Watercolor Paper Basics Watercolor Paper Finishes Watercolor Paper Reviews

Pentalic Aqua Journal Watercolor Paper Review


Currently the Pentalic Aqua Journal is my go to painting journal. It's acid free 140# (300gsm) watercolor paper, so if I'm painting a few washes it doesn't buckle all over the place. This is a huge selling point for me.

Sketch in Pentalic Aqua Journal

Sketch in Pentalic Aqua Journal.

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.

    • 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. :)

  • 2. Heavy enough to not buckle too much.

    • Not looking for perfect, just acceptable here.

  • 3. Enough texture to drybrush some.

    • 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.



Backyard Bird Sketch, Tufted Titmouse 2 Painting Tutorial
painted on Pentalic Aqua Journal

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.


Daffodils Watercolor Sketch Painting Tutorial
painted on Pentalic Aqua Journal







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.

Paper Finish Type Weight Durability Saturation Finish Color Overall Feel Value
Full Sheet (22" x 30")		 Sample with
Pthalo Blue,
Cadmium Red,
Quinacridone Gold or
Nickel Azo Yellow		 Overall Rating
Cold 140 B C C Warm White C
Nice for a journal.		 $ 17 (48 Pages) B+

Conclusion

Pentalic Aqua Journal is a good, solid choice for a sketchbook. I haven't found one with better or more consistent paper. I always wish for something a little better, with 100% cotton paper maybe and a little less regular patterned paper, more like handmade paper. However, cheap handmade paper is just not workable for long as a sketchbook - I can't even get 3 washes out of it so I don't use my beautiful handmade paper sketchbooks anymore. Good handmade paper is too expensive to be in a casual sketchbook, really. And I use my sketchbook almost every day. I don't want to even think about the cost of each page as I use it so I do like something fairly inexpensive.

For a less expensive option, I'd use the Strathmore Visual Journal (Review here).

I'd love an amazing paper in a journal, but a good solid paper is probably best for a journal, after all. It dries quickly, works just enough to limit me to fast sketches rather than agonizing over details. But the paper quality is there for detail if I need it for a few touches, just not layers of washes.

I love the cover, nice and easy to clean. The dark blue is rather pretty too!

I try almost every new watercolor and otherwise sketchbook on the market. (I generally pass them on to my kids and husband if they don't hold up.) I will continue to try new ones, but as I currently have one in the mail since I'm down to my last few pages in my current Pentalic book, I'll probably continue using the Pentalic Aqua Journal as my primary sketchbook. I can't wait to try the new square format!


Orchids Sketch Painting Tutorial
painted on Pentalic Aqua Journal


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These reviews are to simplify the confusing world of non standard artist materials.
They are supported by the ads shown and selling my paintings.


Testing Criteria

Durability
Can I scrub the paper?
Is the sizing immediately gone?
Will it pull up on multiple washes?
Will masking come off easily?

Saturation
Will it resist or soak up water?
How quickly can I do another wash?

Overall Feel
 This is my personal viewpoint on the paper. Do I like to paint on this paper?

How does the paper feel to work on? Does it respond well to the brush or seem to resist it? Can I work quickly and easily or do I have to keep in mind the paper's quirks as I go?

Paper's feel is difficult to quantify but very important to the artist. Sometimes I work with difficult papers just because I love how they respond to the paint and the overall affect.


Individual artists will have as many different opinions as painting styles!

Value
First, is this meant for students or professional artists?
Does the price reflect this?


In these days of super sales and discounts of 50% expected off a artifically high MSRP, it's impossible to give accurate prices. I'm using MSRP for comparative cost.

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