bigger side, because I've always seen them bound in the smaller size
In Liquid Color Please do a review if you ever got your hands on them. Its a handmade paper from India. Better than Stillman, Pentalic and Moleskine because you can do heavy wet on wet washes.
Thank you for the video! I am just barely getting into watercolors normally working with ink and markers for physical content thought I would give them a try. I am super picky tho about my books and insist on using hardbound sketchbooks. So looking up videos on like how to get started I notice a lot of videos show people taping down their work to help resist the paper buckling. Obviously it is kind of hard to tape down the sheet you are working on in a hardbound book. Do you experience any substantial buckling when working I water color hardbound books?
I use different brands for watercolor serious works like fabriano, canson, etc but for sketchbook I have my canson artbook one wich is not for mix media but I use it with watercolors and gouache anyway. The Canson paper is really good and I think I tried almost all the lines from them, my favs are Canson montval and Canson 1970❤ I tried moleskine watercolor large sketchbook but I did not like it, I guess it's not about the price or the reputation of the brand, it depends more on the comfort of each person🤗 thanks a lot for the vid
You are incredibly skilled! Loved seeing your work. I just got a new watercolor journal today and I want to try it before I recommend it. I will say it has a linen cover, is hot press and the pages are 8 1/2 x 11. Pages are removable.
Thank u soo much . Was just thinking of buying a watercolour journal . And my budget was super low , and so the video came to be really very helpful . THANK YOU 😊😄
Thanks for the favourites! I have now a Moleskine and a Hahnemühle sketchbook in use and like the Hahnemühle one better. I also used and use Canson XL from time to time.
Thanks for the review. I am currently waiting for my order of the Windsor & Newton 5x7 100% cotton watercolor pad, it got a big thumbs up from Marty Owens and I’m anxious to give it a go. Other than that the Pentalic journal has preformed well but I find myself longing for a 100% cotton paper journal. I’m with you on preferring a book bound journal as apposed to a spiral bound and unfortunately the W&N is spiral bound, so we’ll just have to see if the paper is worth putting up with the binding. You can find the W&N journal on blocks for around 9.00 or on Amazon for a little more however I couldn’t find any sellers that would ship to Guam. 💞💫
I bought the 5x7 Windsor and Newton spiral pad a few weeks ago, and I love the paper. It’s 100%cotton and I was pleasantly surprised at how great it is. The paper is very thick, and I actually like both sides, the back side being smoother. The size is what I wanted for travel, but I’m definitely going to buy this paper again in the block pads, and larger spiral pads.
it's always nice to hear about other watercolor sketchbooks, i dont seem to be able to find many around here so i usually order them online. ive used the canson xl and honestly i dont really like the texture or how it handles watercolor, and prefer using watercolor on the backside, even if it has no texture and feels weirdly smooth. i think it takes out a lot of the vibrancy of the colors. so far my fave sketchbook has been my mossery one, but to be fair, im a sucker for cute stuff that is customizable. i got it as a gift, and it's definitely on the expensive side ($25? i think). i saw they recently came out with 300gsm paper tho so im just really tempted to try that out,,,
So interesting! We are a bit opposite with how we like our sketchbooks. I love the spiral bound/perforated canson one because I like it to be able to lay flat, to be able to flip the page around, and be able to tear out pieces I was proud with to sell as originals. I also like that I can start and complete an idea in the same book. I also like to sometimes washi tape pages back in :)
This was an interesting review. I have been eyeing the handbook ones (especially the square ones) and have only ever really used a moleskin watercolor sketchbook when I participated in an artist collab a while back. Another friend is downsizing and gifted me her larger moleskin watercolor sketchbook and I'm excited to use it! It appears to very much be double sided too. I still need to try out the bee paper I bought recently, cold press arches, and the Strathmore one I've heard about recently
I also like spiral bound because it feels easier to start painting on it. With the non-spiral bounds ones I often gets too careful and can't make my mind to start painting
Nice review. I'm going to throw this out, but I am liking the Strathmore (400) Visual Journal though it does have wire pages. 140# and who knows if there is any cotton or not. Cold press. All I'm doing is sketching, so I am not using huge amounts of water/paint, but it does take 2-3 washes. I also like the Strathmore 400 multi-media but not for watercolor at all.
I was wondering if people could recommend me some watercolor journals WITH an elastic band so that I could have a few choices. I tend to throw them haphazardly in my bag and need them to 100% stay closed. I'm currently using a Field Artist watercolor sketchbook but I'm half way done with it now so I hope to plan ahead and experience new things! Thank you!
Thanks, Denise for this series. My only journal is the Canson XL also! TFS!😘👍🏾 But I have loads of 140lbs cold press paper pads. Maybe I should try the Pentalic journal, next?!?!!
Hot press paper is so weird, i seen people just layer and layer and layer along with masking fluid but it takes so long to dry. However the results are amazing. You have to wet it on the back too, maybe that is why it was hard for you to move the color around.
HP is known to dry faster than CP bc the paint sits on top and is exposed to air, whereas CP absorbs paint like a sponge & will take longer to dry completely. Maybe you meant that it takes so long for the paint to absorb, which is a good thing about HP bc it gives you more time to work with the paint to diffuse it or make effects. The bad thing is that once it's absorbed, it's harder to lift color. HP is pretty cool for the clean results, which is perfect for detailed work like painting fur, botanicals, & lettering, or for smooth/flat washes like for illustrations & for painting skin in portraiture.
Amazing video! With the travelogue watercolour book, I was wondering if the paper would hold other medias like acrylics, colouring pencils and maybe oil paint/pastel? Only because I was looking to get a mixed media sketchbook, but fell in love with this one and didn't know if this one would work for other medias I use.
While I totally agree about preferring book-bound watercolor journals, the Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal is 100% cotton and is in a tie for my favorite sketchbook with the landscape-format of your #1, the Global Materials Handbook. I don’t really like the watercolor visual journal because it is not 100% cotton and it’s the same price!
Really love these reviews! I plan on doing a review of the Field Artist sketchbooks which I just bought to take on vacation with me. Have you heard of them or tried them? Hardcover with a soft material and durable 300gsm cold pressed watercolor pages, with a special panoramic foldout piece in the back. I got a 3x3 and a 4x4 to test. Canson XL... meh, I gave up on it except for practicing and swatching. Just not for me. Was hopeful for the Bee, but don't know the others, so that's great to know! Of course, the Global Arts Travelogue Hand•Books are my _absolute_ favorite and I've gone through almost a dozen in various sizes, my favorite being their 8x3 panoramic watercolor book that open to a ridiculous 16x3 (Meow Meow Kapow turned me onto that one!). Wonderful reviews, as always, and thank you so much for sharing your insight! Really enjoyed this!
Yay, I'm glad you liked it! I haven't heard of that brand, but do let us know how they turn out! And holy cow! 16x3, I'm going to have to look that up on Kat's channel! Hahah.
I've been using one since December and I like it so far, I tend to not to do washes much but it has taken everything I have thrown at it in addition to my watercolors; including fine liners, gouache, calligraphy nibs and ink, and even heat embossing.
The global arts travelogue is my favorite too! I LOVE IT and my first copy just ran out of pages and I'm about to order a second one just in a few weeks! The funny thing is that I actually love the kinda fabric texture of the cover because it gets stained so easily and I feel that adds a lot of personality to the book that might sound kinda weird but that is just how I feel about it lol😂 but seriously I love that book I spent more time painting on it than like full pieces and maybe that is why I finished it in just 9 months!
I think you nailed it! There's a quality about the handbook, and I think that because it's thinner paper, it feels more like a SKETCHbook and I don't feel like I'm under so much pressure to make it perfect! I haven't tried the Strathmore Visual Journal, but I'm not a huge fan of their papers. I love that they offer the 5x7 packs, but I didn't like the way they handled. I found out later they're not sized well so that's probably why I don't like them ;)
In Liquid Color oh yes, I can confirm that they are for SURE either not sized well, or not at all. The visual journal I have bleeds a LOT, and I didn’t really notice it until halfway through the journal. And yeah, when I’m having a hard time creating because I keep getting in my own head, I usually pull out my hand•book and some prima marketing watercolors and just go to town. Helps me get back to letting all this just be fun, rather than being work. Y’know?
Your paintings in your journals are so good and the little animals are too cute! I've never used any of the journals you mentioned, but I did buy a small stillman and birn beta series. Haven't painted anything in it yet. Unfortunately, at the binder where signatures meet, they glued them together and when I tried to open it the paper ripped on both sides. It happened where every signature met. :( Just before sitting down to watch some videos, I finished making my second watercolor journal. Trying to use up my cheap watercolor paper so I can use my Arches in my journals. So far Arches is my favorite paper. Like you, I like the front side better than the backside no matter how good the paper. Thanks for the review Denise. :)
Thank you Evangeline! I liked the S&B on my initial first impression, but the more I use it, the more I dislike it :( I did have an issue with glue in mine, but not as bad as what you mentioned :( I'm sure if you contact them, they'd help. They did have great customer service when I talked to them. And I'm glad I'm not alone with being picky about my painting surface ;)
I was surprised to see canson on here. I just started watercolors and I got a canson multimedia book from my local walmart. I may have to buy a watercolor specific book and see how it fares
Like I mentioned, at the time I only had tried five journals. Since this video, my favorite is now Hahnemuhle, but there is a big jump between the mixed media and watercolor books from Canson!
I only sketch, so I have only used sketchbooks. I always come back to Canson Montval. I like the sizes vs the XL (as I like to be very portable). I prefer the wirebound laying flat but I have yet to try the Pentalic Field Journal or the Bee paper. Thanks for the review.
I was so disappointed with my Stillman and Birns. You barely put a wash on it and it pilles horribly. This was the Beta series but I also tried the Zelta with more dry medium and hated it. So I just made 2 cute journals with Arches. And I am excited. Blicks let me keep the Beta cause I put my info in there but maybe just dry media would help. Even graphite, a little pastel. Mor colored pencils cause the Gamsol will make it pill. So that was my bummer experience. I don't know how to transferphotos but my journals are cute and I can't wait. Take care.
I’ve tried two of your top 5. Your #1 is in my top 5. I’m currently using a Jackson’s art watercolor journal and a Hahnemuhle. The only complaint I have for the Jacksons is I wish the paper was heavier, it’s 160gsm about 90lbs I think. The Hahnemuhle is a dream but quite expensive.
Canson paper is only 4 or 5 dollars. I always keep a tablet around for swatches, color mixing and experimenting. I mainly use it for high sudent grades like van gogh and its great with primas. It glazes fine, yes it may pill a bit but i wouldnt use my arches or fabriano for any of the uses ive mentioned. Plus ive created cute little pieces like flowers and fruits or even fictiony landscapes to decorate the kitchen or odd areas of the house. All paper has its uses. If you are using your arches paper for swatching......you got better money than me.
Serinu Amai I think it’s good for beginners! It’s very thick paper and it really just depends on how you use watercolors, but again for learning watercolors, it’s great! You can experiment with it and find what you do and don’t like 😊
I really enjoyed seeing so many of your animal sketches in one place. It looked as though a few had been pasted in. If that's true, what do you use to adhere the little pieces of paper to the sketchbook page? Also, with which type of Stillman & Birn did you experience problems?
Thanks Sharon! Yes, I glued in a few, just used a general scrapbooking glue stick :) I have the Beta and Delta sketch books. They're fine for one wash as long as you don't do any scrubbing at all, otherwise mine pill really badly.
Nice video! Thx! To comment readers: Don’t know if this was said in the comments or not already but to everyone interested in Cason Xl paper both watercolor and mix media it’s like $5 and some change at Walmart and Walmart.com! Save every coin you can.
So im a complete noob to watercolors but ive heard that it can be discouraging to try watercolors on bad paper when u r just starting out cuz u dont know if its you or the paper. i have some rrly good thick paper my mom gave me for water colors but i feel im too inexperienced to use it, id like to practice in a cheaper sketchbook, one that is decent in hopes that the paper wont discourage me and so i can practice and get better. problem is i dont quite understand all the terms used in the video, so do any of you have some recommendations for a noob like me? it be rrly helpful!
I just found your channel through suggested videos and for once the RUclips algorithms were spot on! WOW! I really love your content and the Animal Artists Collective looks so cool, I'm most definitely going to participate and apply to become a member 😁
First question. Did you say the Canson xl WC paper has sizing on 1 side only? Second. You must have had years of experience drawing prior to your wcoloring? I am learning to draw at the same time so I feel that really slows down the progression of painting. So yay to tracing as it can speed up the process and make it look like it really should. Tfs.
Hi Kammy, I'm not an expert on sizing, but IMO the backside of Canson XL is unbearable. I don't know how much of that is my pickiness, but it's really awful. May be okay for ink? Front side is good though for watercolor. And yes, I've been drawing for most of my life, though it wasn't until I went to a lecture recently that I started enjoying the sketch process. Check out the gesture drawing video on John Muir Laws channel. It was art-life-changing for me.
I’m probably the oddest watercolor painter because I still haven’t tried the cans on XL 😂 it just looks cheapy and about to fall apart. I’m pretty picky, too. My preference is wire bound because I don’t like holding down the page or clipping it down. I highly recommend trying the new Windsor and newton watercolor journal. I was about $14 on Amazon but it’s cotton 140lb paper. It’s wire bound but I think you’ll enjoy the paper! It’s handled 4 layers, masking fluid, washi tape, gouache, and lots of water just fine. I rarely lift color but I would suspect it could handle it.
I have a 10 foot stack of WC journals that I just don’t like. I want a journal with either the same paper as the Arches blocks...the arches pad paper isn’t as nice...or Sennelier paper. So far, I’ve only been able to find handmade journals with these papers, and they are pretty pricey.
Aw, I'm sorry to hear! Have you looked into making your own? From my understanding, it's not too terribly difficult. I actually really value the convenience of the Arches pads, especially for my swatches, but I agree it's not quite as heavy or textured as the blocks.
In Liquid Color no, I’m not the make my own type. I use blocks most of the time, and will probably just splurge on a handmade journal. I do love the Stillman & Birn line, but not for WC. Though I think I might pick up the Pentallic, yours is not the first video where I’ve seen it recommended.
Chainsaw Kitten fair enough! I hope the Pentallic doesn't disappoint. The field book is going to be a bit closer in texture to the Arches. I think they offer a bound version but I haven't used it.
Ok so the pentalic is 2nd coz it's wire bound.. But then why isn't the book bound pentalic first? 😂.. Im confused 😁.. Try the khadi paper sketchbook.. I have 2 which I haven't tried yet😂.. Teoh did say nice things about it.. Im curious to know what u would say😄
I prefer grainy or rougher surface for watercolor. I use wet on wet a lot. I recommend the canson watercolor pad. It has rough and smooth side. 200 gsm. Budget friendly for a student.
I'm surprised that with some watercolor journals, made for it, you can't use the front and the back page... My mix-media sketchbook (which is "for dry technique, suitable for ink and gouache") can handle watercolor/ink with a lot of layers and water on the front and back page, on pages that are close to each other, etc. It's not on the cheap size (15€ for the biggest option BUT with hard cover, that can still lay flat, a 65lb / 140g paper, acid free, 128 sheets I mean that's a pretty good ratio between quality and price. )I'm not trying to promote it I'm just... Comparing it to journals made for watercolor, only 'Cause we know that watercolor paper is not the best with other techniques. Still there are some watercolor journals that works just as nice as we would want it to work for a reasonable price. Thanks for that video it's very useful !
Diana Trout I mentioned it at the end as the journal Ive tried but didn't include. It pills too much for my liking and style but I'm willing to try it for pen and ink work with some light washes!
Hi Denise, I was wondering if you’ve tried Pentalic’s Nature Sketch journal which comes in several different sizes. It’s wire bound which you mentioned not liking but it is advertised as 25%cotton, which the bee creative one is too (you mentioned it being 100% but I have the one that says 25% cotton). Thanks and I enjoy your videos (this is @codeseart from instagram)! I’ve bought and gone through 4 pentalic aqua journals already (also bought a larger size because I love it so much)
I believe that was actually the first sketchbook I used. I don't think I had any major issues, but because it's wirebound, I didn't buy another. I'm sorry I don't remember more, it was a long time ago.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
You can get the Canon XL watercolor sketchbook at Walmart for around $5!!!!!!!
You can get canson at Walmart?!!!!
@Daniella13 R. The sketchbook
@Daniella13 R. Amazon is good for tracking and really reliable!
Nice to know thanks
You can find it at Michaels plus a lot more
1:07 Canson XL
3:36 Bee Creative
6:24 Pentalic Aqua Journal
8:32 Pentalic Field Book
10:14 Travelogue Handbook (Handbook Watercolor Journal)
Tyyy
Thanks a lot!
Thxxxx
TFS! For some reason watching you swatch is so therapeutic. I am guessing it is because you are so thorough.
For me personally, I make my own watercolor notebooks. I use my favorite paper and cut it down and I use the happy planner punch and discs. I make my own covers too (which I can switch out) by laminating my favorite imagery. This allows me to to not only fold it on itself like a spiral bound, but it also allows me to pop out the sheet I am working on and then easily insert it right back in the book. I can even change the order of the sheets. And obviously I can add as many or as little sheet as I want in my book. The one I am currently working on is rather thin. When i finish that up I pop them out an pop them into a BIG MAMMA one on the shelf. I then add more new sheet to my thinner working notebook.
BTW..I use the Happy Planner as my personal planner so this just seem to make sense to me.
Ooo how fun! Thanks for sharing :) and thanks so much for the kind words!
I also do my own notebooks but I use rather cheap paper for that since using a nice and expensive paper such as arches for sketching feels really bad to me😂
Valerie Martin I’ve been thinking of making my own too, with Arches my favorite !
Why didn't i think of this? Goodbye 2017 unused happy planner!!!😍🙌
I love doing this as well. It’s awesome to be able to customize various sizes, papers...
I like your friendly, optimistic outlook. Your comparisons are valuable and candid. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I'm so glad to hear that you don't like to use the back side of paper. I really dislike using the backsides of any paper, but being a product of the Catholic school system way way back in 50s and 60s, I always feel extremely wasteful. If I don't use both sides. Have been looking for a Pentalic, can't find it out and about. I'll have to order online! Thanks for the info.
I always do a double take when videos mention that you can use the backside of certain papers, and I'm like, waitwut? 😂
Cheryl Clough ... think of it as a canvas... you would not use the back side of a stretched canvas .. ( I would hope ) .. The back side of watercolor paper is very different from the "intended to paint on side" if you must .. go ahead, but you may fault yourself for poor results when it is really the paper.. but hey .. you do you .. " )
I don't use the backside because it buckles. Or, I wanted to write on the back or I just dont want to.
Am I the only person who paints on both sides of Canson XL paper? I've never actually had a problem doing that. If I don't like what I did on one side, I flip it over and paint something else. Usually I use the other side to make two paints and turn it into a journal cover.
Nicolle Nicastro yup I do that all the time! It even works with the mix media!
I do it with the Canson XL rough 😇😁. I paint so much right now, it's insane, and I just can't order fast enough paper ☺️
The paintings when you flip through pages 😍
If you buy a MiracleBind or Filofax Notebook with the removable pages and a matching hole punch, you can make a never-ending sketchbook filled with whichever papers you prefer. You can also add pockets. (MiracleBind makes the Filofax Notebook bindings, so you can mix and match.)
I use Canson XL for creating swatch cards, but I'm not keen on how the paint behaves on it, it definitely feels and flows like a student grade paper. Fine for swatching, but I don't think I would go beyond that.
I've got several of the Bee sketchbooks and they're okay. The 100% cotton is nice, but I'm not really a big fan of their paper in general. I would be hard pressed to explain why, but when I use it, it feels less capable than other 140 lb cotton options and it definitely buckles a lot more than any others that I've used. So, I still use them because I have a few of the sketchbooks, but I'm not really a fan.
My two favourites for sketching are Moleskine and Strathmore. Moleskine is generally really good, though not 100% cotton and it's 135 lbs. I find that it doesn't buckle very much, the surface is really nice to work on, and the general quality of the book just feels better. The Strathmore Visual Journals are student grade, similar to the Canson XL, but I find the paper feels a lot more like what I expect from watercolour paper. It holds up very well to washes, the absorption feels more like cotton-based papers, and the surface feels like cold pressed should. It's spiral bound and inexpensive, like the Canson, but I just find the paper feels better to me.
Thanks for sharing John!
The Conch Shell in the Canson Book! WOW. Thanks for the journal guide. I'm looking forward to your paper list. This top five series has been so enlightening and I have enjoyed it. Thank you.
Thank you so much Laura! I'm so glad it's been helpful :)
Pentalic watercolor sketchbooks/journals are really hard to locate right now. Blick, for example, has none, though they usually sell them, and neither does Amazon. I really like my Strathmore 500 Mixed Media hardbound book (which I do use for acrylic but is supposed to be fine for watercolor - but I can't attest to that). The Strathmore 500 Mixed Media hardbound journal is 100% cotton. Strathmore also has several 400 watercolor hard- and softbound books that get good reviews on Blick. They are not 100% cotton but they are acid-free and specifically sized for watercolor.
The Foxes in the Travelouge is gorgeous - I envy the how beautiful your paintings inside the journals are.
I wish I have more choices of journal and watercolor paper here. I only have one journal- and i screwed it up with an ugly doodle of mushroom lol. As far as I know the paper is fabriano 300gsm. My only gripes is its in unconventional size. I want to buy another one, this vid comes in great time. I hope I get to see them in store or atleast some more choices.
Thank you for the kind words! I love that fox page, it's probably my favorite spread of the bunch! I have plenty of bad sketches too, so don't worry!!
I really appreciate that you take time to reply. I love your videos and artworks :)
Etcher journals are amazing and jenna Rainey just came out with an inexpensive amazing sketchbook also. Both are 100% cotton
I just got a moleskin, which seems to be very nice. I'm new to watercolor though, so getting your opinion would be interesting
My favorite is actually the Moleskine watercolor books! A very unpopular opinion as far as Ive seen haha. It doesnt actually buckle much, while for example the stillman & birn beta has giant cavaties if I use water on just one part of the paper! I do like the stillman & birn for sketching, the surface is very nice to work on! I also recently got a pentalic, and I do enjoy it a lot.
I really appreciate that you've reduced speaking with vocal fry and uptalk in your later videos. I came upon to this older video after watching several of yours around 2020 and 2021 and noticed a pretty stark difference. Either you've been working on your voice presentation or your confidence has increased. Well done! Definitely raises your credibility.
While I appreciate the attempt at a compliment, the comments about my speech - including this one - continue to add to fairly debilitating anxiety. It is a constant effort to put my best foot forward, and other people pointing it out to me only perpetuates to my inability to put out content on a regular basis - because if it's not done with every bit of effort, it's not worth putting out at all, right? That's what anxiety brain says, anyway.
I don't say this to be snarky or defensive, I just ask that you realize that there is someone on the other side of the keyboard and you don't know what they're going through. A simple compliment about the content in their videos rather than how they sound would be a much kinder compliment and better received. Is pointing out someone's vocal patterns related to their credibility more important than that person's mental health?
I have THE PAPER HOUSE PAD it comes in a4,a5 a3 all 300gsm great for repeat washes really good, a Jasart a5 book that I just tried out on saturday it handled a couple of washes and all my papers are cold pressed,I also have a couple of strathmore journals ,56 pgs1 is a visual one mixed media 100lb ,270gsm which was okay, the 2nd on is also mixed media 100% cotton/Vellum finish 90lb,190g/m it was on special I haven't tried that yet, and last Baohong my favourite 300gsm cold pressed a5. 100 % cotton.
I love wildlife and animals so you’re art was obviously gorgeous,I’ve been doing art since is was little.Im thinking of doing natural wildlife and maybe tree studies and would love to use watercolor for the drawings!
Love the Hanemuhle if you can find them. So far my favs
The Canson XL Mixed Media with the blue cover is only 98# paper where I buy (Wal-mart), and one of my favorite workhorse sketchbooks for ink and wash. I'm very fond of the regular Handbook sketchbooks (not watercolor) in the 5.5" square size, too. They work and feel quite a bit like Canson XL, but are book bound. My very favorite for watercolor are Kiliminjaro Paintbooks, but I have to watch for sales--Cheap Joe currently has the most expensive shipping on the market :/ Thanks for the heads up on S & B pilling with the softening off technique!
Thanks Bekki! I haven't used the Mixed Media version of Canson XL but have heard other artists mention they like it quite a bit. I didn't know Killimanjaro had a sketchbook too! I have been wanting to get some of their paper in general since I did my watercolor paper comparison last year but agree about shipping, and the cost of supplies in general are fairly high there for their house brands. But I suppose if I like their paper that much it's justified ;) Anyhoo, if you happen to remember the next time you see a sale, send me a ping! :)
shipping for 1$ right now!!! if you spend over 45$. just s heads up
I am an absolute journal HOG, I have about 70, used and and used and somewhere in between. S&B is definitely up there in the top legions, my personal favorite is the Fabriano with the brick canvas cover. I like to write extensively and paint in ink, watercolor and charcoals and it all goes perfectly.
Wow! Quite the collection :)
Not sure if anyone suggest yet but mossery sketchbook hv quite decent wc paper and nice design
Hi! Do you have an update version of watercolour journal?
Thank you for all your informative videos.
Yep! I have a six-journal comparison video as well as an overview on the Etchr Perfect Sketchbook, which is my current fav for watercolors :)
You should try the Canson Mixed media, it's spiral bound but very reasonable in quality for its $5.99 price tag. I use it for messing around with techniques.
So exciting to wake up and have this to watch! I agree about Stillman & Birn. Love, love, love the texture of their covers and the wide variety of journals they offer, but the paper pilled more than others I've used and despite being relatively similar on front/back just doesn't have enough texture to appeal to me. I've been looking for a new journal and debating between Pentalic and other things, so I think I'll go ahead and give Pentalic a try. They've had positive reviews almost everywhere. :)
I think my absolute favorite (that I've tried) are Kilimanjaro watercolor field books. They're 100% cotton cold press and I've found I can paint on front and back with little to no difference. They also have a sheet of drawing paper between each page, which is nice if you're someone who likes to sketch before you paint or just likes to annotate your paintings with information about the subject or materials used. The only complaint I have about them is that they are wire bound and the wires don't feel as strong as those used in things like the Visual Journals below. Probably not something I'd want to be pulling in and out of a bag on a regular basis, but fine for quick paintings at home.
I've also gone through several Strathmore Visual Journal books. The price is right, pages have decent texture, and I've used front and back (though I don't like the back as well), and the covers are thick and sturdy. The paper doesn't warp too badly and handles my paint reasonably well. I haven't had too many issues with pilling, but I also try not to abuse them with tons of water or scrubbing when the paper is wet. My biggest complaint about them is that paint just seems to sit on the surface and actually lifts when you don't want it to (even just swatching with some brands), but it is great with more staining paints such as M. Graham. I've also had good experiences with the Canson Montval books and always wonder how Canson XL compares to them. I just reach for the Visual Journal more often because it has a nicer cover and after 3 years of using them, it just feels familiar.
I love the texture of the S&B covers too! And that the covers are usable space to paint on. Real shame about the paper pilling so badly. You're the second person this morning to mention the Kilimanjaro books, which I didn't know they had. I fell in love with the sample of paper I got from a viewer last year and have been coveting them since. I keep missing their sales! Haha. I'll have to be more diligent. Thank you for your contributions to the discussion!
I've had a chance to try out two new sketchbooks this week after buying the Pentalic based on your's and other reviews. I also grabbed a Moleskine watercolor journal which has slightly thinner paper but a very similar format. I LOVE the Pentalic and have already filled up 4 pages (oops?) but I feel like the Moleskine is very comparable. It has a nice soft leather-like cover, an elastic band that fits maybe slightly snugger, and a few more pages. (36 versus 24) The signatures all look neater with no glue visible in any (my Pentalic has glue showing in a few). The paper is very, very slightly more ivory and has a similar texture as well. Painting on the back side of pages won't be a problem for me in either. The only major differences I found, besides number of pages, are that the Moleskine doesn't have a pen holder or a bookmark ribbon.
Performance wise I really enjoy both. I am able to layer without any real lifting problems of layers underneath. I can work wet in wet on both - though neither has a ton of flow from what I've seen, they do stay wet long enough for me to get something like a sky done. I can easily go back and soften edges once I put paint down, which I know was one of the issues you ran into with the Bee. It did wrinkle slightly more than Pentalic (I didn't use a clip on either one) but dried equally flat even with a few wet washes and multiple layers of paint.
I got the 8x5 size in each and I think I ended up paying slightly less for the Moleskine, so that alone may make it more desirable for some people. I'll happily be buying more of both once I get these filled up and may even grab another size to try before then!
Thanks again for the great reviews you provide that can help watercolor enthusiasts make more informed shopping decisions. My hunt for a "perfect" (for me) sketchbook is finally over! (And sorry for the novel here, but maybe someone else looking for a journal will find this information useful!)
Thank you for sharing Issa! I'm so glad you liked the Pentalic and that the Moleskine also works for you. I'm sure others will appreciate your account as well!
You are incredibly talented!!!!!
Enjoyable video as always Denise , I haven’t used a watercolor journal in years, if I need to work small I used a small watercolor block and that suits me fine. I simply don’t get out and do studies anymore although I still know plenty of plain air painters who do! I prefer to work from my photographs. Thanks for the video I hope you have a pleasant day.
I'd really like to try the Bee Creative Journal because I have not found a cotton paper watercolor sketchbook here in Germany. Unfortunately it is not available here. Readily available here are journals from Hahnemühle, Moleskine and Canson.
There is a sketchbook with 25% cotton from "Kunst und Papier", the paper is made by Fabriano. I haven't tried it yet but I use their normal sketchbooks which I like very much. I don't know if they sell outside of Germany but they are usually quite affordable at least by german standards.
Also, Winsor&Newton has a new cotton paper spiral bound journal, 13x18cm, 15 pages, 300g, 100% cotton. It sells for around 10 Euros at the big art supply store.
maybe try Amazon.de for a cotton sketchbook?
I am very new to watercolour - as in I decided in November I might try to make my christmas cards with paint. Out of the blue. I'm like that with crafts. ;) I found your channel some time in December and I love it because I learn so much from you. Everything from brands of paints, paper & more, to how to paint, just by watching what you do in your vids. So thank you. :)
Thanks so much for your kind words Cat! I'm glad that you find my videos helpful. I actually stumbled across watercolors in a similar way! I was pulling together a project at my old job. Super simple, using Canson XL and Crayolas!
Btw denise; i just got the hahnemulle wc sketchbook - bookbound,lol - and i love it, it even holds wet on wet without bleeding and after three layers still no pilling or bleeding,wich is impressive,given its not 140pound paper. In europe it retails for 7 euro, i took the a6 size,since i was skeptical,but i would happily advise them to even you and would not mind to purchase any size. i test later today if it will blend in your style of painting and i will let you know.
Thanks so much for sharing! That sounds amazing - here Hahnemuhle is so pricey!
it does holdup to all the qualities that owings claims; however it does not seem to like my sennelier to much; but it does just fine with schmincke or white nights; i have to test ds on it as its layering qualities to me feel close to white nights, i dont expect much issues; but given the us price i think it is to much for a sketchbook; non the less i will swach out these paints as for eurpean prices 7 euro for an a6 is crazy cheap. I'll post the link with pics on your fb later this week ☺ I think i am most impressed with its non pilling thing; if anything i hate it when i find 'fuzzies' all over my paints due to that; dont have to be much but those fuzzies tend to dry all sticky on my paint,grin; i think for a similar but slightly less quality you can also use fabriano, i forgot the name,that lindsay uses for her sundays. As i understood her last painting didnt bleed or pill wich is impressive since she went bananaś with wet media on those strawberries,haha
Thanks for this review. I've been surprised to see you using a Canson book bound on the bigger side, because I've always seen them bound in the smaller size
Have you tried Khadi sketchbook? 210 gsm, 40 sheets. They have softcover and hardcover. 100% cotton.
Not yet!
In Liquid Color Please do a review if you ever got your hands on them. Its a handmade paper from India. Better than Stillman, Pentalic and Moleskine because you can do heavy wet on wet washes.
Thank you for the video! I am just barely getting into watercolors normally working with ink and markers for physical content thought I would give them a try.
I am super picky tho about my books and insist on using hardbound sketchbooks. So looking up videos on like how to get started I notice a lot of videos show people taping down their work to help resist the paper buckling.
Obviously it is kind of hard to tape down the sheet you are working on in a hardbound book.
Do you experience any substantial buckling when working I water color hardbound books?
I use different brands for watercolor serious works like fabriano, canson, etc but for sketchbook I have my canson artbook one wich is not for mix media but I use it with watercolors and gouache anyway. The Canson paper is really good and I think I tried almost all the lines from them, my favs are Canson montval and Canson 1970❤
I tried moleskine watercolor large sketchbook but I did not like it, I guess it's not about the price or the reputation of the brand, it depends more on the comfort of each person🤗 thanks a lot for the vid
You are incredibly skilled! Loved seeing your work. I just got a new watercolor journal today and I want to try it before I recommend it. I will say it has a linen cover, is hot press and the pages are 8 1/2 x 11. Pages are removable.
I hope you have fun with it!
Thank u soo much . Was just thinking of buying a watercolour journal . And my budget was super low , and so the video came to be really very helpful . THANK YOU 😊😄
Strathmore mixed media soft cover journal. They can be spendy. I buy them on sales or with coupons. :)
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the favourites! I have now a Moleskine and a Hahnemühle sketchbook in use and like the Hahnemühle one better. I also used and use Canson XL from time to time.
Thanks for sharing Lana!
Thanks for the review. I am currently waiting for my order of the Windsor & Newton 5x7 100% cotton watercolor pad, it got a big thumbs up from Marty Owens and I’m anxious to give it a go. Other than that the Pentalic journal has preformed well but I find myself longing for a 100% cotton paper journal. I’m with you on preferring a book bound journal as apposed to a spiral bound and unfortunately the W&N is spiral bound, so we’ll just have to see if the paper is worth putting up with the binding. You can find the W&N journal on blocks for around 9.00 or on Amazon for a little more however I couldn’t find any sellers that would ship to Guam. 💞💫
Let us know how the WN is! Another viewer mentioned it as well :)
Marty owings did a winsor and newton scetchbook review recently if you wish to check it out, go to his channel for it; owingsart
In Liquid Color will do ! 💞💫
I bought the 5x7 Windsor and Newton spiral pad a few weeks ago, and I love the paper. It’s 100%cotton and I was pleasantly surprised at how great it is. The paper is very thick, and I actually like both sides, the back side being smoother. The size is what I wanted for travel, but I’m definitely going to buy this paper again in the block pads, and larger spiral pads.
But ... the Pentalic Aqua Journal actually IS 100% cotton, so dunno what you mean....
it's always nice to hear about other watercolor sketchbooks, i dont seem to be able to find many around here so i usually order them online.
ive used the canson xl and honestly i dont really like the texture or how it handles watercolor, and prefer using watercolor on the backside, even if it has no texture and feels weirdly smooth. i think it takes out a lot of the vibrancy of the colors.
so far my fave sketchbook has been my mossery one, but to be fair, im a sucker for cute stuff that is customizable. i got it as a gift, and it's definitely on the expensive side ($25? i think). i saw they recently came out with 300gsm paper tho so im just really tempted to try that out,,,
Oh neat! Thanks for sharing! :)
I have nothing constructive to add, but I wanted to leave a positive comment on that King Vulture! Beautiful!
Thank you so much! He was so fun to paint :)
So interesting! We are a bit opposite with how we like our sketchbooks. I love the spiral bound/perforated canson one because I like it to be able to lay flat, to be able to flip the page around, and be able to tear out pieces I was proud with to sell as originals. I also like that I can start and complete an idea in the same book. I also like to sometimes washi tape pages back in :)
This was an interesting review. I have been eyeing the handbook ones (especially the square ones) and have only ever really used a moleskin watercolor sketchbook when I participated in an artist collab a while back. Another friend is downsizing and gifted me her larger moleskin watercolor sketchbook and I'm excited to use it! It appears to very much be double sided too. I still need to try out the bee paper I bought recently, cold press arches, and the Strathmore one I've heard about recently
Indeed! There are products for everyone, and I think that makes things really fun to review and to watch others review!
I also like spiral bound because it feels easier to start painting on it. With the non-spiral bounds ones I often gets too careful and can't make my mind to start painting
Nice review. I'm going to throw this out, but I am liking the Strathmore (400) Visual Journal though it does have wire pages. 140# and who knows if there is any cotton or not. Cold press. All I'm doing is sketching, so I am not using huge amounts of water/paint, but it does take 2-3 washes. I also like the Strathmore 400 multi-media but not for watercolor at all.
It’s not 100% cotton. The Mixed Media is: Series 500 and 100% cotton, but only 90 pounds..
I was wondering if people could recommend me some watercolor journals WITH an elastic band so that I could have a few choices. I tend to throw them haphazardly in my bag and need them to 100% stay closed. I'm currently using a Field Artist watercolor sketchbook but I'm half way done with it now so I hope to plan ahead and experience new things! Thank you!
The two I have here that I like are the handbook and pentallic.
Thank you =)
Thanks, Denise for this series. My only journal is the Canson XL also! TFS!😘👍🏾 But I have loads of 140lbs cold press paper pads. Maybe I should try the Pentalic journal, next?!?!!
If it's in budget and looks like something you'd like, I'd say go for it! I really like both of mine :)
Hot press paper is so weird, i seen people just layer and layer and layer along with masking fluid but it takes so long to dry. However the results are amazing. You have to wet it on the back too, maybe that is why it was hard for you to move the color around.
HP is known to dry faster than CP bc the paint sits on top and is exposed to air, whereas CP absorbs paint like a sponge & will take longer to dry completely. Maybe you meant that it takes so long for the paint to absorb, which is a good thing about HP bc it gives you more time to work with the paint to diffuse it or make effects. The bad thing is that once it's absorbed, it's harder to lift color. HP is pretty cool for the clean results, which is perfect for detailed work like painting fur, botanicals, & lettering, or for smooth/flat washes like for illustrations & for painting skin in portraiture.
The spiral bound is the deal maker for me. I don't like how not flat the non spirals are.
Amazing video! With the travelogue watercolour book, I was wondering if the paper would hold other medias like acrylics, colouring pencils and maybe oil paint/pastel? Only because I was looking to get a mixed media sketchbook, but fell in love with this one and didn't know if this one would work for other medias I use.
I have FINALLY found my perfect watercolour sketchbook, it’s the handbook landscape (I turn it portrait but I like the paper size)
I use the Pentalic watercolor sketchbook, it is a great book
While I totally agree about preferring book-bound watercolor journals, the Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal is 100% cotton and is in a tie for my favorite sketchbook with the landscape-format of your #1, the Global Materials Handbook. I don’t really like the watercolor visual journal because it is not 100% cotton and it’s the same price!
Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Really love these reviews! I plan on doing a review of the Field Artist sketchbooks which I just bought to take on vacation with me. Have you heard of them or tried them? Hardcover with a soft material and durable 300gsm cold pressed watercolor pages, with a special panoramic foldout piece in the back. I got a 3x3 and a 4x4 to test. Canson XL... meh, I gave up on it except for practicing and swatching. Just not for me. Was hopeful for the Bee, but don't know the others, so that's great to know! Of course, the Global Arts Travelogue Hand•Books are my _absolute_ favorite and I've gone through almost a dozen in various sizes, my favorite being their 8x3 panoramic watercolor book that open to a ridiculous 16x3 (Meow Meow Kapow turned me onto that one!). Wonderful reviews, as always, and thank you so much for sharing your insight! Really enjoyed this!
Yay, I'm glad you liked it! I haven't heard of that brand, but do let us know how they turn out! And holy cow! 16x3, I'm going to have to look that up on Kat's channel! Hahah.
M.D. Campbell I just bought 3 fiel artist sketchbooks on amazon, 5x5, 200 and 300 gsm. Would love to see your revew about them. Please do that 🤙😀
I've been using one since December and I like it so far, I tend to not to do washes much but it has taken everything I have thrown at it in addition to my watercolors; including fine liners, gouache, calligraphy nibs and ink, and even heat embossing.
The global arts travelogue is my favorite too! I LOVE IT and my first copy just ran out of pages and I'm about to order a second one just in a few weeks! The funny thing is that I actually love the kinda fabric texture of the cover because it gets stained so easily and I feel that adds a lot of personality to the book that might sound kinda weird but that is just how I feel about it lol😂 but seriously I love that book I spent more time painting on it than like full pieces and maybe that is why I finished it in just 9 months!
Daniel Morales me too! I love the linen texture!!
I have literally all of these journals. =>..
I think you nailed it! There's a quality about the handbook, and I think that because it's thinner paper, it feels more like a SKETCHbook and I don't feel like I'm under so much pressure to make it perfect! I haven't tried the Strathmore Visual Journal, but I'm not a huge fan of their papers. I love that they offer the 5x7 packs, but I didn't like the way they handled. I found out later they're not sized well so that's probably why I don't like them ;)
In Liquid Color oh yes, I can confirm that they are for SURE either not sized well, or not at all. The visual journal I have bleeds a LOT, and I didn’t really notice it until halfway through the journal.
And yeah, when I’m having a hard time creating because I keep getting in my own head, I usually pull out my hand•book and some prima marketing watercolors and just go to town. Helps me get back to letting all this just be fun, rather than being work. Y’know?
Your paintings in your journals are so good and the little animals are too cute! I've never used any of the journals you mentioned, but I did buy a small stillman and birn beta series. Haven't painted anything in it yet. Unfortunately, at the binder where signatures meet, they glued them together and when I tried to open it the paper ripped on both sides. It happened where every signature met. :( Just before sitting down to watch some videos, I finished making my second watercolor journal. Trying to use up my cheap watercolor paper so I can use my Arches in my journals. So far Arches is my favorite paper. Like you, I like the front side better than the backside no matter how good the paper. Thanks for the review Denise. :)
Thank you Evangeline! I liked the S&B on my initial first impression, but the more I use it, the more I dislike it :( I did have an issue with glue in mine, but not as bad as what you mentioned :( I'm sure if you contact them, they'd help. They did have great customer service when I talked to them. And I'm glad I'm not alone with being picky about my painting surface ;)
I was surprised to see canson on here. I just started watercolors and I got a canson multimedia book from my local walmart. I may have to buy a watercolor specific book and see how it fares
Like I mentioned, at the time I only had tried five journals. Since this video, my favorite is now Hahnemuhle, but there is a big jump between the mixed media and watercolor books from Canson!
Have you tried Creacent RENDR sketchbooks?
💟 I love all your animals that fill your pages. 💟
Thank you Tiffany! Hope to add more soon :D
Would you ever try a Mossery sketchbook? I've thought about this one but haven't committed to buying one yet.
I don't think they're for me.
I have the pentalic journal and I love it!
I really like the Hahnemule Watercolor book
I hope to try one out soon!
Could you review the Fabriano Studio Watercolor Fat Pad? 60 sheets of 300 gsm 25% cotton paper for $17 on Blick right now
I only sketch, so I have only used sketchbooks. I always come back to Canson Montval. I like the sizes vs the XL (as I like to be very portable). I prefer the wirebound laying flat but I have yet to try the Pentalic Field Journal or the Bee paper. Thanks for the review.
You never clarified this but do any of these erase well? I need to sketch before I do much color unless i am working with background.
I was so disappointed with my Stillman and Birns. You barely put a wash on it and it pilles horribly. This was the Beta series but I also tried the Zelta with more dry medium and hated it. So I just made 2 cute journals with Arches. And I am excited. Blicks let me keep the Beta cause I put my info in there but maybe just dry media would help. Even graphite, a little pastel. Mor colored pencils cause the Gamsol will make it pill. So that was my bummer experience. I don't know how to transferphotos but my journals are cute and I can't wait. Take care.
Shucks! I agree, I'm not sure why they're as popular as they are!
I can recommend the seawhite of Brighton acid free sketchbook
I’ve tried two of your top 5. Your #1 is in my top 5. I’m currently using a Jackson’s art watercolor journal and a Hahnemuhle. The only complaint I have for the Jacksons is I wish the paper was heavier, it’s 160gsm about 90lbs I think. The Hahnemuhle is a dream but quite expensive.
I'm hearing so much good about he Hahnemuhle journal! I'll have to put it on my wishlist :)
Hey I really liked the video, but for someone who is a beginner and doesn't have experience with watercolors, what journal would you recommend?
My new favorite journal is from Hahnemuhle, but any of these also work!
@@InLiquidColor Thank you!
Canson paper is only 4 or 5 dollars. I always keep a tablet around for swatches, color mixing and experimenting. I mainly use it for high sudent grades like van gogh and its great with primas. It glazes fine, yes it may pill a bit but i wouldnt use my arches or fabriano for any of the uses ive mentioned. Plus ive created cute little pieces like flowers and fruits or even fictiony landscapes to decorate the kitchen or odd areas of the house. All paper has its uses. If you are using your arches paper for swatching......you got better money than me.
Canson XL Watercolour is literally the worst watercolour paper i have ever used id recommend u save ur cash
I agree. Terrible, doesn't deserve to be on this list.
dEmily is it really that bad? Bc a lot of people like it and a lot don’t
Serinu Amai I think it’s good for beginners! It’s very thick paper and it really just depends on how you use watercolors, but again for learning watercolors, it’s great! You can experiment with it and find what you do and don’t like 😊
Rachel Foudray Oh okay, bc I’m on a rlly tight budget and I don’t wanna buy anything I’ll regret lol
what would you recommend?
I've gotten 2 travelogues and omg 😩 it's SO GOOD!
what's the difference between the canson xl mix media paper and the canson watercolour paper ???
(there both 140lb)
I think the mix media is rougher, and they are treated differently in the produce of creating the paper!
Your pentalic was stitched? Mine was glued and fell apart.
Stillman and Birn Beta series is my favorite and beautiful to work with!
you should try out the hahnemuhle watercolour book
I have now and there are several videos on the channel showing it off ;)
How do you keep your premium WC journals from getting all warped?
Is it just limited water?
Limited water, yes. I know a lot of people use binder clips as well.
I really enjoyed seeing so many of your animal sketches in one place. It looked as though a few had been pasted in. If that's true, what do you use to adhere the little pieces of paper to the sketchbook page? Also, with which type of Stillman & Birn did you experience problems?
Thanks Sharon! Yes, I glued in a few, just used a general scrapbooking glue stick :) I have the Beta and Delta sketch books. They're fine for one wash as long as you don't do any scrubbing at all, otherwise mine pill really badly.
Nice video! Thx!
To comment readers: Don’t know if this was said in the comments or not already but to everyone interested in Cason Xl paper both watercolor and mix media it’s like $5 and some change at Walmart and Walmart.com! Save every coin you can.
So im a complete noob to watercolors but ive heard that it can be discouraging to try watercolors on bad paper when u r just starting out cuz u dont know if its you or the paper. i have some rrly good thick paper my mom gave me for water colors but i feel im too inexperienced to use it, id like to practice in a cheaper sketchbook, one that is decent in hopes that the paper wont discourage me and so i can practice and get better. problem is i dont quite understand all the terms used in the video, so do any of you have some recommendations for a noob like me? it be rrly helpful!
I just found your channel through suggested videos and for once the RUclips algorithms were spot on! WOW! I really love your content and the Animal Artists Collective looks so cool, I'm most definitely going to participate and apply to become a member 😁
First question. Did you say the Canson xl WC paper has sizing on 1 side only? Second. You must have had years of experience drawing prior to your wcoloring? I am learning to draw at the same time so I feel that really slows down the progression of painting. So yay to tracing as it can speed up the process and make it look like it really should. Tfs.
Hi Kammy, I'm not an expert on sizing, but IMO the backside of Canson XL is unbearable. I don't know how much of that is my pickiness, but it's really awful. May be okay for ink? Front side is good though for watercolor. And yes, I've been drawing for most of my life, though it wasn't until I went to a lecture recently that I started enjoying the sketch process. Check out the gesture drawing video on John Muir Laws channel. It was art-life-changing for me.
clear hollow? watercolor brush. what's it called and where to order? Thank you.
I’m probably the oddest watercolor painter because I still haven’t tried the cans on XL 😂 it just looks cheapy and about to fall apart. I’m pretty picky, too.
My preference is wire bound because I don’t like holding down the page or clipping it down.
I highly recommend trying the new Windsor and newton watercolor journal. I was about $14 on Amazon but it’s cotton 140lb paper. It’s wire bound but I think you’ll enjoy the paper!
It’s handled 4 layers, masking fluid, washi tape, gouache, and lots of water just fine. I rarely lift color but I would suspect it could handle it.
Thanks for sharing Antonea!
I have a 10 foot stack of WC journals that I just don’t like. I want a journal with either the same paper as the Arches blocks...the arches pad paper isn’t as nice...or Sennelier paper. So far, I’ve only been able to find handmade journals with these papers, and they are pretty pricey.
Aw, I'm sorry to hear! Have you looked into making your own? From my understanding, it's not too terribly difficult. I actually really value the convenience of the Arches pads, especially for my swatches, but I agree it's not quite as heavy or textured as the blocks.
In Liquid Color no, I’m not the make my own type. I use blocks most of the time, and will probably just splurge on a handmade journal. I do love the Stillman & Birn line, but not for WC. Though I think I might pick up the Pentallic, yours is not the first video where I’ve seen it recommended.
Chainsaw Kitten fair enough! I hope the Pentallic doesn't disappoint. The field book is going to be a bit closer in texture to the Arches. I think they offer a bound version but I haven't used it.
The parakeetsss ahhhh reminds me of mine, Oscar and Maize.
Ok so the pentalic is 2nd coz it's wire bound.. But then why isn't the book bound pentalic first? 😂.. Im confused 😁.. Try the khadi paper sketchbook.. I have 2 which I haven't tried yet😂.. Teoh did say nice things about it.. Im curious to know what u would say😄
The papers in the two pentalics are different. The bound pentalic paper has a mechanical grain texture.
In Liquid Color oh okiez 😁👌
Your art is very beautiful!
Thank you!
Love the eyes @4:15 O.O
lol i have all of these except the Bee creative although i do have a roll of that paper
Please do a review of Escoda watercolor book! :)
How about in tomoe River paper?
my fave is chū+
because
hard cover
can open flat
very thic paper
holds watercolor greatly
edit : more info
hot press paper
affordable
I prefer grainy or rougher surface for watercolor. I use wet on wet a lot.
I recommend the canson watercolor pad. It has rough and smooth side. 200 gsm. Budget friendly for a student.
Love these reviews .
All your paintings are amazing! Makes me want to experiment with more animals
I'm surprised that with some watercolor journals, made for it, you can't use the front and the back page... My mix-media sketchbook (which is "for dry technique, suitable for ink and gouache") can handle watercolor/ink with a lot of layers and water on the front and back page, on pages that are close to each other, etc. It's not on the cheap size (15€ for the biggest option BUT with hard cover, that can still lay flat, a 65lb / 140g paper, acid free, 128 sheets I mean that's a pretty good ratio between quality and price. )I'm not trying to promote it I'm just... Comparing it to journals made for watercolor, only 'Cause we know that watercolor paper is not the best with other techniques. Still there are some watercolor journals that works just as nice as we would want it to work for a reasonable price. Thanks for that video it's very useful !
Stillman & Birn Beta. You will love it. 180# paper with a beautiful surface
Diana Trout I mentioned it at the end as the journal Ive tried but didn't include. It pills too much for my liking and style but I'm willing to try it for pen and ink work with some light washes!
Which one did you try?
I have the Beta and Delta.
Hi Denise, I was wondering if you’ve tried Pentalic’s Nature Sketch journal which comes in several different sizes. It’s wire bound which you mentioned not liking but it is advertised as 25%cotton, which the bee creative one is too (you mentioned it being 100% but I have the one that says 25% cotton). Thanks and I enjoy your videos (this is @codeseart from instagram)! I’ve bought and gone through 4 pentalic aqua journals already (also bought a larger size because I love it so much)
I believe that was actually the first sketchbook I used. I don't think I had any major issues, but because it's wirebound, I didn't buy another. I'm sorry I don't remember more, it was a long time ago.
In Liquid Color thanks that still helps!
That Bee Creative Watercolor Book is nowhere to be found. Is that the correct name?! Does anyone has an ebay link for that product?
Thanks!
Thanks for the informative video!