Handbook Journal Co. Artist Canvas Cover Travel Notebook for Drawing and Sketching, Vermilion Red, Pocket Landscape 3.5 x 5.5 Inches, 130 GSM Paper, Hardcover w/Pocket

I got the 5X5. It's small and cute and perfect for smaller sketching or travel. It doesn't have a paper weight listed, but it feels like 90lb paper. The paper itself isn't pure white (more cream) and has good tooth/texture. I tried it on the following mediums:1. Alcohol Markers: blends beautifully, bleeds bad so can only use on one side and you should have a protective insert like spare watercolor square behind the page you are working on.2. Prismacolor: blends well and allows for many layers without losing tooth.3. Water based markers: avoid. paper tears, doesn't hold well with harsh brushwork and synthetic brush tips4. Micron brush and ink: works well. Fluid, no tearing, no bleeding.5. Gel pen: okay for line work, paper tears if too much applied / used to fill in area6. Raffine or KohINor oil pencils: okay, not much layering.7. Pastel pencil, charcoal pencil and soft pastels: flakes a bit, but stays on page well. blends well.8. Watercolor (pan and tube): okay for dry or light water application with natural fiber brush and gentle brush work. Doesn't hold well to heavy water or heavy brush work. Minimal buckle if water used sparingly / patently.Overall, I'm pleased with the number of mediums this paper works with. Basically, avoid water-based inks, heavy water use in watercolor, and heavy brushwork that irritates the paper, and you're good. The only bleeding I had was from the alcohol markers. I'll be buying this brand again in other sizes.

In the past, I have used Moleskine sketchbooks and as much as I enjoyed it, I prefer this much more.I tuck this into my handbag and I'm out. I was skeptical at first; seeing that other users had difficulty with watercolors on this paper, but it hadn't buckled much for me. However, I don't regret buying this one bit (I plan to buy another soon.)

In 2015 I bought this same journal and it could easily handle markers and gouache. This version, 2017, cannot. The paper is VERY thin and very rough. I compared the two journals and there is a distinct difference. Very disappointing!! I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. There are many other journals out there that will fit mixed media needs better!

I ordered this back in 2014 as a freshman in college and now am ordering it again in 2016 as a junior in college. I LOVE THIS SKETCHBOOK. The size is perfect for me to toss into my backpack and to carry around campus. Also, the paper is definitely versatile. I've used pencil, pen, acrylic paint, markers/copic markers, charcoal, watercolor--it all works! The only media that bleeds through (I'll attach a photo), I have to warn, is copic markers; I like to alternate between copic markers and acrylic so that the acrylic would be on the back of the page that I used marker on--gotta get as much use out of the notebook as possible y'know? There's a little plastic pocket on the inside of the back cover, so that was also useful to store little samples of artwork, fabric, references, photos, etc etc. Overall a good travel-sized sketchbook!

So far I really, really like it! Its a very nice size. Not so big that it's intimidating, but no so small that you can't make good sized art. I read somewhere that you shouldn't use water colors on it or the pages will buckle very badlt, but it didn't. I used binder clips to hold the page down and then used the Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours on the first page to do a design. The page buckled slightly but you can only see it on the back, very lightly. The books's elastic band is very good as well. It's not loose but not so overly tight that you couldn't add other papers for things such as collaging. It is great. The bookmark inside is also very nice. It lays flat so you can still shut the book completely. The pages do not lay flat at first but if you give the book a slight bend, they will lay mainly flat, but I would reccomend clipping the pages down if you'll be painting. Overall, a very good purchase and I will repurchase once I finish this one.

I love this. Perfect size, lovely smooth paper, and can handle watercolor. This paper is not designed for watercolor, and certainly buckles a little, but the paper holds washes well, and the pages flatten out over time once the book is closed. I work really quite wet, usually with 2, sometimes 3 layered washes. This book did so well, I was grinning with excitement. There wasn't any bleed-through for me, although the image can be seen through the other side of held up to the light. Again, this isn't watercolor paper, so I was rather impressed.

Excellent size, good with all mediums, easy to carry