Awesome Sketchbook with Great White Pages - Almost Perfect

Hello there!

I recently picked up a sketchbook from Malovich for watercolor painting, and I was really stoked with it. The texture is gorgeous, the whiteness is top-notch, and it's just beautiful to work with. But it wasn't until the album was finished that I realized there was a catch. So, let me tell you all about it. The Waterfall sketchbook from Malovich.

The Malovich Waterfall sketchbook is a high-quality drawing album specifically designed for watercolor painting. It's a must-have for artists who value detail and precision in their work.

Watercolor paintingBrand: Malovich.Country of origin: Russia.Price: 200-300 rubles, depending on the store.Available for purchase anywhere, the brand is super popular. I bought it on Wildberries for 223 (back in December), but now it's 286 rubles.Design

The album arrived sealed in a thin plastic wrap, but I quickly removed it since I'm not a fan of the Wildberries stickers.

From the outside, it's a square album with rounded edges. The front cover features an original watercolor painting. It's got the name, brand, density, number of pages, and all that jazz.

Sketchbook for watercolor painting Malovich 300 g/m2, 20l, 19x19 cm. WATERFALLDimensions:19x19 centimeters

I'm really glad the back cover is a thick cardboard sheet – it's basically a sketchpad. It's super convenient for drawing on the go.

Sketchbook for Watercolor by Malevich 300 g/m2, 20L, 19x19 cm. WATERFALLNumber of sheets: 20.There was also a sticker with product information. If you're someone who cares about the manufacturer's details:

BindingIn my review of another sketchbook, I wrote about the different types of binding and how they vary. So, I won't go into too much detail here. The packaging on various websites says it's a spiral binding, but in reality, it's a grommet or a euro-spiral. The grommet can be bent or twisted to remove a sheet.

These types of bindings allow you to turn the pages in any direction, rotating the sketchbook up to 360 degrees.

Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich 300 g/m2, 20L, 19x19 cm. WATERFALL The holes for the hinge are spot on, nice and smooth, no rough edges or tears. Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich 300 g/m2, 20L, 19x19 cm. WATERFALL The hinge itself is also top-notch. The wire is smooth, coated, but for some reason it's been painted black. I'd have preferred blue or white. You can't even see the wire's edges, but I made a point to look for them and I can confidently say you won't get cut by them.

Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich 300 g/m2, 20L, 19x19 cm. WATERFALL Description of the paper At first glance, the 20 sheets inside might look a bit yellowish, like vanilla, especially in the shadows.

But the manufacturer claims otherwise:

The woodpulp has been removed from the paper, which means it won't age, yellow, or lose its design over the years.

I've never seen that before, to be honest - I didn't even know it was possible.

Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich 300 g/m2, 20l, 19×19 cm. WATERFALLWhen it comes to watercolor paper, one sheet is usually equal to one page. This sketchbook is no exception. So, let's take a look at the layout, and you'll see one working sheet. From afar, it's hard to notice. Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich 300 g/m2, 20l, 19×19 cm. WATERFALLCheck out the back side of the sheet in the photo below. Sure, you can use both pages if you want to go old-school. But when you're working with watercolors, those pages might not always be the best choice.I don't use the back sides of watercolor sheets because I like to glue my successful pieces into a separate album. So, the back side isn't necessary for me.

The front side, on the other hand, is more textured, with a finer grain and a canvas-like texture. The closer you look, the whiter it seems. Just a neutral tone. The manufacturer says it all about the quality of the paper:Professional watercolor paper with a small grain made from 100% alpha cellulose.

This is the front side:

Density of the paper:300 g/m²,

I've got to say, the paper density is really impressive. At first, I thought it was going to be a standard, thin watercolor paper, but as I started drawing with wet media, I realized it's actually quite dense. Even complex, multi-layered drawings don't bleed through the page.

Yes, the sheets do feel thick. I mean, this is a pretty substantial notebook with only 20 sheets, but the paper density is top-notch – and it's not just because of the thickness.

Waterfall Sketchbook by Malovich 300 g/m2, 20l, 19×19 cmMy TakeawaysI love that I can draw on this watercolor paper with whatever I want – even just simple pencils. The texture is great. I've had another watercolor sketchbook with smooth sheets, but this one has a nice, rough texture. It's my favorite type of paper, and it's designed specifically for wet media.

This high-density paper is perfect for wet watercolor techniques.That means it's ideal for working with wet materials. First, I'll show you some ink tests. This stuff is pretty wet, especially since it involves a lot of water for the pigment to break down. For example, my planetary drawing. I start by sketching with a pencil, then add lines with a pen, and finally erase any excess lines.

The fun part is when I get to add more ink to the right spots to make it darker. It's like a little art project. As it dries - sometimes it takes an hour or more - the ink breaks down into different shades. That's the magic of this paper. But I'll save that for another review. Ink bleeding - it's a thing of beauty When it's all said and done, the paper looks just as it should. The textured surface really brings out the color. It's like the paper is alive! The ink soaks in beautifully, leaving a nice matte finish. And the best part? The color doesn't fade even after it's dried. This is the real star of the show - despite its texture, this paper doesn't suck the life out of the color. That's a major plus in my book.

I've found that pens and pencils work great with it too. Sometimes you'll get this thick, matte paper that you draw on with a liner, and the ink either soaks in and turns gray, or it bleeds out in a starburst pattern on the textured surface. But that's not the case here. The line stays exactly as you drew it. And since the ink hasn't broken down, that's a credit not just to the pigment, but to the paper too - it's absorbed so much dark ink that it stays visible and resists bleeding from excess moisture.

What really matters to me, though, is that the paper doesn't buckle so much that it turns into mush and lets the brushes smear it into a mess. With a few layers of wet paint, the texture of the paper is still in place: I've looked at different parts of the colored sheets, and I haven't found any smudges. The density of the paper is really working. I couldn't help but notice: Malovich WATERFALL Sketchbook But, as I've said many times, my favorite genre is portraits, so I'll show those too. After all, the sketchbook was mainly for that. And even with the inks (which are a new product for me), the watercolor pages have really impressed me. Malovich Sketchbook One thing I love about this paper is how the ink flows beautifully when you use the wet technique. It's like the texture of the paper just lets the ink spread out and get all expressive. I'm a big fan of this look.For reference, here are some close-ups of the ink bleeding through the paper.Bleed-through inkIt's the same effect, but with a more cosmic theme:Kazimir Malevich's Waterfall sketchbookBleed-through inkAnd here's another one:Kazimir Malevich's Waterfall sketchbookBleed-through inkAnd here's another description that promises the moon:This paper doesn't buckle under the ink, it doesn't suck up the color, and it leaves vibrant colors intact. Plus, it's easy to get nice details in your drawing.

I've noticed that the colors stay vibrant, just like when I first applied them. The paper seems to absorb just the right amount of paint to create the design, but somehow the ink just sits on top. With details, it's a mixed bag - it depends on how densely I apply the paint.

But the paper buckles. That's the downside I was talking about. The sheet doesn't become wavy, but its edges curl up.It's not just the corners that curl, but rather all four sides seem to warp outward. If I don't use a protective border, water can seep beyond the edges of the design - that's problem one. And two, the distorted sheet is a nightmare to photograph. Either I have to crop the image tightly or it's marred by glare in the corners. And no amount of pressing overnight helps. I used special clips to hold the pages in place, but the sheets never aligned properly.

Bang Chan artGiven how much I've been using watercolors lately, the most important thing in watercolor paper is how well it gets along with the paint.It provides smooth, even coverage, absorbs water without warping, and resists bleeding.

Again, I'm not a fan of the warping.

But I've got to say, the relationship with the paints on this album is top-notch. If you let the watercolors dry properly, you can add a second layer, and then a third, and the color just deepens without compromising the paper. Even if you run a spirit marker over the still-damp paint, the paper won't buckle or become waterlogged. Of course, it's still not the best idea, since the felt tip could damage the top layer if it's already started to dry.

Hwang Hyunjin art Even with multiple layers of paint applied step by step, and then adding pens, and finally highlighting some areas with colored pencils, the paper still doesn't change. No questions there. This watercolor paper is definitely up to all my experiments. Kim Seungmin art I've already mentioned that I decided to 'ruin' a few drawings with feathers. At the time when this idea popped into my head, I got some rhinestones. So, first things first, I glued them on. I used super glue, dipping the crystals in it and then pinching them onto the paper over the paint with a pair of tweezers. The sheet didn't get damaged. The acidic formula didn't dissolve the paper or soak through it. It stuck firmly. Chfngbin art Well, and then there were the feathers, of course. My fingers suffered a few times because the quills were convex, and you can't soak them completely or the effect won't be right, so I pressed them with my fingers, and my fingers got stuck. Lee Know art Below is my favorite piece from this series. I'm proud of myself :D Sketch with feathers Another sketch with feathers: Waterfall sketchbook by Malevich But then I tried something a bit more challenging - a watercolor painting with a loose technique, followed by a sharp outline with a ballpoint pen. The only thing that didn't sit right with me was the black ballpoint pen, which somehow came out with a brown-purple tint that was way off from the black watercolor and spirit marker. You can see it in the photo below.But that didn't end up mattering in the end, because the same thing happened in the next sketchbook (with different paper) - so I guess it was the pen's fault.

Yang Jeongin art Sketchbook for watercolor Malovich WATERFALL I've got to share this crazy story with you. I tried to attach a feather to my eyebrow, but the feather was way too big, and my eyebrow is basically just a tiny little thing. So, I decided to stick it to my ear instead, but I ended up applying way too much glue. While I was holding it in place with my finger, I accidentally glued my finger to the paper. My son and I had to use a craft knife to carefully scrape it off, and in the process, I accidentally cut myself and damaged a small section of the paper. I was really attached to this drawing, and it turned out pretty well, so I didn't know what to do. I ended up covering up the damage with another feather, but this time I applied the glue on the other side and held it in place with the corner of the glue tube. The feather stuck, the damage was hidden, and my finger was still stuck to the tube, which was glued to the paper at the damaged spot. The second time around, I was too scared to use the knife, so we ended up soaking everything in hot water all over the house to get my finger unstuck :D

Sketchbook for Watercolor Malovich WATERFALL You can really see how well the markers and correction fluid have adhered to the watercolor surface. Speaking of which, correcting fluid is a super popular topic in drawing, and it's a lot cheaper than any white paint pens. Watercolor painting Check out how far back I've stepped from the edge here - this is a 'wet-on-wet' painting, but the paper hasn't buckled too much. Tip for those who draw on commission or for greeting cards: just step back a bit from the edge. Although, I do agree, it's a shame to waste so much space on margins. Watercolor painting Another winter scene. As I mentioned earlier, it's hard to get too detailed here. Even the finest grain of the paper won't allow you to create perfectly smooth small details, like the idea demands. Watercolor painting But, of course, the paper itself is fine. It does its job of 'getting along with wet techniques' just fine.A Watercolor PaintingAnd another painting from last year. I love how the watercolor just lies on this texture - it's gorgeous. I think it's just amazing.My Take on the SketchbookI've had a few sketchbooks from this brand before. There was one for more dense coatings (with more complex designs), but they're quite different. This one is specifically designed for watercolors.

Malovich Waterfall is not just a watercolor album, it's a creative tool that will help you unleash your talent and create real masterpieces.

I really like it, and here are its main advantages:

It has a lovely designThe paper density is excellentThe texture is beautiful and grainyIt doesn't absorb the colorIt beautifully highlights the watercolorIt works well with inksThe binding is convenientIt doesn't leak throughIt doesn't get ruined by a lot of waterYes, there's a major downside - the pages buckle under water. But that's a problem with all watercolor papers. I won't deduct points for it, and I don't know how to avoid it. Using less water? That defeats the purpose. So, I just wanted to warn you, and I won't lower my rating. I really like it.

Thanks for reading till the end! All good here)

The Waterfall Sketchbook for Acrylics by Malevich - 300 g/m2, 20 liters, 19x19 cm. It's a great size for experimenting with different techniques.