Potentate 100% watercolour paper (review): As good as Baohong

[@jpmlna]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review!! I bought 3 of their 100% cotton sketchbooks early this year and another one in Sept 2023 (online). The paper is great and I have used 2 of the smaller ones for outdoor line & wash sketches a few times. However, I have noticed lately that these 2 sketchbooks have developed small brown spots on several pages. Like you said, one does not know whether the paper used is the same as those sheets you reviewed. I suppose the paper may have been contaminated during the making of the sketchbooks or perhaps it was due to my taking them out in our humid weather (???). The other 2 sketchbooks are ok - one is unused, one has only 1 page painted on - only time will tell whether these other 2 sketchbooks will be ok.

[@lukaslife9404]

Can be easily damaged in wet weather and soaked by humidity

[@jpmlna]

@@lukaslife9404 Yes, I believe that is correct. Although I carefully keep (and enclose in plastic bags) my unused sketchbooks and watercolour pads, my used ones are left lying around for easy access. Also, now that a few years have passed since the start of my artistic journey, I have began to see that many sketchbooks and watercolour pads have covers that are made of substandard paper which degrade over time and affect the sheet/pages nearest to the front and back covers. I have had to remove the covers of at least 2 finished sketchbooks and either removed or placed a protective plastic sheet between the covers and sheets/pages of other work-in-progress sketchbooks/pads. Yes, the high humidity over here just degrades everything too fast 😞

[@lukaslife9404]

@@jpmlna Based on my experience living in a very humid area (Guangdong Province, China), we put the paper in a food seal bag and put some food desiccant, which is the white bag that comes in some snack bags . This method can keep it well. Because a large part of the damage is frequent contact with air, especially on rainy days.

[@pinkbeautytwinkle]

This is what I do too in San Jose, CA USA! It even restored bad quality Bao Hong block and my plastic portfolio was not even airtight! d​@@lukaslife9404

[@KJayPlays]

Been so curious about this. Thank you for being the first KZbinr (that I know of) to try it out.

[@hemjoo]

Ditto!!

[@alejandromorales9516]

I had once gotten a Potentate cotton concertina sketchbook and HATED IT but I recently got these unbranded cotton sketchbooks on Amazon that were being sold for 2 for $20 and when I received them they were both Potentate brand and I was shocked when I tested it it is way better than the concertina book I had gotten before. So glad we have decent cotton options at all price points.

[@s.courtneywalton1737]

I have 2 square pocket journals from Potenate (cold press and hot press 100% cotton) and not really loving them. They are very different from my Baohong concertina journal. I’m thinking we may have gotten the old batch, before they improved the quality.

[@4streegrrrl601]

@@s.courtneywalton1737 I got one of the pocket sized "100% cotton" Potenate journals from Temu last year because it was so cheap, and was not super impressed by the quality. It was called 100% cotton online, but the packaging when it arrived didn't say anything about it containing cotton. It seems more like cellulose, or a really low quality cotton, which isn't surprising given the price.

[@123craftygal]

I have just found your videos and your explanations are thorough. I’m learning so much about different papers which I feel is key to my learning. Thank you

[@jennw6809]

Glad to see this review. My friend bought some of the postcards from this brand and they were also quite nice. Jerry's Artarama has brought out New York Central Art Supply paper and they have this same packaging. I wonder if they are made by the same company.

[@StudioGriffel]

Thank you for showing, very thouroughly. Love your videos!❤

[@UJB123]

Thanks for the review. Nice to see the sheets are good quality. I hear it is big in Europe for those of various levels. I have the small sketchbook (Lightwish/Potentate) and it's really good. Haven't tried the sheets, kinda hard to find here.

[@claudiabarrales6140]

It is because it can be found through Temu over there along with Leyton and Baohong at competitive prices. I personally find Potentate excels in Hot Press paper for illustration work compared to Baohong which is the best for Cold and Rough press papers (I'd dare say Leyton is even better for me but Leyton is harder to find than Baohong)

[@Oldauntie]

thanks for the review teoh! i use their square hot press sketchbook and really love it. baohong’s hot press might handle watercolor better but potentate is great for mix media sketches in my opinion 😌

[@teohyc]

I'm now tempted to try their sketchbook

[@Oldauntie]

@@teohyc please at least try as i need more informative review for this too 😅. didn't try the old batch myself (black/blue/pink cover without colorful art) but judge for some writing reactions, the new one with square seems better than the old covers

[@dranskhaleesi2116]

I've super curious about this paper. Thank you for the review!!

[@sabinemetscher6449]

Thanks Teoh, I’ve-been painting on my loose watercolor papers. Most of them leftover pieces or free trial paper. My wish is to find a favorite paper. I will check on this & the other one you tested💚🌲

[@margaretgeorge3903]

Loved this video, paper looks great, wish I could get this here 🇬🇧

[@nikkia9506]

I've just started using a Potentate cotton watercolour sketchbook. I've only done two small paintings in it (it's A5), but so far it's very usable paper. I would buy it again.

[@j.m.1806]

The age of the paper is an issue due to loss of sizing. Thanks for the introduction to this paper

[@cindyhorton6980]

Thank you! Another good alternative!❤

[@niksiever3135]

I have one Potentate sketchbook, I think it’s cold pressed paper. It’s very good quality, I love it.

[@Meyra_]

I was curious about it also, saw these on Shein actually 😅

[@Lauraisabelgonzalezart]

I tried that paper before and didn't like it. To me, it is not comparable to Baohong at all. However, because I purchased two blocks of rough cold pressed paper, I found using the backside much better and finished many color charts with it. At least I made it the paper useful but I won't buy it again.

[@harlotofloyola]

I agree with this, I think it is much less sized than Baohong, giving it much different properties.

[@claudiabarrales6140]

Personally, I find Potentate excels in hot press paper and Leyton/Baohong in cold press. I use Potentate Hot press a lot (and they offer a number of products of novelty shapes and sizes that are only available as hot press) and I find their Hot Press far more enjoyable than their cold and rough papers. Their Rough texture paper is absolutely not a good paper to work on to be honest. Their Hot press is their best so it's better suited to illustrators than traditional painters imho.

[@awatercolourist]

Hello Teoh! What company made that cobalt blue? I have Schmincke's Horadam cobalt blue and it does not granulate like that.

[@teohyc]

That's Cobalt Blue Deep PB74, not Cobalt Blue PB28

[@awatercolourist]

@teohyc Thanks! PB74 is indeed a great granulator.

[@kathleen88863]

Does pthalo blue naturally spread a lot wet on wet?

[@teohyc]

Most colours do that, not just Phthalo Blue

[@DanielleFung]

The paper quality is inconsistent. So within the same pack, a few sheets maybe perfectly good to use and then several sheets have issues. It's very frustrating due to the inconsistent quality. I'd stick to baohong.

[@lukaslife9404]

If it is the sketchbook of Potentate marked with 100% cotton, then it is the same paper as the one you are testing. Potentate currently only has one form of 100% cotton paper. Please be careful not to buy their "Dürer" sketchbook, which does not use pure cotton paper.

[@cpnoboat7659]

The unacceptable plastic package is a no deal for me. But thank you for the explanation, maybe in the future they change the package material.

[@claudiabarrales6140]

The plastic package is for loose sheets, it's a resealable bag similar to New York Central's loose sheet bags from Jerry's Artarama. The brand does have 20 sheet 4 size gummed blocks like other brands do but their loose sheets come in the bag to prevent humidity exposure I guess.

[@alc3781]

When cotton is too cheap...

[@UJB123]

Or coming from the largest supplier of cotton on the planet? Is there some problem if some is being purposed for the art community that wants cotton paper at a reasonable cost? It's up to the individual to find one they'd like to paint on. Choice is good.