Watercolour Paper (Patreon)

Let’s talk watercolour paper. I always recommend Arches watercolour paper – (at least 300gsm in weight.)

When I first started painting in watercolour I did some research on the internet to find out what was the best watercolour paper to use. I kept reading that Arches was one of the best so I ordered a few A5 size 300gsm Arches watercolour paper pads online and that’s what I started using.

When I became more confident and my paintings started to improve I bought some watercolour pads in the next size larger – A4. From there I progressed to A3 size watercolour pads, then A2 before I finally started painting on full sheets of paper.

When cleaning out my cupboards one day I found some watercolour paper that I had bought years earlier, long before I started painting in watercolour. It was a cheaper brand but I can’t remember now what brand it was. I painted a Regent Parrot on it.

After using Arches for a few years I was amazed at how difficult it was to paint on. I could not get my edges the way I wanted them nor could I lift any paint off. I couldn’t lay my washes down properly either. It was terrible. I struggled the whole way through the painting. I vowed and declared that day that I would never use any paper other than Arches.

I use Arches paper because it is tough. It takes a beating from me. I can use a bristle brush to gently remove a small area of paint without damaging the surface of the paper. I find it has a slow absorption rate. The water sits on the paper for some time which allows me plenty of working time and it makes applying washes much more controllable.

______________________________________________________________________

When buying watercolour paper look for the following qualities:

·  100% cotton

·  acid free

·  hand-made or mould made

·  sized

Sizing is probably the most critical factor when buying good quality watercolour paper.

The amount of sizing determines how the paper will resist water penetration and abrasion. It affects the way washes will sit on the paper and it also effects the degree of luminosity when it has dried. Arches have worked out exactly how much sizing is needed to give its paper optimum working characteristics.

______________________________________________________________________

Paper Textures

Hot press paper is smooth. 

Cold press paper has some texture. 

I recommend painting on cold press paper when you first start painting. I did a comparison video of cold press and hot press paper here: https://youtu.be/m5Oph3CFp70

Rough paper has the most texture. It is often the paper of choice for landscape painters because of its texture.

Here is a blog post I wrote about watercolour paper for further reading: https://www.louisedemasi.com/tips/2023/4/22/what-is-the-best-watercolour-paper-to-use

______________________________________________________________________

Although I haven’t tried them all I have read that other good quality paper brands are:

·  Fabriano (I’ve tried this a few times - but I still prefer Arches)

·  Strathmore

·  Bockingford

Let me know in the comments below what paper you find the best to work on.