Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paper Journal, Cold Pressed 140lb, 5x7, White

It’s a nice tiny sketchbook. The papers are thick and great for watercolor. I love it.

I absolutely LOVE this travel watercolor spiral-bound sketchbook! I hunted high and low for 100% cotton watercolor paper and was shocked to come across this at this price point. It’s significantly cheaper than a moleskine watercolor sketchbook but is of far, far better quality. Its paper takes whatever I throw at it using different brands of watercolor paints (Holbein, Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith, among others) with wide range of transparency and staining properties. And another surprise is how bright white its white paper is - they’re perfect for the pastel paintings. Most watercolor papers are creamy in color, gorgeous for most watercolor paintings but not so great for pastel-themed paintings (and you know how pastels show up great on Instagram!). Oh, yes, I hated the 400-series strathmore paper because they’re not made of cotton, so they often behave like prima donnas when I layer up too much, too quickly. This W&N paper takes layering with panache. When I have to travel light, this pad will be what I’ll take with me.

I bought these as a good size to carry with me so I can capture, either by drawing or watercolor sketching, scenes as I come upon them. I am satisfied with the way they handle both my pencils and the watercolors I use when out and about. Paper type is very particular to most watercolorists so I would suggest you try one out before investing in more than one! I keep a few binder clips with me, on the sketch book usually, to keep the pages open while out and being used as well as to keep the book closed when not being used.

Comes in a nice size for pocket or purse, quality paper although it does warp and deform if you paint 'wet.'Doesn't have a lot of sheets, I have to use both sides if I find lots of subjects. I record ideas and impressions then transport back to the studio for more detail and larger works. Sketches help capture the ambience, essence and feelings of the scene, That's hard to capture with photographs, I find when I'm back in the studio, as I page through my sketches, I re-live the moment of capture and work from there.

You just can’t learn how to watercolor on paper that leaves the paint sitting on top of the surface. You can’t learn advanced techniques on paper that pills. And practice is how you learn. Good quality can be spendy and feels wasteful for doodles and practice pieces. This little journal fills that need perfectly. It’s sturdy, it’s absorbance promotes that magic that we love unique to this medium. I love this journal and look forward to many more in my future.

My only disappointment in this was that the size of the paper is so tiny. I wish the size was a lot larger. However, it performs exactly how it is supposed to and how it says it should! Also wish they included an option for a 30 page pack! I’m terrified to use more pages because I only have pressed cotton of this magnitude in black! Just not the same! WHEN IN DOUBT, Winsor and Newton is an artist go to! Thank you

I love this paper. In my water color class my instructor had us do an exercise where you first completely immerse your paper in water, gently wring it out and then add color to it, let it dry and then do it again. That was the first half of the exercise. This paper really held up under the pressure. The paper allows you to move your paint around really well and performs really well. It is a good quality paper. I will buy it again.

This is my go-to brand after making a desperate search for decent 100% cotton paper. It took me a while to get used to the texture, but quickly figured out that a little extra paint on the brush would resolve my issues. I have ordered a few other brands, but always find myself wishing they performed as well as this!