If you’re trying to figure out which watercolor journal to buy as a beginner, the short answer is: it depends on whether you prefer a smoother, more absorbent hot press feel or a true cold press texture. Below are the three journals I keep coming back to, why each one earns a spot in my studio, and which one I’d hand a beginner first.
A quick personal note: since becoming a mom, I don’t have the hours I used to for perfecting a drawing on high-end paper before ever touching paint to it. Working straight into a watercolor journal has become how I stay creative without needing a big block of free time, and it’s why I lean on these three journals more than anything else in my studio.
Supplies Used in the Video
Paul Rubens Watercolor Journal
This is my number one pick, and the one I still reach for the most. It’s a hot press watercolor paper, but it doesn’t behave like a typical slick hot press sheet. It acts more like an older soft-press paper I used years ago that’s since been discontinued, sitting in that happy middle ground between cold press and hot press.
It gives just enough absorbency for the paint to have some control, the way cold press does, while staying smooth enough to layer ink work and pencil on top without catching on the texture the way true cold press paper can. If you like doing line work or pencil underdrawing before you paint, this is the one I’d point you toward first.
The one downside: the binding doesn’t hold up especially well the more you use it. For the price, though, I still think it’s worth it, and it’s the most affordable of the three.
Buy it here: Paul Rubens Watercolor Journal on Amazon.
BAOHONG Watercolor Sketchbook
This one is nicer overall than the Paul Rubens, a bit bigger, and you can get it in a leather-look cover. It’s also hot press paper, but a more traditional hot press than the Paul Rubens – sleeker, so color sits more on top of the paper and creates the unique textures hot press is known for.
It’s still smooth for inking and pencil work, and the larger, travel-friendly size means you can draw bigger illustrations and use more of the page compared to the smaller Paul Rubens journal. It costs more than the Paul Rubens, so if you’re brand new to watercolor journaling I’d still start with that one first – but if you want to try a true hot press texture without spending on premium sheet paper, this journal gives you a lot of that experience for less. If you specifically want a cold press feel, this isn’t the one.
Buy it here: BAOHONG Watercolor Sketchbook on Amazon.
Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book
If you like true cold press paper – especially if you already like Arches cold press – but want it in a journal format at a lower price point than Arches, this is the closest match I’ve found. The paper is thick enough that colors don’t bleed through, so you can layer washes on top of each other without ruining the page underneath.
It’s still smooth enough to add ink work and build up detail for mixed media on top of the cold press texture. This is my second favorite of the three overall, mostly because the binding is the sturdiest of the group – if you want a journal built to last, this is the one I’d pick.
Buy it here: Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book on Amazon.
Which Watercolor Journal Should You Buy First?
Ranking all three by how often I actually use them: the Paul Rubens journal is my favorite, the Hahnemuhle is my second favorite because of how well it’s bound and how long it lasts, and the BAOHONG rounds out the top three. I like all three enough that I restock them whenever they go on sale, so this isn’t a case of ranking a favorite against two also-rans – these are simply the three watercolor journals I keep going back to.
If you’re brand new to watercolor and don’t want to spend much to start, begin with the Paul Rubens. If you already know you like a cold press feel and want a journal that will hold up over years of use, go with the Hahnemuhle. If you want a true hot press texture in a larger, travel-friendly format, the BAOHONG is worth the extra cost.
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