High quality watercolour sketchbooks are great for plein air, urban sketching and travel painting to keep a collection of your work.
Once completed, these sketchbooks can be amazing records of improvement overtime as you can visualise trends throughout your work when experimenting and practicing over time.
To avoid you the hassle of selecting a sketchbook that contains paper that will buckle when painting, I’ve compiled this list for you to look through for the best watercolour sketchbooks to choose from.
My best piece of advice to you as you sift through potential options is to remember that high quality usually matches the price tag.
It’s rare that you find a ‘cheapy’ watercolour sketchbook that can handle your paints well.
What to look out for
Not all sketchbooks are created equal.
When selecting a watercolour sketchbook, make sure that it is clearly labelled as watercolour specific or for ‘wet media’ and contains heavyweight paper (150gsm or more).
Typically, 100% cotton, acid free pages are classed for professional grade use, but this is not always the case.
These factors are to ensure proper paper weight and composition that can be specifically used to handle water-based and paint mediums well.
Etchr Sketchbook: Overall Pick
The Echr Sketchbook manufactured by Etchr Lab in Australia is in my opinion one of of not the best sketchbook for watercolours you can buy right now.
Available in a range of sizes from landscape (A4, A5, A6) sketchbooks to portrait (B5, A5, A6) sketchbooks, each have 100% cotton, acid-free, heavyweight pages designed for watercolour use.
These fabriano pages are able to withstand continual scrubbing and lifting with watercolor brushes to create beautiful textures as a result of its cold-pressed finish.
It’s is without a doubt that painting on the super high quality paper of the Echr Sketchbook allows for a more enjoyable watercolor painting experience as it handles the pigments effortlessly.
The 100% cotton paper will not buckle under a high water load and you will definitely see no dramatic warping after your painting has dried.
I’d highly recommend you invest in the Echr Sketchbook if you’re looking for a really solid sketchbook great for watercolour enthusiasts that features high-quality, versatile pages that are crafted specifically for watercolours.
| Pros | Cons |
| – High-quality 100% cotton heavyweight pages that do not buckle – Cold-press tooth great for organic textures when dried (highlights granulating pigments well) | – Hardbound cover is a little frustrating to work with due to lip that forms between pages – May find small page wear after excessive erasing (or with masking tape) – Cover may get easily dirty |
Strathmore Hardbound 400 Series Watercolour Art Journal
Strathmore’s Watercolour Art Journal is another favourite amongst watercolourists, with its 300gsm, acid-free paper allows for liberal wash application, lifting and scraping while painting.
The binding of the pages although firm, are easy to open and lay flat which is amazing for a hardbound cover.
Despite not being 100% cotton, its heavyweight 300gsm pages don’t buckle at all and dry completely flat. (Note: page colour is warmer than typical white coloured pages of other Strathmore sketchbooks).
The cold-press surface of each page has a good amount of tooth that enables a great sketching and inking experience on top of its ability to beautifully handle watercolour pigments with ease.
The hardbound faux leather cover that the Strathmore 400 series sketchbooks come with are highly durable and rarely fray even after extensive use and travelling.
This is characteristic of a high-quality sketchbook that doesn’t compromise its production for subpar materials common to ‘cheap’ alternatives.
| Pros | Cons |
| – High quality 300gsm pages that don’t buckle and dry completely flat – Cold-press tooth with a texture that is simultaneously great for sketching/inking and doesn’t compromise watercolour handling – Strong and durable cover that does not fray or bend | – Not 100% cotton – Warmer page tone may cause slight hue differences upon application |
Stillman & Birn Zeta Series
This 8.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook containing 26 270gsm smooth pages is a great ‘extra heavyweight’ watercolor sketchbook for painters.
Its archival paper is acid free bound by a hardcover that is suited for a range of applications even beyond watercolor paints.
For example, coloured pencils and alcohol markers can be integrated as mixed media elements that can add small touches to your watercolor art work.
I’ve done this to sharpen small details or produce more crisp lines that I couldn’t achieve with a brush alone.
It is because of the high paper quality of the Zeta series that leads to fantastic handling of heavily saturated pigments and watercolor use over time.
Each page is highly resistant to warping letting you liberally slather washes over the top without having to worry about severe buckling (although you may find a slight bend when dried).
I love how the Zeta series sketchbook retains the paints pigmentation and natural vibrancy with its smooth pages that have a small amount of tooth which fails to hinder brushstrokes.
It’s the mere paper quality and feel of each page that watercolour artists appreciate, looking for a reliable hot-press sketchbook that they can use for watercolor painting and sketches.
The biggest thing to note about the Stillman & Birn Zeta series is that some watercolor painters may dislike the smooth hot-press quality of the paper that lends itself to a more ‘animated’ finish rather than cold-press paper that instead allows for greater organic texture.
Here’s a photograph by Liz Steel where you can really tell the difference between hot-press and cold-press pages.
I’d personally recommend a larger sized (7.5″ x 7.5″+) softcover variant of the sketchbook to avoid the frustration of a non-flat surface when painting. However, if you plan on travelling with your sketchbook, you may want to look for a smaller size for portability.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Smooth paper is delightful for watercolour washes and urban sketching – Watercolour paints remain vividly pigmented even when dried – Heavyweight 270gsm pages – May struggle with heavy wet-on-wet techniques and gradients | – Hot-press paper limits amount of texture that shows when watercolor paint is dried – Not fully a sketchbook dedicated solely for watercolor use – Lacks an elastic band – Visible difference in quality between fronts and backs of pages – Not 100% cotton paper |
Stillman & Birn Beta Series
This 270gsm cold-pressed sketchbook is a great option for those looking for pages with more texture compared to the previous hot-press Zeta series sketchbooks offered by Stillman & Birn.
The only negative that may be glaring about this sketchbook is the mere fact that it is a little pricier than other options available.
I’ve found that it’s easy to fall into procrastination slumps because you don’t want to ‘ruin’ your new, quality sketchbook, which truly defeats the purpose of keeping one in the first place!
| Pros | Cons |
| – Great quality 270gsm cold-pressed pages optimal for watercolour application – Good amount of tooth that supports pencil sketches and allows for super granulating pigments to shine | – Higher price point compared to other sketchbooks – Highly versatile, suited for ink washes, gouache and dry media – Does not open flat easily |
Pentalic Aqua Journal
The Pentalic Aqua Journal is another sketchbook that I’ve come back to time and time again for its acid free 300gsm watercolour paper that fails to buckle and warp.
This watercolour journal is the perfect one if you’re specifically looking for a hardbound sketchbook with its fantastic dark navy blue leatherette. It’s slick surface can be easily wiped off with a paper towel which is super convenient especially if you plan to travel with your sketchbook!
Compared to other brands such as Etcher and Strathmore, the quality of the Pentalic Aqua Journal does’t quite reach the same calibre and will not handle your watercolour pigments as effortlessly with its lighter textured surface.
One biggest downlfall of this journal is due to it being not 100% cotton, leading to a less durable paper quality that tends to become more damaged after scrubbing or lifting paint.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Good quality 300gsm acid free pages – Watercolour classed paper does not buckle at moderate water loads – Multi media quality can handle inking and watercolour at the same time – Amazing dark navy blue leatherette hardbound cover that can be easily wiped down | – Pages are not 100% cotton and are less durable (will become damaged after excessive scrubbing or lifting) – Noticeable difference in texture between front and back of pages |
Stillman & Birn Nova Beige
This is a great watercolour sketchbook if you’re looking for some great qualtiy TONED paper!
Although I like Stillman & Birn’s beige coloured paper, they offer other colours (i.e. gray and black) if you want to check them out as well.
These sketchbooks contain extra heavyweight, 150gsm, warp resistant pages that are smooth to the touch and lie conveniently flat (due to double wire binding). However, the minimal tooth its pages do have offers for a good sketching experience
However, the Nove Beige range from Stillman & Birn is rated for light washes and will hold up soundly after generous wet-on-wet painting and lifting.
However, after heavy application of water, it is made clear why the paper is only rated for light washes as the sketchbook’s pages tend to dimple into patterned crests as shown by Doodlewash’s image below:
This however may be favoured by some painters as a unique textural finish, it’s up for personal preference.
Overall, the Stillman & Birn Nova Series Beige is an all-round well made sketchbook that makes good quality archival paper available for light washes and brief watercolour sketches.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Decent quality 150gsm pages – Moderately warp and buckle resistant under light washes – Wire binding is optimises the sketchbook to lay flat | – Hard edges more difficult to achieve – Paper prone to ‘dimpling’ or ‘wrinkling upon heavy washes and wet-on-wet technique – Beige tone darkens the values of some colours |
Hahnemühle Watercolour Book
The Hahnemühle sketchbook is a great quality watercolour sketchbook with natural white 200gsm paper.
The fine grained surface structure on either front and back of each page ensures good use for double-page spreads or panoramic paintings, maximising page real estate as much as possible.
Available in several landscape and portrait sizes from A6, A5, A4, 14x14cm and 19.5×19.5cm, the Hahnemühle watercolour book is a compact all-rounder that offers an ample number of pages to practice and hone your watercolour skills.
The design of the sketchbook calls attention to detail with its appealing rounded corners and textured black cover.
Probably my favourite aspect of the sketchbook includes the fact that it lies flat (without needing to fold it backwards like with most sketchbooks). The best part is that the stitching doesn’t even get in the way or your paintings an AMAZING feature that I wish more sketchbooks included.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Good quality 200gsm archival paper that contains a fine tooth surface structure on both front and back sides of the page – Seamless stitching that optimises the sketchbook for panoramic paintings – Paper is age-resistant, acid-free and vegan | – Upon heavy wet-on-wet application, watercolour caused paper to bend slightly – Cold-pressed smooth paper not enough to encourage granulating finish – Elastic closure tends to wear down (may need a rubber band in the future) |
Paul Rubens Watercolour Paper Journal
The high-quality, 100% cotton, watercolor paper used in this journal ensures excellent color vibrancy and allows for easy blending and layering of paints.
The size and portability of the Paul Rubens Watercolour Paper Journal make it ideal for artists on the go. With its compact dimensions, you can easily slip it into your bag or backpack, allowing you to capture inspiration wherever you may be.
One of the standout features of this watercolor sketchbook is its durability.
The thick paper prevents bleed-through and warping, ensuring that your artwork stays pristine and protected. This means you can confidently experiment with different techniques without worrying about damaging subsequent pages.
However, one of the minor issues that you may find a little annoying with this sketchbook includes its perforated edges, as many painters tend to work with pages that are permanently secured within their watercolour journal.
| Pros | Cons |
| – High quality heavyweight 300gsm paper – Textured surface showcases pigment granulation well with colour vibrancy – Hardcover supports durability of sketchbook | – Highly competitive price – Perforations may be a little annoying – Sketchbook does not lay flat fully – No elastic closure |
Moleskine Watercolour Album
The Moleskine Watercolour Album is a top choice among artists due to its exceptional quality and functionality.
Crafted with care, this sketchbook is specially engineered to handle the unique demands of watercolour painting in addition to other mediums such as gouache, charcoal and acrylics to name a few.
With a thickness that can withstand multiple layers of paint without bleeding through, artists can create vibrant and detailed artworks.
However, it must be noted that the quality of paper is not at the same calibre as some of the previously mentioned sketchbooks with paper tending to buckle a lot more prevalently.
Despite this…
The hardcover design provides excellent protection for your artwork, ensuring that it remains intact even when transported or stored alongside other materials.
Its signature feature is an expandable inner pocket where you can store small items like brushes or reference photos – a thoughtful detail that adds to its practicality.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Great high quality paper designed for a range of mixed media – Adequate thickness that can withstand several layers of watercolour – Hardcover provides excellent protection – Expandable inner pocket | – Paper tends to buckle quick prevalently – Sketchbook preferred more for ‘casual’ use by watercolourists due to its limitations when handling pigments |
Arteza Watercolour Sketchbook
The Etchr Perfect Sketchbook is a highly recommended choice for watercolour artists who seek a reliable and versatile sketchbook. Its exceptional paper quality, portability, and user-friendly design make it an ideal companion for capturing your artistic vision wherever you go.
The 175gsm pages are thick, acid-free, and designed specifically for watercolours. This ensures that your artwork will not bleed through or warp, allowing you to create stunning, vibrant paintings with ease.
Another notable aspect of this sketchbook is its durability.
The hardcover provides excellent protection for your artwork, while the spiral binding allows for easy flipping and flat-lay usage. Whether you’re working in a studio or on-the-go, this sketchbook is built to withstand the demands of daily use.
With its affordable price point compared to other premium watercolour sketchbooks on the market, it provides an accessible option without compromising on quality.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Paper handles wet media soundly – Heavyweight paper suited for light washes of watercolour – Lay-flat binding design – Elastic closure – Highly affordable and competitive pricing | – Not 100% cotton – Off-white paper may cause hue differences – Glue from binding causes some tearing when opening spreads – Plastic back pocket |
Etchr Perfect Sketchbook
Specifically designed for watercolour painting, this sketchbook’s paper is thick, durable, and able to handle multiple layers of paint without bleeding through or warping.
While I’d strongly recommend you choose the Etchr Sketchbook for it’s better quality 100% cotton pages…
The ‘Perfect Sketchbook’ range provides good texture and absorbency to bring out the vibrancy and richness in your watercolour paintings.
Similar to the Australian brand’s other sketchbooks, the Etchr Perfect Sketchbook features a lay-flat design that allows you to work seamlessly across both pages without any obstruction.
This feature ensures that you can fully utilize the entire spread, creating panoramic scenes or larger compositions with ease.
| Pros | Cons |
| – 100% cotton pages suited for watercolour pigment handling – Great texture that supports absorbency and vibrancy – Lay-flat design to maximise page real estate – Pocket to store loose sketches or swatch pads | – Paper tends to buckle and warp a little more than other brands |
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