Watercolor Journal and Sketchbooks Reviewed

[@ArtistKarlaMagana]

Enjoyed your video :) Watching sketchbook hauls is probably my new favorite thing to binge watch on KZbin If I had no self control I would have bookshelves full of fresh sketchbooks!

[@gailgassen8670]

This was a great video thank for showing your books & the ones you like & don't like, & the ones you love. I've watch the water color artist your talking of Pat? I really like his painting. It's also really fun to see someone that gets excited when they have a new book to start writing in or painting in, because I don't that. My husband says I'm like a little kid with a brand new toy, & that's how I feel. I saw the same sparkle in you eyes I feel in mine. I watch a lot of Lisa Clough/Lachri Fine Art because I want to do more pencils. She uses the Fabriano for her pencil paintings, but recently, well this year she tried Strathmore I believe in the pads but didn't care for them. Someone mentioned to use the Strathmore in the sheets because it was so nice. Nothing like the pads even tho it was the same kind. That's strange to have all the weight, what its made of, & so forth but be totally different in feel & performance. I hope that's the right word, I'm sure you understand what I mean. I guess I just don't understand why the company's do that. Any way I really enjoyed how you went thru the different books. And I almost bought that leather book that was but together with leather straps & has the handmade paper from India. I liked the small size to slip into a bag yet it was thick.I'm so happy you showed it, because it's on my wish list to buy. I use a cane so I thought that the smaller book might be better to carry around. Thank you for that. I've just ordered a few new WC books by Strathmore from Jerrys Artarama. Fantastic sale he's having. I don't know what it is about getting books I just love a brand new sketch book or WC book. I did get a Canson Mixed Media book that I'm very disappointed in. Wow does it ripple & bleed through. I couldn't get another one so I'm putting up with it because I needed it for the class I'm in. I'm hoping the new Strathmore books will work better because of what they are made of. I'm sorry I've been going on & on, I'm really bad about writing to much. Just a big thank you for this it was fun & very informative. Even without you painting or drawing I enjoyed it.... Oh & I love you hair, it's a perfect color for you!! I like the style also. (I used to be a hairstylist before I hurt my neck) looking forward to seeing your next Inktober, one of my favorite months!

[@ARTFULSTELLA]

I love all your sketch books and I know you're going to have fun working in them...TFS Stella

[@diamondpainting.by.fairydust]

seriously, you have become my fav watercolour channel to watch. :)

[@michelletulumello661]

Hi Sharon, I just bought a landscape oriented Pentalic sketchbook for a light wash and pen and ink. I'm very much looking forward to using it thank you for the recommendation.

[@michelletulumello661]

Sharon Cullen Art Well, no, it's the 7x7 inch 70lb sketchbook for dry media. I loved the format, but I'm hoping it can handle pen and ink and possibly a light watercolor wash over gesso or watercolor pencil. Something I hate is the way my fountain pen feels over bumpy paper. For me and my weird brain it's sort of the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard- and I love to draw with fountain pens! Do you have any smooth hot press watercolor sketchbooks you would recommend? I really need the thickness of the watercolor but I don't like the bumpy surface.

[@michelletulumello661]

Sharon Cullen Art Thanks! Sounds like you have the same taste in sketchbooks that I do.

[@impish22]

very helpful video.. thanks Sharon

[@ArtOfDavidAmos]

Can you explain a value sketch?

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

I always love your videos :) I would love to see some journal flip throughs, however

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

I would like it!

[@EveBolt]

The Moleskine book has 140 lbs paper? I've been using it for a long time now and I thought it was 90 lbs haha XD It's my fav though, Moleskine's watercolor books are always in stock in this house :D ( I got a Pentalic, have yet to try it out!)

[@EveBolt]

The Moleskine paper does buckle a bit under a lot of water (and puddles, yes) but it dries back down relatively flat. Also, it helps to clip down the page to the other pages or the backing (I tape my pages down and they still buckle a bit, so yeah). It takes some adjustment, but I hope you'll like using this book! :)

[@wildearthfarm4632]

hi there! great video!., thanks for the reviews! I'm not an expert but i think you can salvage those leather bound journals by sizing the paper. just dissolve some clear gelatin and "paint" it on each page, both sides. a pain yes, but better than not using them. i especially like that first leather bound one! cheers!

[@wildearthfarm4632]

Hi! yes, the first leather one you showed. sounds like there is no sizing on the paper. Would be great to make it better, i really like the idea of replaceable booklets! cheers!

[@Danluiz22]

Maybe do a talk through video in when you first use the moleskine? And your reviews on it etc?😊😊

[@emfancyy7736]

If you haven’t tried the etchr labs perfect sketchbooks or their canvas white series you should definitely try those. I only use the etchr labs perfect sketchbook & the pentalic aqua journals now.

[@SharonCullenArt]

I have been wanting to try the perfect sketchbook but when I looked last you had to buy at least 2 at a time. And I didn’t have that kind of money. I wanted to buy one but they were still a kickstarter. I know they were legit, but I got burned so bad on a smart watch Kickstarter 2 years ago spending several hundred dollars and they have been telling us our watch is coming since 2016! If I can now purchase a single book I will get it. I was the liason for Pentalic for a couple of years and I love these books for sketching. I do prefer cotton, and the choices are getting better now.

[@emfancyy7736]

Sharon Cullen Art I do believe that you can buy just 1 now but don’t take my word for it because I am not 100% sure. I bought the 3 pack of them. & I know exactly what you mean, I love my pentalic sketchbooks as well. They are just so convenient & nice. Also I had a quick question. I have heard a lot of people say that you aren’t supposed to handle your watercolor paper a lot, like touching it with your fingers & stuff. Can you tell me if that is true & why please?

[@emfancyy7736]

Sharon Cullen Art & I am currently waiting on a kickstarter purchase to arrive as well. I ordered the 500 page hippo Noto tomoe river paper for a journal for my fountain pens, which it hasn’t been since 2016 but it has been a little over a year. I know I’m getting impatient though.

[@SharonCullenArt]

NintendoGamer 4Life yes that is true. When I first started out and knew nothing about art supplies I used to go to Michaels and pick up Strath,ore or Arches paper. But people who know nothing about art would always come in and flip though pages or open a book up to feel the texture of the -super and I would cringe! T9he reason no you shouldn’t touch your paper a lot is because oils and lotions will inevitably out a resist on the paper and then your watercolor won’t lay down. I have been guilty of this in sketchbooks before where I had put lotion on and forget to wash it off before painting. I now always buy online and my paper is sealed in plastic so I know no one is doing that. I do rest my hand on my paper usually because my hands are unsteady from asthma medication! But if I am doing a commission or something I often lay a piece of paper towel or scrap paper down under my hand. If you do find resists onny9ur paper just scrub at them lightly with your brush and you can lift the oils to lay your paint down.

[@emfancyy7736]

Sharon Cullen Art thank you so much for explaining that to me. I have started wearing art gloves because I am left handed like you & have found that using them keeps the side of my hands from causing oils on the page. Also, I found that you can order a single etchr labs sketchbook that we were speaking about on amazon if you were still interested in just picking up one. They also have the 3 pack on there for sale for 75$ which I think I’m going to pick up. I hope that helps you somewhat & thank you again for the advice regarding the paper.

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Did you get your hair done?

[@bevfromoz]

The way I understood it was that the con.note. Did not match my name but someone else's ,the carrier was not able to tell me who received it and Amazon would not acknowledge their error...they at first said they would replace it and then when I explained what happened they ceased contact...when I go to my account it states as "delivered" yea but not to me...now I'm scared to order from them again....lucky I still get my books to my iPad lol they can't mess that up...

[@NightPhoenixPress]

I have the cheaper handmade journal, the $15 one, from Amazon. Haven't used it yet, but a lot of people seem to like it. I think a lot of people buy it for the look.

[@richardkeller3852]

About 6 months ago I got one of those sketch books from Hobby Lobby with the hard made paper and was really disappointed. I need all the help I can get and that paper is no help for watercolors.

[@bevfromoz]

Great review thanks can't wait till you do the moleskine and Global reviews...I ordered a pentalic from Amazon and it went astray in the mail , you can't fight Amazon ....

[@bevfromoz]

No luck they said they would replace it but. when I explained that the con.note.number was. allotted to another customer by them as per my carriers info they decided that it was my carriers fault ...so fifty bucks down the drain ialso had a travel brush in the order ...so now I'm scared to order anything else que que sara sara

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

I like Pentalic sketchbooks too.

[@ckdesign429]

The unfortunate drawback to the spiral bound books you were showing in the beginning is the wire will loosen and the pages will fall out.

[@ritahellmann605]

Many good artist on KZbin with good ideas & art!!! Rita Hellmann🎨

[@carollutton3340]

You seemed so disorganized it made it hard to watch. Learn how to pronounce ROWNEY. Strathmore is terrible paper. Look at the review of papers by Mind of watercolor on utube.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Wow! A little snarky? This is such an old video I don't even remember it. I know what good paper is. I use primarily Arches of Saunders Waterford. But for sketchbooks I reviews all that I had. I think there's something out there for everyone and it's a personal choice. And I already know Steve. He's a very nice man unlike you.

[@tabasco14]

Sharon, this was chock full of great paper and sketchbook info. I had just recently bought from amazon the pentalic book in the smaller size not knowing I was doing good! It should arrive tomorrow so now I can not wait to try it, I could not find the link to the man you watch?

[@tabasco14]

Somehow I ordered the smaller one (3.5x5) by mistake like you bought the wrong big book. I looked down and saw a lower price and thought ah here it is cheaper! LOL I am going to watch Patrick now.