Review-Hahnemühle Cold-Pressed Watercolour Postcards #Hahnemühle #WatercolorPostcards #WorldWatercolorGroup @ZebraPenUS

Lots going on today! I have a watercolor postcard tutorial at Doodlewash!

Here, I'm reviewing the new cold-pressed watercolor postcards from Hahnemühle.  Both Hahnemühle and Zebra Pens generously donated some cool stuff so I'm also having a giveaway!

Prize: One winner will receive:
  • One tin Hahnemühle Cold-pressed Watercolour Postcards
  • One tin Hahnemühle Rough Watercolour Postcards
  • One 12 pack of assorted Zebra Pen Zensations Fineliners
  • One 6 pack of assorted Zensations Technical Pens

To enter: By July 18, 2018 11:59 PM PDT/06:59 AM GMT

Giveaway has closed and the winner has been notified!
  • Send me an email at LifeImitatesDoodles@gmail.com 
  • with 'I want to win Hahnemühle Cold-Pressed Postcards' in the subject line  

Open internationally.  I'll contact the winner via email.

And now, on to the review --



It's World Watercolor Month at Doodlewash! Tons of giveaways! Daily prompts! Tutorials ... did I say tutorials?  

I mentioned that I did a tutorial? It was done on one of these cold-pressed watercolour postcards, so I'm using it as my example.


This short video compares the two types of postcard - rough and cold-pressed. It's the slightly shorter version of this review.


Specs
  • 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.1 in  / A6 / 10,5 x 14,8 cm
  • 230 gsm / 85 lb
  • Natural White color
  • Cold-pressed surface
  • 30 postcards per tin
  • Archival 
  • Acid free
  • Age resistant
  • Unbleached
  • Address panel printed on the reverse
  • Rounded corners on both tin and postcards
Hahnemühle's been selling the same Watercolour Postcards in a tin for 10 years. Each year, the tin had a different painting, but the postcard remained the same.  This year, there's a new painting AND the postcards have changed.



This cold press surface is smoother. Like the rough postcards, color lifts easily, paint flows well and it's sturdy enough for layering and even a little scrubbing. 

They curl if lots of water is used. As they dry, they flatten out.  You may need to gently push them into shape.  If you intend to do heavy washes, I recommend wetting first and letting it flatten, then painting on it.  It's not an issue if you aren't doing heavy washes.


Watercolor paper is not formulated for pens and markers.  That said, some are better for it than others.  On the rough surface, lines were broken (I like that and use it for blending), but you can get a good strong line on these cold-pressed cards.

In fact, you can use just about anything on this paper and get a decent line. 

The alcohol marker and permanent marker bled through - I expected that.  

The wax crayon resist was pebbly.  I expected that too - the wax can't get down into the crevices.  I see ways to make use of that for texture, though.

I discovered that masking fluid comes off easily enough, but if you use a masking fluid eraser it will erase the paint too.  I didn't expect that! Lesson learned.



The tins are handy.  Use them to store your unused cards, keep your finished cards, or convert them into a odds and end tin.  I've got several now. After nine months of tossing them around like frisbees (only a slight exaggeration) I've yet to see a scratch or dent.

Do I like these cold-pressed watercolour cards? Ummm ... yeah.


Here are some links where you can read more about the cold-pressed postcards:
Last year I reviewed the rough-surfaced 
Just Add Water Silly
D.Katie Powell Art
Artful Words in the Hills of North Carolina

Related:
Scratchmade Journal (overview of several Hahnemühle papers)
Postcard  Demo Video
Jubilee Edition: Rough Watercolour Postcards 

If you don't want to wait to see if you won, you can find Hahnemühle Cold Pressed Watercolour Postcards at:
The Zensations Fineliners and Technical Pens can be found at the Zebra Pen website.

Disclaimer
Hahnemühle has sent me many tins of both kinds of postcards, knowing I would review them, and give some away.  I have received no other consideration, and all opinions expressed are my own. I think that you would know how much I like these by the number of them that I use.


For a full list and links to Fun & Easy Landscape 
Step-outs, Step-by-steps, Step-wiselys and guide rules go here.

Want to share your Fun & Landscapes? 
Join the Fun & Easy Landscape Facebook Group here


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