Strathmore 460-55 400 Series Visual Watercolor Journal, 140 LB Cold Press, 5.5x8, 22 Sheets , White

The paper is in perfect quality and shape. It doesnt bend after heavy washes and I do quite heavy washes, just starting in watercolor. The edges of the thick cardboard covers are not in great shape. Im not picky enough to send it back, but the edges are bent and fringed and busted. EDIT: Ive had this for a while now and the paper really is great. One thing I particularly like is that the edges dont bleed paint onto the back of the paper! Ive added some pictures of the work Ive done for reference.

Great journal with lovely paper delivered quickly. Thank you.

Absolutely gorgeous paper - lovely and smooth. I have used it for a pencil portrait and the lovely finish of the paper helped me immensely. A very generous amount of sheets, as well - gret value for money.

I love this little book. Its exactly what I need for sketching random things and doodling in it. I will definitely be buying more of these in the future! The paper quality is good and you can if you so choose, use both sides of the paper.

Nice size for Pleine Air. Easy to carry and good quality paper.

I bought these for myself and each of my kids for nature journaling on a trip to the Rocky Mountains and after nature walks at home. They are on the large side for young children, but mine prefer a larger canvas to work with so we hauled them in the backpacks anyways. It worked well with watercolors and watercolor pencils. These are a little expensive, so you might want a different journal for aimless doodling and markers, keeping this one for specific purposes. And if your kids are left handed like mine, just have them use the journal backwards or horizontally to avoid the spiral binding.

This product is extremely useful with Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, holds up well with the water colors and ink pens

nice for pen and ink work

Im a creative type, and always carry around a sketchpad and pens. My work is mainly storytelling and creative ideas, finished work for the computer. But I like to practice sketching though my drawing is still sub-professional in polish. This is a perfect way to carry around the ability to play with inks, washes, color on the go, at work, short trips, etc. without lugging around a box of watercolor supplies. Im not giving up a cheaper, spiral bound but vertical type of notepad about the same size I get at Barnes and Noble for pages and pages of story, but one of these fits right on top of that note book and a small plastic scholastic box can keep some other pens and tools handy for color work. But Id not care less if I scribbled out multiple pages of a story idea on these, cheap enough paper Id not cry. The only real difference is I use Tul gel pens for the cheaper notebook but dont recommend them here since the ink will flow if wettened. Versus India ink or waterproof Sumi ink that can bet wettened after drying. Ideally you paint first and ink later, but sometimes you do an ink drawing you want to add color to. Ive put YELLOW on top of black ink on these and had virtually no ink soaking. (Yatsumoto chinese ink) Now, some people would wince at this, a sketchbook that claims you can use watercolor/inks on, remembering buying a book of watercolor paper but thinking I can just play with inks, maybe a little water here and first dab of ink or brush the thing curling up into a scroll. Theres a legendary 1000lb paper supposedly you can do it, at like $100 a sheet, but again too big/costly etc. for carry around and spontaneity... But these books you wont believe what you can do. I do stuff with them Id only dare do on a watercolor block. Even on paper this small you could do something like: 1. Sketch out a basic color background using a plain pencil or a water soluble pencil. 2. Soak the page and dabble color all over it. YES, even with a field kit with watercolors, rubbing tiny bits of paint from the tube on the PAPER and scrubbing with a brush. I did this deliberately to test. 3. Let the colors dry and then paint over them with ink, including secondary washes. 4. If necessary finish with colored inks, paints, stickers, etc. 5. (I usually spray Kamar varnish when I get home, but this is optional) You can even write on and use the OTHER side of the page! Full abuse both sides I might see some bleed through, but havent yet. My only problem is the edges of other pages get tiny spatters from my work, along the sides if I paint to the edge, but I could care less. Its a sketchbook. For someone who uses watercolor pencils this is a dream, or most marker users. You dont ruin the paper with a light wash and brush work, and a single dot from the marker wont go through five layers. I do reccomend using one side for real intense color work, but fill in the other side with notes and pencil sketches, but as long as the occasional accident isnt the end of the world, no worries. ---For planned professional end work there is no equal to Arches watercolor blocks. If you are going to paint Plein aire or whatever for finished work, blocks are the best. If you want a SKETCHBOOK that can take 90% of a blocks work, this is it.

cant wait to get started