WHAT ARE BEST SKETCHBOOKS OR PADS FOR WATERCOLOR ART?

WHAT ARE BEST SKETCHBOOKS OR PADS FOR WATERCOLOR ART?

Are you a watercolor artist looking for the perfect sketchbook or watercolor pad? If so, read on for some tips and tricks on how to find the right one for you.

Choosing the Right Paper

When it comes to watercolor, the type of paper you use is important. That's because watercolor can be a bit tricky to work with, and you want to make sure you have the right paper to avoid any accidents.

There are a few things you'll want to keep in mind when choosing watercolor paper. The first is the weight of the paper. You'll want to choose a heavier weight paper so that it doesn't buckle or warp when wet. 140 pound/ 300 gram paper is best.

Another thing to consider is the texture of the paper. Watercolor can be a bit unpredictable, so you want to make sure that the surface of the paper has the right texture to avoid any accidents.

For detailed and more realistic images try "hot pressed" smooth paper. On the other hand, if you are looking for loose and airy effects, experiment with rougher "cold pressed" paper for classic watercolor techniques.

Try Watercolor Wash

Some sketchbook paper offers a happy medium between cold and hot -- a basically smooth surface with a slight tooth that works well for pen, pencil or charcoal drawings. Then add a light watercolor wash for color. For example, make your drawing with a pen or pencil then color the sky, water or trees with a splash of watercolor.

Finally, you'll want to consider the color of the paper. Watercolor is notoriously difficult to control, so you want to make sure the paper is a light color so that you can see what you're doing. Avoid gray or tan colored paper and look for cream or bright white if you want your colors to pop on the page.

Tips and Tricks

Once you've found the perfect watercolor paper, it's time to start painting! But before you start, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

First, watercolor is best worked on in small sections. That means you'll want to choose a smaller sketchbook or watercolor pad.

Second, watercolor can be a bit messy, so you'll want to make sure you have plenty of paper towels on hand to clean up any accidents.

And lastly, watercolor can be tricky to control, so it's important to start with simple designs and work your way up to more complex ones.

With these tips in mind, you're ready to start painting with watercolor in your sketchbook or watercolor pad! Just remember to take your time, have patience, and enjoy the process.

Suggested Watercolor Art Pads and Sketchbooks

Leda Hot Pressed Watercolor Pads for Detailed Images

• WATERCOLOR 2 PACK: You get 2 pads for total of 24 sheets (48 pages)
• FINE ART PAPER: Imported from Italy. 300 gram/140 pound 25% cotton paper for professional effects
• HOT PRESSED: Smooth surface for vivid lines. Less absorbent mat finish dries fast
• MASTERPIECE READY: Non-aging acid-free paper will last decades. Pull sheet from pad for easy display

Leda Cold Pressed Watercolor Pads for Classic Effects

• TWIN PACK: You get 2 watercolor pads for total of 48 pages (12 sheets in each pad). 8.3 x 11 inches letter size for plenty of surface
• 
FINE ART PAPER: Imported from Italy. 300 gram/ 140 pound 25% cotton paper for classic watercolor techniques
• COLD PRESSED: Slightly textured for softer, diffused colors. Absorbent finish for liquid, airy effects
• CLASSIC: Designed for advanced watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet, blending and dry brushing

Leda Medium Sketchbook for Watercolor Wash

• VERSATILE: dense 81 pound (130 gsm) sketchbook paper perfect for pencil, ink, pen and charcoal and a light watercolor wash
• PREMIUM: 160 pages of smooth, cream-colored paper accents your colors
• HANDY: 5.7 x 8.25 inches is the most popular journal size. Easy to pack
• FLEXIBLE: all weather cover protects your art and provides support in the field