Strathmore Visual Journal Watercolor 5.5 x 8-inch, 34 Sheets, 5.5x8

There are lots of reviews out there of watercolour sketchbooks. Many, perhaps most, of these assume you want a sketchbook of watercolour-weight paper to record your exhibition-quality drawings in. This sketchbook isn’t for that purpose.If what you do in your sketchbook is worthy of exhibiting or selling, then the paper in this journal would not be up to snuff. That’s what’s great about it: it’s paper that will stand up to pretty heavy washes or glazing and still look pretty good (to prevent buckling, you might want to use some bulldog clips). The paper will still be pretty flat, and the quality of the paper is such that your paintings won’t look washed out or muddy. You won’t get the results you would with Arches, Fabriano or Khadi—but you can experiment to your heart’s content on this stuff, because it’s neither expensive nor so cheap that your good watercolours look like rubbish because the paper is useless.This really is what it claims to be: a watercolour journal, a space to experiment and take risks.The garish cover can be easily ripped off, revealing a plain white permanent cover you could paint on- but the back of the garish cover has lots of useful information about what media are suitable for this paper. (It is not, for example, good for graphite drawings.)It’s a rare beast: an honest product for an honest price, which announces on its inside cover its particular compatibilities. And it’s best suited for experimental, exploratory purposes. If you want to produce gallery-quality work, you probably already know what paper you need—something better and much more expensive than this. If you want a non-intimidating, reasonable-quality space to explore in water-based media, look no further.

Love love love the paper. Not too thin and not too thick. Lovely texture. I mainly used inks and watercolours.

I've used it with watercolors, gouache and embossing powders, and it takes the water very good and hold its form. I love also the texture of the paper and the size is perfect.

Lovely quality book. Order received well before the expected date as usual. Excellent service. Thanks