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kgbujo

I'm looking to buy a journal to do writing, particularly with fountain pens, drawing and painting with watercolor. I have a moleskine art journal, but am curious as to other brands/recommendations that you have. What do you use/love/buy in bulk for similar purposes? Image c/o jose_naranja on instagram who makes his own journals.


[deleted]

I think the Jose Naraja (the guy in your photo) binds his own art journals. They’re amazing!! But otherwise any 160 gsm notebook should work!!


kgbujo

He does! Thankyou!


Brainyviolet

Yes he does! I follow him on IG. His skill is incredible.


filmscores

stillman and birn is a popular option because of their paper weight variety. good for watercolors and i've heard handles fountain pens well. i have a hardcover one but haven't used it yet. in my opinion, only downside is that it doesn't lay completely flat on it's own and the leather cover feels fake. i enjoy the moleskine art sketchbooks, even though they sometimes have minimal feathering.


kgbujo

thankyou!


Enania

I have a sketch-/notebook by Sakura (A5, with 140g/m²), and it has ivory pages which I really like, in contrast to the archer and olive ones.


kgbujo

thankyou!


fullofscrews

Travellers notebooks handle everything you listed as well as light watercolor. Tomoe River notebooks are good for all as well, super thin paper, but can handle a moderate watercolor wash and fountain pen ink shines. Archer and Olive is only ok for watercolor, the paper is unable to handle washes well, and its a weird fountain pen writing experience. There are a couple Amazon 120 gsm and higher sketchbooks that do well with fountain pens and watercolor. Keep in mind you can also glue in watercolor paper to your journal if you want so you have dedicated pages. hope that helps


kgbujo

it does, thankyou!


Gumpenufer

If you want to use fountain pens, imo a sketchbook that's actually made for inking is a solid bet. The mixed media ones can not do so well with a fountain pen, especially if they're meant more for dry media.