I love a good sketchbook, and I like trying new sketchbooks when I get the chance.
For my latest sketchbook purchase, I picked up a Bee Paper Super Deluxe (9” x 12”). It sports a sticker on the front claiming it is “The Only Sketch Book You Will Ever Need.” Additionally, the sticker says the paper can handle pencil, ink, crayon, watercolor, and more. Note: this post first appeared on my other website, clattertron.
After using mine for a couple of weeks, I can say my Bee Paper Super Deluxe Sketch Pad made good on this claim.
I learned about Bee Paper sketchbooks via Instagram, on Natalie Nourigat’s account (she posted a photo of her own), and I decided to give one a try.
The paper is 93 lb., and holds up to watercolor paint very well. Hooray!
Space Jam! I’ll show myself out. Via my Instagram.
If I use a thick, dark marker, I can see the lines on the back of the page a bit—but this doesn’t bother me, nor is it a surprise.
Watercolor paint doesn’t show through. That’s nice! (although painting on the back of another painting probably isn’t a good idea).
Writing and sketching with my trusty Uniball Jetstream or Pilot Precise is a breeze, even with the slightly textured surface. Light sketching with 2H lead looks faint, but that’s more the result of the lead than the paper (and these days I sketch more with a pen anyway, so this isn’t a problem).
I only wish I bought a smaller sketchbook, as 60 sheets of 9” x 12” 93 lb. paper isn’t the easiest to lug around. My next one would be a 6” x 9”, I think. (UPDATE: it was!)
Still, I love this sketchbook (and getting used to drawing larger isn’t a bad thing either) and enjoy filling the pages with funny drawings—and watercolor paint.
