Tag: Cold Press

New Sketchbook Adventures!

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last weekend, I ordered a Pleinly 8″ x 12″ sketchbook via Amazon. I’ve been researching their Watercolour Easel package and am about to buy it. When you buy the Easel package you get the sketchbook below with it.

I have used it on my last three Watercolour Sketch a Day’s (below) and have to say that I am impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Every type of Watercolour paper handles differently and although I am still getting used it, I’m having a lot of fun. 🙂

A few things I’ve noticed are that it can take a lot of water, it feels different to touch and paint on than other cold press 300gsm 100% cotton papers/sketchbooks I’ve tried. Considering it has 52 pages and it is 300gsm, the sketchbook is quite light. I haven’t painted on the back of the page yet, but I am confident the paper will take it.

“Headland” 7 years, 83 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Light Interceding” 7 years 84 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Alpine Design” 7 years 85 days of a watercolour Sketch a day (Yesterday)

Later on, I will do another post and make some further comments. Can’t wait to do today’s sketch! 🙂

Till next time!

Written and sketched/painted by David Johnson

25 April 2026

“Glacier” – 6 Years, 125 Days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting, Uncategorized

It has been another very hectic month for many reasons. I am fortunate to have started this daily Art practice a few years ago. Without this practice I think I would have been using the old excuse, “that I didn’t have time” a lot!

Here is today’s sketch.

Materials:

  • Aquarelle Watercolour sketchbook 300gsm Cold Press
  • Sumikondo Japanese Watercolours (Blue-Black)
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolours (Indigo)
  • Aquawash & Neef brushes

I had a lot of fun doing this one!

Till next time!

Written & painted by David Johnson

31 May 2025

Playing Around…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

I’m only a fairly recent user of Arches Watercolour paper. I’ve wanted to use it for a fair while. The only reason I hadn’t used it before this year was the cost. One of the ways I used to solve this issue was watching out for discounts.

Earlier in the year, I visited Eckersley’s Art & Craft store. It is located in my local area. I was looking to buy some watercolour paper. I considered buying Fabriano, which I had used before. Then, I discovered there was a sale on Arches watercolour paper.

The only thing was that the A4 size had sold out. So, I purchased an A3 pack. Then, I cut each sheet in half to use. Problems solved!

The painting below is the first time I have used the Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paints with Arches watercolour paper.

Material list as follows:

  • Arches Cold Press Watercolour paper A4
  • Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint
  • Neef & Aquawash brushes
  • Colours:
    • Sky: Blue-Black
    • Mountains: Blue-Black & Purple-Black
    • Trees: Green-Black & Blue-Black
    • Plain: Yellow Black (watered down)
    • Grasses: Yellow Black
“Storm Approaching”

The composition was from my imagination and it certainly was fun playing around wet-in-wet.

Till next time!

Written & painted by David Johnson

11 November 2024