I’ve been looking forward to finishing my last A5 book
(Hahnemuhle Nostalgie Sketchbook) so I could start
the new Hahnemühle Watercolour Book,  my spring gift to me!

I am picky about my journals and have tried several, only to find they came apart
or I didn’t really like the paper (then they become scrap test books.)  I prefer bound,
A4 or A5 landscape.  Moleskin has been my best go-to for my sizes and paper needs,
but Moleskin’s paper has changed, with only 25% cotton fiber.  It deflects watercolor a bit more than it used to when it was far more like a fine watercolour paper.
Not too terrible for a journal, but when you have better paper it is noticeable.
I’ve also not been happy with the Fabriano watercolor journals I bought here in the states.

Hahnemühle Watercolour Book’s paper is a natural white (not bright white)
200 gsm or 135 lb fine grained surface structure on both sides, acid free,
30 pages, comparable to the Moleskin in weight and number.
I love the feel of the linen-like cover in my hand
(I’ve already made it mine by adding an image that says a bit about
the time in my life — Kamala’s gone — and the intent of the journal.)
Available in the landscape formats A4, A5 and
A6 (I have a couple and they are too tiny for me but I may use them during EDIM).
It has a serious rubber band that will not stretch out of shape,
and the only downside is no envelope — which is easily added,
and I like adding my own special envelopes that have memories!

And the paper!  The heart of the book…

It takes pencil well…

and erases well!  A fine point pen works well…

The paper took a grisaille wash of Noodler’s Lexington Grey ink well.
And it took watercolor much nicer than Moleskin’s.
I reworked some watercolor lines, and it did not fight me…

In the first test Buddha was well-behaved, but Ganesha splashed around!
I layered lots of wet juicy washes, inks under and over,
removed quite a lot of watercolor (gasp) and the paper is a dream.

Ganesha is a perfect image to begin this journal’s content, the scribe,
clearer of obstacles and new beginnings.
For Easter I offered up chocolate eggs to the God with the sweet tooth
(only one tusk, because he loved chocolate a bit too much.)

☾

Now that I am getting serious about Hahnemühle’s papers in many forms,
I was pleased to see that Hahnemühle has a commitment to environmental responsibility, which means a lot to me.  I vote with my $$$.  Just as I switched to fountain pens to
reduce the waste in my ink drawing, knowing I am buying from a company
that is interested in environmental stewardship is important. I am interested in their bamboo sketchbooks and that may be my next Hahnemühle review!

I know they are working to get their product in stores across the USA.
Wet Paint (one of two stores I frequent online) has the Nostalgie sketchbooks,
and will soon carry the Watercolour Book.
Flax Art & Design in San Mateo, California carries many Hahnemühle products,
including the Hahnemühle Watercolour Book,
BUT DOES NOT SHIP.  (I can see that I need to make a special stop!)

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