Hi friends! I have been using Strathmore Watercolour Travel Journal recently and really enjoyed it. It is definitely one of the better watercolour sketchbooks I have tried.
Strathmore 100% Cold Pressed Cotton Paper
Strathmore Watercolour Travel Journal contains Strathmore 500 series 100% cold pressed cotton paper, which I have used before. It also comes in a travel paper pad which I previously reviewed. The paper is the same as in the travel paper pad as well.
The size, 5″x8″ (12.7×20.3cm), is quite handy as it is not too big or too small. The paper, weighing 140lb or 300gsm, is thicker than the Etchr one I have used. Personally, I enjoy this Strathmore watercolour travel journal better, but in case you are interested in thicker paper, Etchr does have a Signature line with 300gsm cotton paper, which I will be reviewing later.
The paper in this journal is professional grade and acid free. There are 20 pages in this journal, which you can paint on both sides. FYI: the journal is made in the USA with materials from the U.K.
By the way, I paid CAD$12.99 for one at my local Winners (owned by T.J. Maxx), and the second one came without the rubber band, and was further discounted to CAD$6.99. I think part of the reason why I loved using these so much is because they are so cheap and work so well, I didn’t feel particularly precious when using them, which removed my hesitation to paint.
Size and Binding Of The Journal
I have tiny hands, but you can see how the journal looks relative to my hand. The binding is great because the journal can lay flat. In addition, I tested the paper with salt. As you can see from my over-salting, it works!
If you are wondering how this stacks up against some of the budget cotton sketchbooks such as Lightwish, I can tell you that the Strathmore cotton paper works so much better. It doesn’t lift as easily as the Lightwish papers. How I wish it came in a hardcover and bigger version!
Summary
Strathmore cotton paper and the binding made this journal a favourite of mine. The regular price, I believe, is around US$20, and the quality is better than the budget ones available on Amazon. Personally, I love using something like this for a quickly daily exercise to get creative, or as a testing ground for a larger painting. I felt very liberated in experimenting with new brushes and techniques in this journal.
