Watercolour sketchbook comparison

Just got my new haul of watercolour sketchbooks from Jackson’s art they have a new Australian site and are offering 20% off everything. Took a few weeks for these to arrive from the UK store.

Was so excited to test these out. I like to use the wet on wet sunset clouds as a great way to test watercolour paper quality and use this for comparing the brands with my painting style. I’m looking for paper that can handle washes and if possible a little scrubbing.

Here’s the line up all are A6 size or similar

This is in a slightly different order to fit everything in one but have included the label to help find the right book

• Venezia Fabriano – love Fabriano sheets but find they need to be taped. The wet on wet wash was good. Kept wet for a while. Overworked it paper held up well. Paper dried buckled. Would I buy again? Given the price would pay for Hanhmeule instead.
• Hanhmeule travel booklets – love this brand and have previously found the D&S sketchbook though not designed for watercolour was quite impressive even though it pulled on the second wash it didn’t go through. These travel booklets are similar and under the wet wash still held up. Dried more flat than the Fabriano. Very impressed and if this is cheap alternative then will continue to buy this as it’s ultra portable and great for practising or just every day painting.
• Stillman and Birn beta series – this is 300gsm and you can really feel the difference in thickness. It performed well and even though it is cellulose it is comparable to Hanhmeule. Would only buy if it is cheaper than $20 a book.
• Stillman and Birn alpha series – was quite impressed the first time I used this for cellulose paper and being only 200gsm it’s quite thin but has held up to all my wet washes. It dries quite flat but the pages don’t lay flat so have to use bulldog clips to keep them down when I’m painting.
• Jackson’s studio sketchbook – for 79c on a sale you really can’t complain this is the cheapest paper I own and it holds up ok compared to the other books. Wouldn’t be my first choice but great for practising.
• Seawhite travel journal – I’ve heard a lot of people mention this as their favourite go to sketchbook. It is comparable to Hanhmeule however is quite expensive for us to buy from Australia. I also still prefer Hanhmeule for my painting style but would be happy either way and will be open to buying either based on price.
• Jackson’s watercolour block – I bought the smallest size available on sale to try out the quality. This is a nice compact size 4×5″ and paper holds up ok on wet on wet. The test painting I did after it dried was not the best but again great for practise paintings for the price. I also found taking the paper off the block the easiest out of all the watercolour blocks I’ve used and was able to remove it but running my fingernail between the sheets to separate the gum. Most blocks I use a Stanley knife but find that sometimes it causes a scratch in the sheet below which ends up being a noticeable line when painted. This would be great as a larger block for plein air paintings or when travelling.

Overall found some great sketchbooks and after the first test painting I still prefer my favourite Hanhmeule the best however will keep using them and found some great alternatives for when they’re on sale.