Canson's Mixed Media is easily one of my favorites for all-around good paper. I use it for watercolor, inks, pencil, coloring pencils, etc. It holds very well, paper doesn't yellow after a couple years, and the paper doesn't lose all stability when water is added. For its price, this is probably the best sketch pad if you're looking for one for a lot of mediums. Watercolor isn't perfect however. The colors aren't absorbed and smoothed as well as some of the higher quality watercolor papers, but will hold far better than other cheaper pads or just straight up printing paper. It also tends to stiffen up and get a little wrinkled, but if you leave it closed and let the rest of the papers flatten it, they usually tend to flatten out properly.

Note that the size of the sketchpad is kind of unique, I enjoy it for some really big and striking art, but the tear lines near the spiral are too weak for the weight of the much larger paper, and tend to tear themselves out. I solved this by reinforcing the tear lines with tap along the back, but this is only necessary if you plan of keeping the paper inside of the sketchbook permanently.

This is seriously sturdy paper! It even takes watercolor like a champ, without crinkling up! I highly recommend this if you are taking a drawing class that insists you have paper that accepts water media, even if you'll be using graphite, charcoal, or conte most of the time. If you're in a class wherein you only use dry media, no watercolor, ink, or glue, this is overkill. You can find something cheaper that isn't so heavy and hardcore. A great way to impress people who ran out of paper and need a sheet of yours, and "wow! OMG this is seriously good paper!" attracts attention.

There's a lot to love about the Canson XL series. When they say mix media, unlike others, they MEAN it. I've used pencil, pen, copics, charcoal, and watercolors in this sketchbook, and it's held up VERY well with all of these.

As you can see in my attached pictures, you can draw in pencil, and there's minimal pencil transfer on facing pages.

With watercolor, I will say that you DO get some warping of pages (still great for light washes/studies/tests), but I haven't experienced much bleed. (There is, sometimes, this funkiness as if the paper's refusing to accept the watercolor, but if you work it for a few seconds, it tends to take.) Also, the paper does start to break apart if it's too saturated with water, so I'd definitely stick to the light washes/studies/tests. Don't go too hardcore with wet media. (I know this seems a little critical, but I have had a lot of success using this sketchbook for wet media! You just shouldn't fuss with it too much.)

With copics, you WILL get some bleed (see attached picture) but just slip a paper behind it the page you're drawing on.

In general, the paper's really great. Thick, heavy, and durable. You can erase easily and without damaging the paper, and the binding holds up well.

This paper is good for markers, colored pencil, charcoal, graphite, acrylic, and water color. I love to use this bound pad of 90 lb paper for practicing with multi media. I wouldn't use this to make any master pieces in watercolor or other paints or ink because the paper does warp some. For everyday drawing, doodling, and practicing with various paints and techniques, this is my go-to pad of paper. There are 60 acid free perforated sheets of paper.

Affordable and truely for mixed media. Also super easy to find in such stores as: dick block, Utrecht, Michaels. Good for water coloring & inking as long as you don't add a ton of water you'll see minimal warping (as seen with the witch). Markers look amazing but will bleed through the page. The sun was made with Prismacolor chisel tips & the fire boy/frankenstien is made with Copics.