Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Set (24 Half Pans)
Twenty-four half pans of Cotman watercolor in a compact case with mixing palettes and a brush - a proper set that goes from desk to park bench.
$63.13Check it out
For Him / Her / Kids
Strathmore 400 Mixed Media Pad — one heavy paper for wet and dry media
Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pad (9 x 12 in)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- Mixed-media artists
- Sketchbook practice
- Watercolor & ink
- Small add-on gift
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Price: $8.04
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
A 9 by 12 inch pad of 15 sheets of Strathmore 400 Series mixed media paper, a heavy 184 lb (300 gsm) sheet with a vellum surface. It is made to take dry media like pencil, charcoal and marker as well as wet media like watercolor washes, gouache and ink.
For an artist who switches between materials, it saves buying a separate pad for each. It is also the natural paper to pair with the watercolor set or the POSCA markers in this guide.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- An artist who mixes ink, marker and paint in one piece
- A student building a portfolio
Think twice if
- They work only in heavy watercolor washes
- They paint only on canvas
The catch
Fifteen sheets go quickly, and very wet watercolor washes can still make mixed media paper ripple - dedicated watercolor paper handles soaking-wet work better.
Skip for a painter who works only in heavy watercolor washes or only on canvas.
Worth knowing before you buy
- The pad has 15 sheets.
- Very wet washes can still ripple the paper.
Why we like it
- One pad for wet and dry media
- Heavy sheets that stand up to erasing and layering
- A 9 x 12 size that fits a bag
Questions people ask
Pencil, charcoal, marker, ink, gouache and light watercolor washes - it is designed for both wet and dry media.
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