The 7 Best Hot Press Watercolor journals (2023 reviews)

We consider a hot press watercolor journal to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Speedball Hot Press Watercolor Journal READ REVIEW

Best For tutorials: Buy: tumuarta Nice little book READ REVIEW

Best For travel: Buy: tumuarta Hot Press Watercolor Journal READ REVIEW

Best For children: Buy: Paul Rubens Hot Press Watercolor Journal READ REVIEW

Best For urban sketching: Buy: Paul Rubens lb Watercolor notebook READ REVIEW

Best For mediums: Buy: Liphontcta Hot Press Watercolor Journal READ REVIEW

Best For beginner: Buy: BAOHONG Hot Press Watercolor Journal READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Speedball Hot Press Watercolor Journal

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Here, we present journal that manages to win our hearts. It's the speedball hot press watercolor journal and it's widely considered as one of all-around great journal you can buy. Watercolor travel journal books are bound in natural linen and offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. This is a sturdy, attractive watercolor book with strong, substantial paper that takes the paint very nicely. The paper is fantastic, it can take watercolor, ink, gouache and pencil. It comes with the little pocket as well.

The cover is great, this feels like the sort of book you want to pick up and handle. If you like adorable stuff and want to be inconspicuous while painting, the tiny one is a must. It is lightweight making it comfortable to carry anywhere. You will find yourself running your hands over and over the exquisite linen cover.

• Excellent paper weight and great for just about any media
• Able to watercolor on both sides of the paper without negative result as well
• Great size and paper doesn't buckle with light washes

Best For tutorials: tumuarta Nice little book

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The tumuarta nice little book's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The 5.5 x 5.5” square watercolor notebooks are perfect for painting your thoughts and ideas on the go. It is for times when you have the urge to create when you’re not at home. The paper is high quality watercolor, cold pressed paper. It is suitable for a simple wash of color over a pencil or ink sketch. There are perforations near the spine so that you can remove your sketches.

The paper is fantastic for watercolor and pen. It fits into a small purse. It is compact and can be taken along.

• Small and easy to carry around
• Nice fabric on cover, elastic strap is 1 cm wide and sturdy
• Just beautiful, sturdy, well constructed small notebook

Best For travel: tumuarta Hot Press Watercolor Journal

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Best part: tumuarta hot press watercolor journal costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. 8.25 x 8.25” large square watercolor sketchbooks are a good way to organize and store your daily work. It is ideal for watercolors, acrylics, ink pen, colored pencils, markers, oil pastels and more, it will tolerate light washes without bleeding and holds up to erasing.

This sketchbook is pretty nice, it has some texture and the size is perfect for putting in your bag or plein air painting. The round corner protects you from accidental paper cuts, sturdy and durable heavy board with linen covers support you to paint and draw, the book lays flat for working two-page spreads. It comes with a ribbon as will and a pocket on the back. The elastic closure is nice and soft too. The texture could throw some people off. It will last up to many years under normal use and storage conditions.

• Great for plein air studies or painting
• New and hot release

Best For children: Paul Rubens Hot Press Watercolor Journal

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Compared with other journal in this category, the paul rubens hot press watercolor journal has a convenient design. If you are looking for a portable watercolor travel journal and plan on using lots of scrubbing, scraping, taping, and masking techniques, it can take a beating. It’s convenient to take this watercolor journal with you wherever you go. It is made of 100% cotton rag for dry or wet painting, can be used for watercolor paint, gouache paint, acrylics, pencils, etc. Adopted 100% cotton, this journal is acid-free and can keep your memories alive long after the trip.

Each sheet of this watercolor paper features a double sided texture, so it offers you up to 40 pages to use. The classic book cover can protect the works on the inner page. It is suitable for children under 3 years.

• Available in two sizes, dual-sided paper design
• Suitable for detailed work and smooth washes
• One of the new comers and featured product

Best For urban sketching: Paul Rubens lb Watercolor notebook

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Compared with other journal in this category, the paul rubens lb watercolor notebook has a convenient design. This little book is the prefect size and the paper quality is high enough that there are no need throughs. It is great for painting on both sides, without much buckling if any. It is made with sturdy stitching, and opens flat. It does have a slight texture which is noticeable when using watercolor pencils.

The classic book cover can protect the works on the inner page. It bowed slightly in the center during a heavy wash, but the sheet flattened as it dried and doesn't have waves or other distortions.

• Nice paper for light watercolor washes
• Colors are vibrant and handles anything you toss at it
• Works for both watercolor and small airbrush work

Best For mediums: Liphontcta Hot Press Watercolor Journal

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The features department is where liphontcta hot press watercolor journal truly manages to shine. Linden Art watercolor journal is a high quality book for all your art, from painting to sketching to drawing and mixed media. It features a stitched binding and a brown pu leather hard cover, elastic strap, and page marker. It warps and curls with very little water.

At 140lb/300gsm weight, the paper in this watercolor book is thicker than many others so you can create with confidence. It works best with watercolor paint. It's a great purchase, provided you use media that is in wet paint form when applied. The texture is enough but not too much to make painting or sketching too difficult. It's great for mediums other than watercolor. It's best size for traveling.

• High quality cold press paper and leather cover, best size for traveling
• Made well, and watercolor works well on the paper
• Consists of 32 double sided sheets for a total of 64 pages to use

Best For beginner: BAOHONG Hot Press Watercolor Journal

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The baohong hot press watercolor journal is capable of outshining several other journal featured in this list in overall features in its price range. This premium-quality paper is 100% cotton and designed to be durable and long-lasting, ensuring that your artwork remains vibrant and beautiful for years to come. It offers a smooth, flat surface that is great for fine detail work and delicate washes. It is made from long, 100% cotton fibers, allowing it to absorb a lot of water without warping or causing the colors to bleed.

The journal contains 24sheets of paper, providing ample space for you to create multiple works of art. It is made with hardcover binding, which protects the pages from damage and ensures that the journal can withstand frequent use. The hot press is very smooth and paint strokes show up on the paper. This journal is compact and portable, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.

• Is made with baohong academy grade watercolor paper
• Good brand reputation