Choosing the right watercolor sketchbook or block can greatly impact your painting experience. Whether you prefer a compact sketchbook for quick studies or a high-quality block for detailed works, the right paper enhances your creativity.
In this post, I’ll share eight watercolor sketchbooks and blocks I love, each with unique qualities suited for different styles and techniques.
Let’s explore these options to find the perfect fit for your artistic journey!
Table of Contents
Khadi Hardcover Sketchbooks
Khadi Hardcover Sketchbooks have been a joy to use.
The cover and pages have a beautiful natural texture, made from 100% cotton paper in India. Sometimes, you’ll see tiny fibers in the paper, giving it a unique and handmade feel. I love painting with it!
These sketchbooks come in different sizes, but I especially like the square one. The paper is 210gsm, rough, and has plenty of pages—great for watercolor or mixed media.
Khadi Hardcover Sketchbooks | From $13.05
By the way, besides sketchbooks, you can also find watercolor paper in sizes like A4 and A3 on Amazon and Jacksonart. You won’t want to miss their beautiful deckled edges!
Fabriano Venezia Book
I love the cute hardcover of the Venezia Book—it has a great quality feel and looks fantastic on a bookshelf!
The vegan paper works well with various mediums, allowing for detailed pencil sketches or simple watercolor layers. With 200gsm paper and 48 pages, there’s plenty of space to create.
Amazon: Fabriano Venezia Book 6x9in (15x23cm) | $17.40
Jacksonart: Fabriano Venezia Book
Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book
This hardbound Hahnemühle Watercolor Book features 30 sheets of fine-grained, natural white, acid-free 200gsm watercolor paper with a consistent texture on both sides.
It has a sturdy, black linen-textured cover and an elastic band to keep it securely closed for easy storage and travel.
Available in portrait (A5, A6) and landscape (A4, A5, A6) formats.
Amazon: Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book A5 | $17.79
Jacksonart: Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book
Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book (100% Cotton)
Unlike the previous sketchbook, this Hahnemühle Watercolor Book is made of 100% cotton, allowing for multiple watercolor layers and making it ideal for artists who want to explore water flow and various watercolor techniques.
It also features a durable cover and an elastic band, making it a great choice for travel.
This is one of my go-to sketchbooks for outdoor painting and Patreon demonstrations.
Amazon: Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book (100% Cotton) | $42.99
Jacksonart: Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book (100% Cotton)
Artway Indigo Sketchbook
This sketchbook has a simple, rustic appearance. Each sheet inside is handmade from 100% recycled cotton with deckled edges, giving it a unique character.
The texture varies naturally from page to page—some might mind this, but I find it to be part of its charm and beauty.
It has a beautiful indigo-dyed hardcover with an elastic band for closure. While the cover material isn’t as durable as the previous sketchbooks, it still provides enough support and protection for the pages.
From my experience, the watercolor paper doesn’t dry too quickly, making it a joy to paint on. I truly enjoy using this sketchbook!
Amazon: Artway Indigo Sketchbook | $31.08
Etchr Perfect watercolor Sketchbook
The Etchr watercolor sketchbook comes with a strong, durable hardcover that keeps your artwork safe.
Made with 100% cotton, 300gsm artist-grade, acid-free paper, it’s perfect for both dry and wet media, including watercolor, ink, markers, acrylic, and gouache.
Designed in a landscape format, it opens completely flat, making it easy to work across both pages. Plus, it’s vegan-friendly!
Amazon: Etchr Perfect Sketchbook A5 | $49.99
Jacksonart: Etchr Perfect Sketchbook
Arches Watercolor Block
Arches watercolor paper is my go-to choice due to its high quality and consistency. I especially like using their cold-press paper rolls and blocks.
Arches watercolor blocks come in various sizes and textures to suit different painting needs. The green cover indicates cold-press paper, which works well with most watercolor techniques.
Since the paper is glued on all four sides, there’s no need for stretching, making it convenient for painting and drawing. I often choose Arches for commissioned work because of its reliable quality. Each block contains 300gsm paper.
Amazon: Arches Watercolor Block | $40.56
Jacksonart: Arches Watercolor Block
Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Block
This watercolor sketchbook is equally excellent—it’s 100% cotton, providing a high-quality painting experience.
This watercolor block is strong and durable, resisting warping even with heavy water use. It absorbs water efficiently, allowing pigments to flow smoothly while maintaining vibrant colors.
It also comes in multiple sizes to choose from. I’ve tried it several times, and my experience has always been great.
Amazon: Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Block | $41.55
Although I already have my go-to paper and sketchbooks, I always enjoy trying new brands and different textures. Do you feel the same way?
In this post, I’m sharing eight watercolor sketchbooks and blocks I’ve recently used and loved. I hope you find it helpful! If you’d like to learn more about watercolor paper, you can check out:
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