Arteza 8.3x11.7" Watercolor Pad (2-Pack), 64 Pages per Pad

Carolina: Recién los tengo en mi poder, se ve bastante bien el papel.

United States on Dec 01, 2023

r.: Update:
The maker has good communication and we reached a satisfactory solution. The interaction left me impressed and given how much I like their other books, it looks like the issues with the books I got in this order are unusual.

ORIGINAL REVIEW FOLLOWS

I have quite a few small-sized Arteza watercolour sketchbooks and find them really nice to paint on. They are a bit fussy with too much water and erasing, but that's to be expected for this weight of paper. For basic quick sketches, the paper is great.

So when I wanted a large sketchbook for bigger paintings, I got Arteza thinking it would be the same.

It's not.

The paper in the large sketchbook is not behaving as I expected. There are areas on the paper where the watercolour paint won't absorb (like it has wax on it) and areas where it absorbs too much. This makes for a splotchy and unpredictable effect.

Unlike the smaller books, the paper in the large books is extremely sensitive to tape and I have yet to find a brand (even when I de-stick the tape by getting lint on it first) that won't tear the paper.

Even a light attempt to lift lines with a kneaded eraser starts to pill...

Canada on Nov 15, 2023

Amazon Customer: This is a nice large pair of sketchbooks and great with wet media. Good price fast delivery.

United Kingdom on Nov 04, 2023

cristina: La carta, usata per acquerello, permette buone sfumature e un buon lavaggio di colore. Soddisfatta!

Italy on Oct 20, 2023

blanche: Avrei voluto riacquistarlo perché ben rilegato e con carta quasi top per lavorarci con gli acquerelli, peccato non sia al momento disponibile.
Ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo e di buona fattura, è dotato anche di taschina interna per contenere documenti o materiale cartaceo.

Italy on Jun 23, 2022

Jaime: These came in a 2 pack. I kept one and gave the other to my son who is an artist. He loved it and says it's going to be his go-to art journal. I like mine. Handles watercolor as long as paper isn't soaking wet.
I would buy again in a heartbeat.

United States on Oct 15, 2021

Coloring Bliss: I use this book for my mixed media art journaling. I have put this book through extensive abuse and the paper has withstood both delicate art effects and extreme mixed media decoupage treatment. The spine is under extreme pressure on one book now due to the thick layers I have added and it still has not broken. Very impressive for this price range.
The paper is mid grade watercolor (not student grade and not horrible but it is not high end artist grade). I have tried multiple watercolor effects with lots of success and minimal warping for this paper grade. I have come across some pages with strange substances on them (perhaps too much sizing or inconsistent sizing).
Overall…these sketchbooks are good enough that I have repurchased them and always look forward to working in them.

United States on Aug 07, 2021

Mrs.: I am using the journals as a junk journal and not too much for watercolour. They are sturdy and will last . Watercolour pencils work well. Any form of tape to section out areas can not be removed without ruining the paper. Even low tack for watercolour specifically. so as a junk journal I can glue in random pictures, use washi tape and make watercolour pencil sketches . working well for me. i include poetry using a fountain pen but some liquid inks soak in and stain both sides of the page. overall, a good purchase. Know what you want to use it for before purchase.

Canada on Jul 31, 2021

Ashley Sprungman: Both Journals came in the package which was a good start. The texture of the journal tough and heavy duty, the paper is mixed - meaning that one side of the page is made for watercolor specifically and the other side is for mixed media like heavy markers and colored pencils. I painted on the watercolor side and no leakage! It holds a lot of weight and the paper doesn’t Frey as easily as my other journals. It’s great paper and the perfect size for your backpack!

United States on Aug 07, 2019

acc: I was lo for watercolor journal. I wants to give a try to this brand that is presenting everywhere. The price might be inexpensive but also the quality is not the best. Other words you get what you pay. The paper is good but not the best for watercolor, the sheet will wrinkle with a little water. Oh well, this would be my only Arteza product. Definitely the journals look pretty and sturdy from the covers.

United States on May 26, 2019