I recently bought a few sketchbooks on a Kickstarter campaign created by Etchr Lab and absolutely adore them! They are now available for anyone to order through the Etchr website. I am not sponsored or paid by Etchr in any way, but I do recommend their products because they are so high quality and innovative.
THE DILEMMA
It’s difficult to find a sketchbook that won’t buckle with even light watercolor use. Are you sharing my pain? I’ve tried several sketchbooks designed specifically for watercolor that just don’t stand up. I’ve had pages in these so-called watercolor sketchbooks buckle, pill and even fall right out of the sketchbook. Why would anyone create a watercolor sketchbook with a glued binding??
A HAPPY KICKSTARTER DISCOVERY: ETCHR SKETCHBOOKS
I bid within hours of the campaign opening and the project was funded early on their first day. For $69 Australian dollars (which came out to around $48 US, plus shipping), I received four sketchbooks. All are in a very practical landscape format that lays flat with a stitched binding that won’t come unglued with heavy washes. Each is 54 pages of acid-free 100% cotton paper. I chose the cold press (textured) package which offered two books in an A5 (8.3 x 5.8 inches) size and two in A6 (5.8 x 4.1 inches). They’re the perfect size to shove in a pocket or small travel kit and sturdy enough to handle aggressive use.
I’ve laid some heavy washes on the Etchr sketchbook pages and they might warp ever so slightly when wet, but then dry amazingly flat without the need to even close the book, much less apply pressure.
Since the book lays flat, it’s easy to create paintings that encompass the full two-page spread. The cover is also made of pure cotton fabric, so you can customize it with a sketch or painting. Fun, right?!
I will be sure to try the hot press on my next order. The cold press has a pretty pronounced tooth and I’m wondering if the hot press has a slight texture to it.
ABOUT ETCHR
I first discovered Etchr after I scored big on another Kickstarter art supply find, The Mini Pal-ette, a tiny, round, and very portable porcelain watercolor palette designed by a favorite artist, Stephanie Law. After the campaign successfully concluded, Etchr picked up Stephanie’s design and added it to their own product line. And that was how I discovered their other products. While Etchr’s products may seem pricey at first glance, they are SO useful and well made, they’re worth every dime. Their products are designed by artists, so they’re crazy practical and a pleasure to use. When you find a great company that works so hard to produce quality products, you gotta support their efforts. They’ve come up with a line of art supplies that keep the fun in functional. And nothing brings out our creative side more than fun, am I right?
KICKSTARTER SHOUTOUT
I also have to give a big thumbs up to Kickstarter. They boost innovation by supporting those who would otherwise be unable to bring a cool creative project to life by allowing them to raise money in exchange for rewards. We get to be a part of the development process and to acquire cool new products before they hit the market, usually for a substantially lower price. It’s a win-win. I log in often to see what’s going on. Check them out at kickstarter.com.
THE SAD DEMISE OF A PREVIOUS FAVORITE
Prior to receiving my Etchr sketchbooks, Pentalic Aqua Journals were my favorite sketchbooks. The first Pentalic sketchbook I bought was so nice. The 140 lb paper was heavy enough to withstand heavy washes, it lay flat for panoramic images that drifted across its stitched binding. The book was a beautiful hardbound navy blue with a ribbon marker and an expanding pocket in the back and an elastic binder to keep it all neat. It even had an elastic brush holder at the top, and even though I never used it, I appreciated that extra added touch. But … the next one I ordered had a glued binding. Pages began falling out with the first wash I attempted. So sad!
This ongoing downgrading of once-trusted art supplies tempts an artist to hoard their favorites before they change or disappear! I will never understand why companies choose to make a quick buck over keeping the trust of long-term clientele.
KNOWING WHAT WE LIKE
It is helpful to be able to compare the various supplies currently available and to experiment enough to know your preferences. With that in mind, I’ve added information below to help artists make the most cost-effective purchases and to select the quality that best serves their individual needs. Before you buy, consider your painting style and what you’ll ultimately use the piece for. Will you be framing and hanging the piece, or will you be scanning it and selling prints? Will the original be sold to a client who will want their art investment to last for a lifetime — or is this merely a study for your own reference? (and if it is for your own reference, do you want it to last for decades? Or will you be tossing it after the piece is finished?)
UNDERSTANDING WATERCOLOR PAPER
Quality
100% cotton paper (also known as 100% rag) is the preferred watercolor paper. Unlike wood-based papers, it will not turn yellow or deteriorate over time. High-quality cotton paper can handle heavy washes, brush strokes and even scrubbing without showing wear. While it is more expensive, this high-quality paper will give the artist noticeably better results. It’s important, even as a student to practice and learn on a watercolor paper with a high enough quality to avoid frustration and develop technique.
Cellulose paper made from fibers such as linen, flax, bamboo or rice straw contain acids that will degrade the paper over time. Buffers such as calcium carbonate may be added to make the paper a neutral pH, which does not necessarily mean that it is acid-free. Buffered paper is deemed “conservation grade.” 100% cotton rag paper is considered “archival” or “museum-grade.” Depending on the manufacturer, archival paper can last anywhere from twenty-five to a hundred and fifty years.
Environmental Issues
Environmental factors such as light, heat, and humidity can also have a huge impact on paper. Temperature and humidity fluctuations can cause fibers to expand and contract, weakening them. Low humidity can cause the paper to become brittle, while high humidity can allow it to mold. The lower the temperature, the longer the paper will last. It should also be kept out of sunlight. Ultraviolet rays can break down chemical bonds, causing pigments to fade.
Texture
Paper texture varies widely by brand, so experiment to discover the look and performance you prefer.
- Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper is pressed smooth between two hot metal rollers for a work surface that’s perfect for detailed work or mixed media. Granulation is most noticeable on hot pressed paper. It also dries faster. If you will be scanning your artwork, hot pressed paper will work the best in most cases.
- Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper has a somewhat textured surface and is the most popular paper with watercolor artists. It is made by pressing the paper through cold metal rollers. It’s a great all-purpose paper that’s easy to find. (Cold pressed paper is sometimes referred to as “Not” — as in not hot pressed.) This paper is great for beginners.
- Rough Watercolor Paper has the most textured surface (or tooth) that creates a grainy effect as water puddles in the depressions. It is also great for dry brushing techniques as the pigment will sit on the peaks in the texture for a more dramatic effect.
Paper Weight
The thickness of watercolor paper is indicated by its weight, measured either in grams per square meter (gsm) or pounds per ream (lb). The standard weights available are 90 lb (190 gsm), 140 lb (300 gsm), 260 lb (356 gsm), and 300 lb (638 gsm). The heavier the paper is, the less likely it is to buckle or warp. Because the paper in watercolor sketchbooks cannot be stretched, choosing one with the thickest paper possible will give you the best results.
Sizing
Watercolor paper is often sized with gelatin which provides some resistance so the paint moves across the surface without sinking into it immediately. Paper can be sized internally, externally, or both. Internal sizing is added to the water and pulp before the paper is made. External sizing is added to the surface of the paper after it is made.
If a paper is too heavily sized, it can resist pigment too much and some of it will need to be removed. Sponging or brushing the paper with a wash of clean water and allowing it to dry will make the paper more receptive. Papers that are “stretched” lose any excess sizing in the stretching process.
MY PERSONAL PREFERENCES
I do not enjoy stretching watercolor paper or painting on blocks (pads glued on all four sides). I haven’t found a tape that sticks well without tearing the paper, and I find blocks cumbersome and, well … blocky.
Perhaps because I first learned to paint with oils, I find a board comfortingly familiar. Of course, products and quality are always changing, but when I work on a watercolor painting, I currently prefer Crescent Watercolor Art Boards.
For watercolor sketchbooks, I adore the Etchr Sketchbook and recommend it to anyone who paints on the go! I’m sure they will continue to be my travel watercolor sketchbook of choice for as long as they keep their specs the same.
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