Review: Hahnemuhle Watercolour Book Deckle Edge 100% Cotton

Not a sponsored review

This is the Hahnemuhle Watercolour Book with deckle edge 100% cotton watercolour paper. I had paid SGD 39 for this A5 portrait format. There are 60 pages. St Louis Art Supply (a part sponsor) also sells this, at USD 33.

If this review looks familiar, it's probably because I reviewed a variant with the straight edge cut months ago. Also note that there's a version that does not use cotton watercolour paper, so do not buy the wrong one.

This sketchbook comes with torn edges which looks cool but otherwise doesn't really affect the functionality of the paper in anyway.

The other difference is this watercolour sketchbook is available in fewer sizes: A6 (portrait and landscape), A5 (portrait and landscape) and 14 x 14cm. The other sketchbook goes up to A4 size and has a 19.5 x 19.5cm option.

The hardcover is matte, non-glossy. The sketchbook comes with a ribbon bookmark and elastic band that holds the covers together.

There's no mention of the maker of the watercolour paper but the paper quality is good. The sketchbook is only available with coldpress 250gsm cotton watercolour paper. The paper looks off-white.

Stitching looks good and the pages can open completely flat.

Interestingly, the first page is not glued to the inner cover like most other sketchbooks. So the paper behind the cover is actually connected to the 5th page. This binding allows the second and third pages to open flat. Many other watercolour sketchbooks would glue the second and third pages and as a result those pages can't open flat.

Here's a sketch of the Chwee Kang Beo temple (companion video).

The paper is able to handle pen and ink really well, and can be used as a mixed media sketchbook too.

Colours look vibrant on the paper.

For this sketch, I had used a lot of water for wet on wet techniques and the paper is able to handle heavy washes well. I'm not sure how the paper is sized, either internally or externally, but the paper is able hold water for a good amount of time, which allows more time for paint and colours to blend smoothly.

250gsm is quite thick and there's minimal buckling with the paper.

It is certainly very satisfying to be painting on high quality watercolour paper.

This is a watercolour sketchbook I can recommend easily.