Pentalic Aqua Journal Watercolor Paper Review
I've been using this journal for a few years and I'm pretty sure they started out making it with cotton paper, then it became impossible to get for about a year. When it became easy to find, no cotton was in the description so I assume it's a cellulose paper. Very disappointing, but it doesn't have the weird clay coat that a journal like Moleskine uses to beef up its really inferior watercolor paper, so that's good.
I really want 3 things from a journal.
- 1. The ability to paint 3 washes quickly.
- 2. Heavy enough to not buckle too much.
- 3. Enough texture to drybrush some.
It has to soak up water well enough to do the next wash soon. I'm sketching quickly so I want to keep working. Plus, I sketch a lot in Southern humidity. :)
Not looking for perfect, just acceptable here.
Rough, loose sketches are my goal, not polished layers.
Pentalic is my current favorite. If I get more serious and spend more than 15-20 minutes on a sketch, I switch to a Arches block. The great advantage is you can always have the sketchbook with you and it's easier to start a fresh page.
Positives
140# Paper in a hardbound watercolor journal? Perfect!
I really like hardbound journals. The Pentalic Aqua Journal is a dark navy blue leatherette. I love that. Painting journals get wet. A cloth cover looks very elegant new, but leaves a bit to be desired after a few pages have been used. The slick surface of this sketchbook can be easily wiped off.
Negatives
Not the best, not the worst paper. It's not cotton, so it won't hold up to a ton of working. There is definitely a 3 wash limit, which is right for a sketchbook.
It would be nice if it was cotton, since it really isn't watercolor paper if it's not. It just isn't tough enough and doesn't behave the same.
It would be nice if it could hold up to scrubbing or lifting paint. All I'd try with it is blotting, cellulose really can't do more.
I use a lot more white gouache when I'm sketching since I'm trying to get the idea of the scene, not a finished painting. So the no lifting pigment isn't a huge issue.
The back side of the paper is slightly different in texture and sizing so it's difficult to do perfect full spread washes. However, I've not yet met a journal that didn't have this issue.
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Value
Good value for the price. It's hard to find 140# paper in a watercolor journal.
I think the only way to get better paper would be to make a watercolor sketchbook yourself.