Field Artist 4 in. x 4 in. Square Watercolor Journal, Hardbound with 80 pgs. 200 GSM, Cold Press Paper

I bought this sketchbook for practice my brush pen work. I wanted something small so I wouldn't be overwhelmed by trying to fill a large space while learning to use a new tool - the Pentel brush pen. This little gem fills the bill perfectly. As others have pointed out one side of the page is smooth and the other has more texture. That doesn't bother me as I am inking right now but since this is watercolor paper, it gives me the option to add watercolor at a later time. The cover is very soft and comforting in the hand. The binding is sturdy and I love the panoramic panel for my practice pages.About the binding and pages separating: That happens when you don't properly break in the binding of the sketchbook. If you just splay it open without prepping it properly, it WILL come apart. Why sellers don't include this information in the description or in the packaging when they ship, I don't know. As an avid journaler and book-binder, I will give some instructions here to hopefully help others going forward.Place the book with its spine down on a table. GENTLY press the front cover down. DO NOT force it; this is what causes it to loosen and separate. Do the same with the back cover - again do NOT force it, use gentle pressure. pen and gently press down a few pages from the back, then the front. Keep doing this until you get to the middle. You may need to do this a few times. Taking a few minutes to break in your binding gently will sure that your book, the precious container for your thoughts and creativity, will last. Since I began doing this, I have had ZERO problems with a book of any kind separating.I am attaching a photo of how to do this process for the visual learners.

I really love the fact that there's a ribbon bookmark, and the fact that the outside cover is hard. There's a stretchy elastic ribbon on the outside so that when I do mixed media pages, I will be able to keep it shut. There is also a stretch out piece at the back so that you can stretch out the last pieces in several inches at least. I will definitely be ordering more of their watercolor or mixed media books in the future.This size, is perfect to start out. It allows me to do small watercolor paintings in the 4x4 inch size. I don't have to worry about filling the screen. I've done some dry to wet page drawings which is something I was easily able to do in this small setting with both watercolor pencils and markers. I have some ideas that include the "Artist's Cards" as well. They will run through my open window die through my Gemini Jr and then I will attach it to one page, layering so that it truly looks like an open window. I've used some acetate which makes it look like glass and shutters as well. I've added a flower box underneath and then added small colored baby's breath flowers and when you pull open the shutters, windows and look within there is a small sketch of my beloved golden retriever, Deidre.I really recommend this watercolor sketchbook. The weight of the paper is perfect as is the size.

This is my favorite watercolor paper. I got the smallest one (4" x 4") because I'm doing Inktober for the first time and I wanted to keep it small and do-able. Plus I can very easily carry it with me anywhere. It's well made and very sturdy. But mostly I love this paper! Watercolor looks (and feels) beautiful on it. It takes ink and markers very well too. (Except for Copics which do bleed through to the other side a bit, but that is to be expected from Copics - unless you use Crescent Rendr paper, which is great for Copics, but not great with water.) Field Artist is my favorite watercolor paper by far. And the cover is a nice, soft, thermo-PU leather. Feels smooth in my hands and no animals were harmed. :) Win win! I will include a couple of sample drawings/washes I did in it here. (I used watercolor, Ranger markers and Copic markers.)

The paper holds up beautifully and handles watercolor, guache, and watercolor pencils excellently. No complaints whatsoever. The binding is fantastic and the outside is durable and so reliable. Lovely paper texture. 10/10.

I really adore this journal. It's quite small and fits in almost every purse I own. I can use it for very limited watercolour, drawing, sketching, lettering practice, and just for doodling. The paper quality isn't my favorite. The paper will pill when water is introduced. I found this to be true even when the water had not saturated the page. Also, the paper will pill when used with watercolour markers or aquabrush pens. For dry media, oil markers, alcohol markers, and acrylic with little water, the paper holds up fine. I would buy another one of these for sure, but with these limitations on paper quality would have to look elsewhere for a watercolour journal that can actually handle water. Still, for the price, I had a great time with this journal and have used it a lot.

Update 15 March, Contacted seller and they responded immediately and sent a replacement. And, it arrived today the 15th. Excellent and quick. Thank you very much for sending a new one.Update 11 March, when I did go to use it, I opened it here at the table. So sad that it actually just came apart immediately. Has anyone had this happen? How do I get word to the seller and see what to do? Thank you.I really like the way this feels in your hand. The paper is wonderful and can't wait to really get started filling up this little gem.

This tiny watercolor journal is amazing! It rivals and even surpasses a similar moleskin journal. The pages are thick and I can paint on BOTH sides of each page. That is a huge plus for me. It holds the paint super well. I even layer paint a lot.Don't worry about warping. It will a little. However, it has this nifty elastic and to hold the book closed so all the pages flatten out pretty quickly once dry.You don't have to travel to get use out of this little gem. I use it for quick ideas that I get down in watercolor so I can do large oil paintings later. Of course, I also just use it for fun tiny things. Check the photo!