I got these samples of different watercolor papers from “Koval” who make beautiful sketchbooks for watercolor and gouache, and I decided to test these papers with gouache, my favourite painting medium. First, I thought I would just make a few brushstrokes on each of these strips, using gouache, but then I decided to use the strips to do tiny master copies of the paintings of some of the artists I admired. It was such a fun task!

Five of the six papers that I tested were cold pressed and one of them (Fabriano 5, 50% cotton paper) was hot pressed.

There are many different sketchbooks on the market and some of them are sold as watercolour or multitechnique. But the truth is that most of them contain paper that does not work well with water-based techniques. As a result, many people find it difficult to obtain satisfying results, and some even become discouraged with watercolours. All because of the wrong paper. Paper plays a crucial role here. Therefore, we will share with you what a watercolour sketchbook should contain, how it should be made and, above all, which paper is absolutely suitable.