So in the last couple weeks I’ve put the Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook through it’s paces. I’ve used pencil crayons (Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils), pen & ink (Zebra Brush Pen, Pentel Brush Pen, AD Markers & Tombow Dual Brush Pens) and watercolors (Da Vinci). I even tried liquifying my watercolor pencils and used a blender pencil from Prismacolor. What I found was, yes, the paper allows for lots of different media and it took everything I tried and it all worked wonderfully well. It’s a great sketchbook and allows the sketcher to also use watercolor, pens, ink, crayons, pencil crayons etc. I think you could throw almost anything at it and the Nostalgie would handle it all admirably. There is one BUT to my review. Here it is. It’s not my favorite Hahnemühle product.
It’s good, it’s even GREAT and it works so well. It takes everything that I could think of to throw at it, but I like other papers better. I think it’s because I’m spoiled. I have a ton of wonderful Hahnemühle products. If I want to draw and use my watercolor pencils, I use their greybook the most. I LOVE that paper. Beautifully silky but with just enough tooth to let pencil crayons lay down color so successfully. If I want to paint, I use either Cézanne (hot or cold pressed) watercolor paper. Or if I want to keep it in a sketchbook, there’s the watercolor book. And if I really want to soak the paper, there’s Leonardo watercolor paper which is heavyweight (600gsm).
I think this sketchbook would be perfect for a multi-media artist, one who isn’t spoiled for choices, like me. An artist who loves to be creative and try a lot of different techniques would love this multi-media sketchbook. Let me give you the specs so you can compare to other sketchbooks.
Nostalgie Sketchbook:
Weight: 190gsm
Pages: 80 pg/40 sheets
Book: Hardcover, thread stitched binding, anthracite-coloured Linen
Characteristics: Smooth, Natural White Paper, Acid Free
Size & Aspect: Landscape (A4 A5 A6), Portrait ((A4, A5, A6)
The Nostalgie is so well made. It’s hardcover is really gorgeous and looks and feels expensive. The book lies flat so you can paint across the gutter therefore making it easier to scan your work. As I said above, there’s lots of sizes to choose from, A4, A5, A6 in both Landscape and Portrait. The paper is fine grained, much like bristol. It feels lovely in one’s hand. I’d have to say my favorite thing to do in this book is sketch with both pencil and ink/pen. It took pencil crayon and watercolor very well and their hues show beautifully. But I most loved how it took pens.
My Zebra brush pen worked especially well in the Nostalgie. There was absolutely no feathering. I got such a wonderfully crisp line. That line allowed for beautifully fine, almost lace-like details. Every pen I tried worked like a dream. I was thrilled to find that there was no streaking, feathering or bleed through except with the AD Markers. They bleed through every paper I’ve tried but there was no feathering.
Maybe I DO love this sketchbook. I’m thinking, reading back my experiences, it’s going to be my goto pen & ink sketchbook! See? I AM spoiled! Thank you to Hahnemühle for sending this to me. It ROCKS.
Other Reviews of Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook:
RozWoundUp
KatiePowelArt
Doodlewash
Sandra Strait
Awesome artwork, fantastic review!
carolboss
BRAVO!
Michelle Hotchkiss
Finding the perfect sketchbook seems to be a never ending search for me. Since I live in small- town Alaska, I must mai order all of my supplies, so I rely heavily on the reviews people give. Some are hits, lots are misses, s I truly appreciate thorough and honest reviews.
Even if this is this isn’t your favorite, the art is beautiful!
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