Wet media on sketchbook paper looks flat and uneven - the scan of this brightly colored paint doesn't really indicate how dull the effect actually is. Results are unpredictable, particularly if the sizing of the paper is uneven. However, you could safely add the occasional touch of color or tone with a not-too-wet brush. As a student I used watercolor quite extensively on sketchbook paper, protecting the under-layers with blotting paper and incorporating its inconsistencies in the design.
Paper Review - Generic Sketchbook Paper
By Helen South, About.com Guide
5 of 5
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Sketchbook Paper - Watercolor Wash
Watercolor on sketchbook paper.
H South, licensed to About.com, Inc.
In this section of the review, I used a colored pencil wash on the paper, diluting slightly for a graduate effect. The water soaked quickly into the paper, while particles settled into the tooth, giving a grainy, faded, uneven surface. The surface didn't buckle as much as I'd expected. With some sketchbook papers I've found that brushstrokes sink into the paper so quickly that it is impossible to create a smooth wash.
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- Generic Sketchbook Paper
- Sketchbook Paper - Graphite Pencil Test
- Sketchbook Paper - Erase, Smudge and Blend
- Sketchbook Paper - Colored Pencil Test
- Sketchbook Paper - Watercolor Wash
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