Monthly Discovery: Watercolor Papers (English) (Patreon)

Hello everyone, today we are going to focus on a very important topic for our work: kinds of watercolor paper.

As I have already mentioned on some occasions, watercolor is a technique that is greatly affected by the kind of material we work with, from pigments to brushes and, of course, paper.

That is why knowing some basic concepts will help us a lot in choosing the paper that best suits us, thus improving the final result of our work.

THICKNESS AND GRAMMAGE

The first thing we have to be clear about is that GRAMMAGE is not the same as THICKNESS.

GRAMMAGE: number of grams per square meter, it is the paper weight. For example if we talk about 120g/m² it means that each square meter of that paper weighs 120gr.

Thickness: It is the measurement of the edge of the paper, it is measured in microns (thousandths of a millimeter)

There are many types of watercolor papers with different weights ranging from 180gr to 900gr. If you use paper less than 300gr, you will have to stretch it by its edges (with clips or masking tape) to not move or bend while you are working.

What grammage is better for watercolor painting?It should be at least 200gr so that it supports humidity well and resists several layers of paint and water. The higher the grammage, the less the paper will bend.

PAPER COMPOSITION

We can divide them into three categories : cotton, cellulose and mixed.

Cotton: They are also called rag papers, due to their composition. Advantages: They tend to have a very pure white color, so they do not need to be bleached. They absorb moisture very well and allow several washes without bending. In addition, dry color is very well sealed in the fibers and that allows us to create very clean glazes (without removing the first layer of color). Disadvantages: Because the color is introduced into the fibers, it is more difficult to remove it one it is dry. Is we work with a fountain pen the ink blends faster into the fibers and the resulting lines are more diffuse, that adds another difficulty to our work. 100% cotton papers are usually the most expensive.

Cellulose: wood pulp. Advantages: They are very cheap papers. They are perfect for color testing and rough sketches. Disadvantages: They absorb less water and bend more. They resist less the brush strokes and the surface suffers more. They tend to turn yellow over time.

Mixed: a combination of cellulose and a variable percentage of cotton. Advantages: They are the most common on the market. Quality-price put them in the first position. Disadvantages: They bend more easily than 100% cotton papers and get worse as they age.

Which composition is better for watercolor painting?Personally I feel more comfortable with mixed or cellulose papers since when using watercolor and ink (and write with fountain pens) the lines have a better finish. In addition the price is lower and the mental pressure is reduced when painting.

PAPER TEXTURE

The texture surface of watercolor paper is divided into three main categories: satin, fine grain and rough.

Satin: also called ‘hot pressed’. The fibers are hot pressed and the result is a paper with a smooth texture. It allows us to add a lot of details and narrow lines in our drawings (it is used for example in botanical illustration). If you work a lot on wet I do not recommend it because the water moves very quickly on the surface and it absorbs less moisture. It is usually used in techniques such as gouache and acrylic.

Fine grain: also called ‘cold pressed’. The fibers are cold pressed and the result is a paper with an average texture. It allows precise lines without losing the texture of the watercolor paper. Very easy to use. 

Rough paper: It also called torchon. The fibers are not pressed. The result is a highly textured paper. It is widely used to create dry brushstrokes in works that prefer the spontaneity over a  detailed drawing. As the fibers are more separated there is more air between them and it allows a fantastic water absorption making it especially good for wet on wet techniques.

What texture is better for watercolor painting? Although it depends a lot on each artist, I particularly always recommend fine grain. This kind of paper is very good for water control (especially for beginners) and is perfect for wet and dry techniques without loosing details. In addition, if we use a fountain pen (for texts or lines), a rough paper could make broken lines and reduce the legibility.

TONED PAPERS

Currently, in addition to white or cream, there are other kind of watercolor papers with different colors, for example ocher, gray and even black. Keep in mind that watercolor is a technique that works with transparencies, that means the color of the paper will affect how pigments look.

Watercolor toned sketchbooks 

SIZES

Watercolor paper can be found in three formats: loose sheets, pads or blocks, and sketchbooks.

Loose sheets: you can find them in a huge range of different sizes, they are especially useful if you work with large formats (more than 1 meter). They perfect if you want to sew them together to create your own sketchbook. If you paint outdoors you will a board to be able to use them. To avoid buckling, I recommend to stretch them before using. 

Blocks and pads: pads are sheets glued in one side and blocks are glued in all the sides except for a small gap. In order to use a blocks correctly, the sheet does not have to be peeled off until the work is finished, this way the paper will remain flat during your work. They usually come with a rigid cardboard on the back that serves as a support when we paint outside.

Sketchbooks: there come in many formats and sizes. Concertina, with spiral or sewn. When traveling I prefer the last ones. To choose a good travel sketchbook, several aspects must be taken into account: a resistant cover, a sewn binding that it opens well and paper that resists water on both sides without buckling too much. They are perfect for painting outside and, when closed, they preserve the color of watercolors very well over time.

(Different watercolor sketchbooks with spiral)

(Watercolor sketchbooks with sewn bindings)

Concertina sketchbook 

PAPER I USE

Blocks: For commissions works or other illustrations that need to be digitalized I use the Harmony cold pressed 300gr from Hahnemuhle. It is acid free and natural white.

Sketchbooks: The perfect grammage would be a 300gr notebook, currently there are few sewn notebooks of that weight that meet the characteristics mentioned above, that is why, after trying other brands, I opted for Hahnemuhle. They have a waterproof cover and allow me to make double-page compositions. For traveling I use the A5 size and to paint at home and practice I use the A4.

GENERAL TIPS

- Try different papers to find out which one suits your way of painting. I recommend you to buy a set of different samples like this one: ‘Selection’. It includes different sheets and also a technical specifications of each kind of paper.

- Practice at home using the same paper you will use for painting outside. For example, do not use a rough paper with a high grammage at home if later you are going to paint on your trips in 200gr fine grain sketchbooks...

- Do not be afraid of spoiling the paper, there are many more blank sheets waiting for you and remember that to learn it is mandatory to make mistakes.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Any questions or recommendations you have about papers leave them here in comments!

Big hug and stay safe!