Derwent Sketch Book, Big Book Drawing Pad, A4, 8.27 x 11.69 Inches Sheet Size, Wirebound, Hard Covers, 86 Sheets (2301607)

Very useful!!

Great

Good small travel sketch pad. Will handle water colours, pen/ink and graphite

I thought this would make an all around versatile sketchbook to grab and go for quick watercolor sketches. I specifically bought it based on the description that states " acid free thick white paper is perfect for drawing and painting." Unfortunately it buckles and warps like crazy when it's wet with watercolor, and starts to pill up if it's worked over with more than a couple layers of watercolor.The paper only works if you limit yourself to dry brush watercolor painting techniques. Works marginally for watercolor pencils, or inktense pencils provided that you first add them dry to the surface, then add just a tiny bit of water from a waterbrush to blend out.I also used black ink and black marker pen and it bled through completely, so forget about using the other side of the paper after that. I could also see the watercolor image through the back side of the paper, so it is not what I'd call "thick" paper.I realize this is not watercolor paper but the description said it was thick and could handle paint. I was expecting something more robust and versatile, and this definitely isn't it. With a layer of gesso coating it could probably be used with acrylic paints, but expect it to buckle a lot as the gesso dries, plus adding gesso is a hassle and an added cost if you don't have any.I'll be using it mainly for scrap paper since dry media like pencil and charcoal sketching aren't my media of choice. Luckily this sketchbook was not super expensive when I bought it here for $16, but while writing my review noticed the price has jumped up by more than $10. I will definitely never buy again as it is expensive for scrap paper, and not something I can paint on.I gave a one star rating because that is as low as you can go, and is probably useful for something, but not what I was misled to believe it could be used for.