Paul RubensArt Supplies Watercolor Paper, 100% Cotton Hot Press Watercolor Journal 3.8’’ x 5.2’’, 20 Sheets (140lb/300gsm), Acid-Free for Watercolors, Gouache, Acrylics

Paul Rubens Art Supplies Watercolor Paper Hot Press 7.6" x 5" is a nice book to carry around. The cover is sturdy, protecting the pages inside. As “hot press” goes there is a soft textured feel to the surface. The weight is terrific. Be careful when masking because the surface will tear off easily. The pages are perforated so it makes it easy to tear out. Overall, I do like these books and will continue to use them.

I have literally purchased at least 20 - 30 sketchbooks over the years looking for "mine". I finally found it! The paper takes my watercolors beautifully & will stay damp enough to blend nicely & being hot pressed makes the paper a dream for pencil & ink. I've just ordered the larger size. Great price too for the quality

Everything is as described. The paper is quality (hot pressed 100% cotton) and works beautifully with professional grade watercolors. There is some wrinkling but this paper doesn't buckle like cheap cellulose paper when using a lot of water and pigment. I like having watercolor paper bound within a journal/sketchbook... it's easy to pack in a small bag for transport and the cover (mine is pink!) protects the paper from dirt and damage. And I love that the paper is so thick I can paint on both sides of each page. At first, 20 pages didn't sound like much but being able to utilize both sides doubles that to 40 pages...or 40 paintings! Which is more than enough room to unleash creativity without the worry of running out of paper too quickly. If I could change anything about this watercolor journal I would upgrade the elastic band or remove it completely. The band is cheap and will likely break or lose its elasticity without much use. Also, this paper seems to dry quicker than Arches hot pressed watercolor paper. I dont know if this has to do with the sizing applied to the paper but it still works well for small paintings, plein air, nature studies, color swatching, and experimenting with different wet mediums like india ink, water-soluble graphite, watercolor pencils and even acrylic paint.

Absolutely LOVE this sketchbook. If I hadn't taken a chance on this I never would have discovered my preference for hot pressed paper. I consistently struggled with the cold pressed and my paints drying way to fast. But with this quality paper I have time to go back and add wet on wet details without worrying about drying. The paper is also great for painting on both sides, without much buckling if any! Nice and thick, double sided, quality 100% cotton paper in a travel sketchbook? Yes please! I'm about halfway through my current one and will definitely order again plus a backup for my purse!

I really like this hot press sketch book. I like some small paintings and this is perfect size for on the go stuff

This is a great journal at the price point. Not the best cotton paper I’ve ever used by far, but a lot better than the cellulose paper you usually get in a watercolor journal. I love how concerning it is to carry around too. The paper also takes a beating without being ruined. You can use lots of water/ making techniques without robbing the paper.

I love the paper in this little watercolor sketchbook. I'm a wet on wet painter, and this paper handles all the water well. There's no warping or buckling, the paper lays as flat after I'm done with the piece as before I do any painting.The reason for only 3 stars is due to the perforated pages. I wanted the ability to turn this little book on its side so that I could do some landscape paintings, but the perferations on every page makes that impossible. There is no option for non perforated pages, so I had to buy a different brand to be able to do what I purchased this little book for, and that's a real shame.So sad. 😥

Let me just say: I did not test the product and I did request a return.Hopefully you can see in the photos, but the product arrived wrapped and packaged perfectly neatly, no reason to suspect any kind of damage. I immediately opened it and discovered multiple separate issues.Damages/manufacturing issues:1st issue was that about 7 pages into the book: the ribbon bookmark, which was inside the book laying diagonally flat, had apparently left a stain across both pages it was sandwiched between (pg 6 and 7).2nd issue that became apparent is that from pages 1-6 there is a consistent crease toward the outer edge of the front of the book (opposite the spine) which appears on each of the 6 pages. Oddly, the creases began on the first page that was touching the ribbon (page 6), even though the ribbon doesn’t seem to have had any part in causing the creases. The first crease, on page 6, Also shows staining in a brownish color.3rd issue, which I noticed last but is possibly the most damning of the manufacturing quality, is about marks that appear consistently throughout the book. EXPLANATION (skip to “~OK” for less long-winded version) The book, like pretty much any similar book, is constructed from “signatures“/sections/gatherings, which is where a single, long piece of paper is folded in half and at the crease it is sewed at the spine - some signatures contain a stack of these, but in this case each signature is a single length of thick watercolor paper making up 2 pages (not including the back of the page) per signature. ~OK so, with that explanation out of the way, if you open a signature so that both its pages are visible I found that both pages showed marks which appear to come from having been rubbed by metal (you know what it looks like when you scratch paper with a penny or dime or a nail). Now, the marks appear well into the middle of the left page (which would be the “back” of the previous page) and in the margin (before the perforation) on the right-hand page. this particular flaw will only impact you if you intend to use the backs of the pages, and discounts for 1/2 of the pages.Conclusion: if I only had the first issue, only two of the theoretically 40 workable surfaces would have been damaged (assuming we paint on both sides). If I only had the second issue, only 12 the 40 workable services would’ve been damaged. If I only had the third issue, only 25% of workable services would have been damaged. With all three issues, only 20 of 40 total workable services are usable (10 actual pages). I think it’s very apparent when looking at the pages, that the paper was not handled properly when they were cutting or arranging the pages when constructing the book. This is certainly not an issue with the seller or the shipping, but lies entirely in quality control of manufacturing. there’s also no reason why a bookmark ribbon included in a book should cause staining on the pages.Other thoughts on quality:The book has no offensive smells, the outside is a nice soft textured material. There is a little inconsistency in the spacing between the signatures and the spine, but this seems insignificant to me. The product is listed as hot pressed, and admittedly I don’t have much experience with hot press paper so I can’t gauge it’s quality, but I will say that just visually and while touching it, there does appear to be a consistent but not uniform texture to the paper, Almost as if whatever was used to press the paper had a deliberate repetitive texture; it is consistent across each page, and I would like and it sort of to how people may use a texturized roller when painting their house so that they get a repetitive end consistent texture yet each square inch contains a modeling of textures. For watercolor, I do not personally think that this paper would result in a completely flat undisturbed appearance to a light wash, but I may be wrong. The paper certainly has less tooth than cold-pressed. Honestly, I think this would be perfectly fine as a beginners trash notebook for wash or acrylic practice, but I think the flaws would definitely discourage any water color painter. I intended to use it for gouache, but I paid for a non-damaged product and that’s what I’d like. Perhaps this is par for the course of similarly priced products, but I will not be re-ordering this particular product.

I stumbled upon Paul Rubens Art Supplies Watercolor Paper while searching for a reliable option to unleash my creativity. And boy, was I impressed! The quality of this paper is top-notch, offering a smooth surface that beautifully absorbs watercolors without any pesky buckling or warping. It's like a dream canvas for watercolor enthusiasts!What I love most is its durability. Despite soaking up loads of water, the paper holds its shape admirably, allowing me to layer colors and experiment without worrying about the paper disintegrating. Plus, it's acid-free, which means my masterpieces will stand the test of time without yellowing or deteriorating.The texture is just right— not too rough, not too smooth— providing just the right amount of tooth for the paint to adhere to. Whether I'm working on intricate details or broad washes, this paper delivers consistent results every time.Another standout feature is its versatility. It works like a charm with various watercolor techniques, from wet-on-wet to dry brushing, giving me the freedom to explore different styles without limitations.And let's talk about value for money! With generous sizing options and reasonable pricing, Paul Rubens Art Supplies Watercolor Paper offers excellent bang for your buck. Trust me, once you try it, you'll never want to go back to lesser-quality paper.In a nutshell, if you're looking for reliable, high-quality watercolor paper that won't break the bank, look no further than Paul Rubens Art Supplies Watercolor Paper. It's a game-changer for artists of all skill levels, and it's become a staple in my studio. Happy painting! 🎨