You need to select the best paper for watercolor when trying to create the best art painting with the watercolor technique since it’s not enough to choose the watercolor pen types or watercolor brush to draw a masterpiece.
But choosing a watercolor paper that will suit both your artwork and painting style is a challenging thing to do.
I have done a lot of researches and came with a review of the top 13 best papers for watercolor to help you easier get the right one. Each of the papers in my recommended list has its features and use.
So keep reading to get more about this top 13 and pick the one that is exactly what you are looking for.
Why Should You Use Paper For Watercolor?
There are many reasons to help you understand the advantages of using paper for watercolor, and I can summarize for you to cut off time for reading by comparing to regular paper and watercolor one.
About materials, paper for watercolor is made from cotton fibers that might be 100% cotton or blended cotton with wood pulp; therefore, it is easy to understand why the price is quite high while the regular paper is produced from wood fibers.
Normal paper is quite lightweight and thin, which means it can absorb pigment quicker than paper for watercolor, and you will have trouble with spreading colors on this surface.
Moreover, paper is designed for watercolor is thicker and heavier that will absorb pigment at an accurate rate and won’t wrap when exposing to watercolor. If you are fancy of watercolor, using specialized paper is ideal for drawing.
Type of Paper For Watercolor
You can differentiate 3 kinds of paper for watercolor depending on its surfaces: rough (loosely compressed), cold-pressed (semi-compressed), and hot-pressed (very compressed).
Rough
This surface helps watercolor absorb deeper into the fibers, and your artwork can maintain its durability longer. The rough surface is suitable for glazing works since it grips the first layer productively. Furthermore, you can create the illusion of foliage quite easily.
Cold-pressed
This type of paper for watercolor allows it to absorb some kinds of pigment deeper. It features the finish layer of your artwork like velvet. You can easily fix some mistakes while painting by spraying water on them. You can mix watercolor with pastels to create masterpieces on its surface.
Hot Pressed
There is a bit of pigment that can soak into this surface. Notice for you that hot pressed paper is perfect for fine detail and compatible with gouache.
What Are Best Brands Of Paper For Watercolor?
There are many different brands for watercolor paper. Here are three famous brands that you can easily search it at any store or web.
Arches: This is a French brand which is believed to be the most on drawing paper market. You will find it is the best of the best. It’s always a real pleasure working on Arches paper, and you will keep coming back to it when you can.
Strathmore: This is the second favorite paper brand on the market. It has appeared in 1899 and quickly became a quality art paper manufacturer in the world. For me, the colors stand out really well and vivid on the Strathmore paper surface.
Ucreate: This is the third brand that I mention here. It has almost the same performance as Strathmore’s paper. Your artworks will come out perfectly and beautifully when working on this paper.
Choosing a brand depends on personal taste and feelings. It’s up to you to find what is suitable for your needs. You can test different papers to see which one you prefer.
What Are The Best Paper For Watercolor?
Cason is one of the leading companies in producing high-quality paper for watercolor and is used by many well-known artists.
Besides, if you are hunting affordable brands for your artworks, you can consider Ucreate and Strathmore. They can absorb watercolor at just the right rate to help you create impressive paintings.
Paperweight, package, texture,… Which best paper for watercolor do you should choose? This recommended list of the top 13 and their key features will help you find out the answer.
- Best Overall: Canson Standard Size Heavyweight Fine-Textured Paper For Watercolor
“Heavyweight watercolor paper pad, used for both dry and wet medias, cold-pressed texture, easy to blend and erase.” - Best Budget: Ucreate White And Thick Paper For Watercolor
“Super heavyweight, made of non-acid materials, hold well water, loose leaf watercolor paper.” - Best For Watercolor Markers: Zenacolor 64 Pages Paper For Watercolor
“Pad of 32 sheets, pack of 2 pads, 9×12 inches paper size, paint with markers without bleeding through pages, bound by glue.” - Best For Calligraphy: MozArt Supplies Blending And Layering Paper For Watercolor
“Slightly rough paper finish, doesn’t warp or clump, natural white, acid-free paper, heavyweight 300 gsm.” - Best For Tattoo Flash: Arches Cold Press Light Texture Paper For Watercolor
“Heavyweight for watercolor, contains 20 sheets, made by cylinder mould, standard painting size.” - Best For Beginners: Bee Paper Company Cold Press 50 Sheets Pack Paper For Watercolor
“50 loose-leaf sheets per pack, cold press finish, can blend well on its surface, the paperweight of 140 lb.” - Best For Watercolor Pencils: Misulove Sketchbook Pad Paper For Watercolor
“Works well with all watercolor paints and markers, comfortable for lefties and righties, easy to tear pages.” - Best For Artists: Canson Erasable 140 Pounds Acid-Free Paper For Watercolor
“Bound with the spiral binder, large paper size, erasable surface, suitable for all wet medias, mold made” - Best Postcards: Strathmore Blank Postcard Paper For Watercolor
“Made of non-acid material, measures 140 lb, cold-pressed watercolor paper, postcard size of 4×6 inches.” - Best For Detail: Arches 140 Pound Paper For Watercolor
“Hot pressed paper, cylinder mould made, focus on the subject and emphasize the drawing and thick and stable paper.” - Best For Gouache: Arteza Small Size Spiral Bound Paper For Watercolor
“Can apply with wet or dry painting, pack of three pads, slightly textured, 100% acid-free, ideal paperweight for watercolor.” - Best For Mixed Medias: Bee Paper Company Cold Pressed High-Quality Paper For Watercolor
“Cold-pressed surface, 9×12 inches paper size, 15 sheets included, made from alpha-cellulose, good weight for watercolor.”
Best Paper For Watercolor Comparison Chart
The current art supply market offers a large of the best paper for watercolor choices. Any paper can meet all your painting uses. I make a brief comparison with their key features so that you will get an overview of what you are going to buy.
Top 13 The Best Paper For Watercolor Reviews
After understanding the different paper parameters, you are probably wondering: which one is the best paper for watercolor for your paintings? So let’s get busy with this main review part to pick the right one!
Canson Standard Size Heavyweight Fine-Textured Paper For Watercolor
(Best Overall)
This Canson Standard Size Watercolor Paper has a perfect weight for the watercolor technique. The pad includes 30 sheets of watercolor paper measuring 7×10 inches. It is also available in other larger or smaller sizes for your painting works.
This Canson Watercolor Paper comes with different textures on two paper sides. One side has a cold-press texture as the introduction, and another size has a smoother texture.
Made of non-acid materials, this Canson paper keeps your artwork in beautiful colors for a long time. You can apply many layers or blend well on the surface without damaging the paper. It absorbs the colors surprisingly.
This paper is recommended for all watercolor pen types like ink, markers, pencil, and acrylic. You should really try this perfect size and high-quality watercolor paper.
Key Features
- Suitable for wet and dry medias
- Side wire bound watercolor pads
- Standard paper size
- Includes 30 sheets per pad
- Bound with a spiral binder
Pros
- Available in many paper sizes
- Can also apply acrylic painting
- Erasable surface
- Can use both sizes with different textures
- Colors come beautifully after blending
Cons
- It is quite big for beginners or kids
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 7 x 10 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 30 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-pressed texture |
| Brand | Canson |
Watch the review of this Canson paper’s value and its absorbable capacity here.
Ucreate White And Thick Paper For Watercolor
(Best Budget)
This Ucreate White and Thick Paper has a necessary weight for applying this painting technique. Its 300 gsm paperweight is delightful to use, and its brighter white makes the color come out perfectly.
You can begin your watercolor art and practice every day with this Ucreate paper. It doesn’t contain acid and lignin using wood pulp. That makes this paper suitable for all standard watercolor paintings.
Ucreate watercolor paper comes with 50 loose-leaf sheets, which measures 9×12 inches per pack. That is an ideal size for painting. You will have enough space for your creation. The pages are not bound in any way, so you can store your artwork in the way you want.
Key Features
- The thick paper of 140 lb
- 50 loose-leaf paper sheets
- Large painting size
- Acid-free and recyclable paper
Pros
- Perfect for wet painting medias
- Not be warped when applying watercolor
- Recommended for beginners
- The colors don’t dry quickly so that you can blend easily
Cons
- Not made of 100% cotton
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 9 x 12 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 50 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Not specified |
| Brand | Ucreate |
Zenacolor 64 Pages Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Watercolor Markers)
This Zenacolor 64 Pages Paper for Watercolor is specially designed for watercolor markers. This product provides you pack of 2 pads that allowing you to live in your art world freely. Besides using watercolor makers, you can apply acrylic paint on it, and it will keep your masterpieces vibrant in the long term, thanks to its acid-free paper.
This paper pad is bound with a glue adhesive, so you can easily tear the pages when you want. It also has a large paper size, which is perfect for all artworks.
You can draw smoothly with your markers without worrying it will bleed through pages. You can be comfortable with its quality as you will get return money if you aren’t satisfied with the item for 30 from the day of purchase.
Key Features
- 64 paper sheets of 140 lb
- Non-acid materials
- 9×12 inches paper size
- Bound by a glue-like a note pad
Pros
- Has larger painting sizes for your needs
- Can easily tear a page from the glue strip
- Perfect for pro art watercolor markers
- Won’t bleed through pages
Cons
- Can’t use both paper sides
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 9 x 12 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb/ 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 64 sheets, pack of 2 |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-pressed |
| Brand | Zenacolor |
MozArt Supplies Blending And Layering Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Calligraphy)
MozArt Supplies Blending And Layering Paper For Watercolor is thicker than standard copy paper. You can draw on it with brush pens, calligraphy, and more without clumping and wrapping even you apply much water.
If you are a big fan of wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet techniques, this paper is ideal for you to use these skills. This product is packaged in glue-bound to help you easily tear away without being torn
Its slightly rough finish texture will impress you. It doesn’t have heavyweight as cardstock, but it has enough weight to keep the page from wrinkling. If you need watercolor paper for your calligraphy art, this MozArt Paper won’t cause any problems.
Key Features
- Slight rough surface
- Ensure satisfaction
- Guaranteed premium quality
- 30 sheets included
Pros
- Thicker than printing paper
- The perfect finish for calligraphy
- Can apply wet-on-dry or wet-on-wet techniques
- Suitable for all artists, including beginners
Cons
- You just use 1 side of the paper
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 8.5 x 11 inches |
| Paper Weight | 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 30 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-pressed |
| Brand | MozArt Supplies |
Hahnemuhle 200 GSM Landscape Paper For Watercolor
If you are finding paper for watercolor that is easy to travel, this Hahnemuhle 200 GSM Landscape is an excellent gift for you. The paper is packaged in a book and designed with 2 hardcovers to protect the paper from getting dirty.
Each book includes 30 sheets that mean you can draw 60 pages of both 2 sides. Its weight is quite heavy at 200gsm. It is acid-free and has a natural white paper that can perform exactly pigments.
Besides applying watercolor, it is great for gouache, charcoal, pastel, and more. Its size is A5 that is compact and lightweight for transportation wherever you go.
Key Features
- Made of alpha-cellulose and a blend of cotton
- Note pad includes 30 sheets of 200 gsm
- Non-acid
- A5 size
Pros
- Can bring to everywhere
- There are many options for you to choose
- Heavy back-cardboard
- No bleeding through when using watercolor
Cons
- Not suitable for professionals
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 5.8 x 8.3 inches |
| Paper Weight | 200 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 30 sheets |
| Color | Natural white |
| Surface/Texture | Fine-grain paper |
| Brand | Hahnemuhle |
Arches Cold Press Light Texture Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Tattoo Flash)
Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper has a light texture on its surface, which helps to hold the colors well. You can touch and feel this texture. This Arches Paper is a perfect choice for your tattoo flash painting for your studio.
Its design and amount of paper sheets are suitable for a tattoo “menu”. Twenty paper sheets are bound with glue at one end. This glue keeps the page from warping when painting.
There are also smaller and larger paper sizes available to choose from. It is presented with 140 lb paperweight, which is perfect to work with watercolor painting. Coming in high-quality, this Arches Cold Press Paper will become a worthy investment for your business.
Key Features
- Cold-press finish texture
- Made of 100% pure cotton
- Produced under quality control
- Recommended for watercolor and wet medias
Pros
- Thick and stable paper
- Keeps the colors durable
- Won’t warp when applying watercolor
- Multiple paper sizes to select
- Has other textures if you need
Cons
- Have to use a knife to cut the pages when you want to tear it
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 10 x 14 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 20 sheets |
| Color | Natural white |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Arches |
Don’t know how to use this Arches Cold Pressed Pad? Check out here!
Bee Paper Company Cold Press 50 Sheets Pack Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Beginners)
If you are a beginner in this watercolor painting technique, this Bee Paper Cold Press Paper is probably suitable for you. It has a standard size measuring 6×9 inches and 50 loose-leaf sheets in each pack.
This Bee Paper weighs 300 gsm – an ideal paperweight for holding up the watercolor painting. More than that, this paper is made of 100% cotton and non-acid materials. It will keep the colors not be faded after time.
It has a cold-press texture, which means having a light tooth on the surface. A light tooth surface is easier for beginners to paint on it than a smooth or rough surface. The colors come more vibrant, and that will make a big value for your artwork.
Key Features
- 50 loose-leaf sheets of 300 gsm per pack
- Measures 6×9 inches paper size
- Cold-press watercolor paper
- Made of acid-free materials and 100% cotton
Pros
- Two sides have different textures
- Can blend well on it
- Works well with all dry medias
- All edges of the paper are cut well
Cons
- I wish it included a bag to hold the paper
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 6 x 9 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 50 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Bee Paper Company |
Let’s see how does the artist feel when using this Bee Paper first time in this clip!
Misulove Sketchbook Pad Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Watercolor Pencils)
This Misulove Sketchbook Pad Paper For Watercolor weighs 140 lb, perfect for painting with watercolor pencils. It is measured 9×12 inches so that you will have a wide range for your painting art.
The design with glue-bound on the top of the pad is convenient for open and fold up the cover and pages. You also can easily tear them from the glue. Misulove paper is made of acid-free materials. That is one of the features of making long-lasting paper.
Misulove watercolor paper has a cold-press texture, so its surface is not rough but also not completely smooth. That is a perfect surface for sketching and not-too-detail watercolor paintings.
Key Features
- Glue bound on the top
- Used for watercolor paint or acrylic paint
- Weighs 140 lb / 300 gsm
- Non-acid paper
Pros
- Sturdy enough to hold the watercolor
- Convenient for left-handed and right-handed
- Easy to tear the pages
- Can keep your artwork vibrant and rich
Cons
- Can’t stand too much and strong erasement
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 9 x 12 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb /300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 35 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Misulove |
Canson Erasable 140 Pounds Acid-Free Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Artists)
This Canson Erasable Acid-free Paper is produced to serve professionals and artists. It is a watercolor pad including 20 sheets bound together with a spiral binder. It comes with high-quality and is suitable for all professional artworks.
Canson Paper weighs 9×12 inches so that it holds up well the watercolor without bleeding through pages. This paper also can keep your painting art stay vibrant for a long time as its non-acid materials.
Canson paper pad is mould-made and under high-quality control. The white background makes the colors stand out well. This Canson Acid-free Pad is worth trying.
Key Features
- 20 acid-free sheets of 140 lb
- Heavyweight paper pad with a spiral binder
- Works well with all wet medias
- Made traditionally with mould
Pros
- Doesn’t feather when applying watercolor
- Erasable surface
- Wide painting range
- Has another design with the spiral binder on the top
Cons
- Little lumpy when applying too much watercolor at the same time
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 9 x 12 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 20 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Canson |
Strathmore Blank Postcard Paper For Watercolor
(Best Postcards)
Do you love to make a postcard with your own watercolor art style? If yes, you have to try this Strathmore Professional Quality Paper. Strathmore gives you the right size for a postcard, a blank font side for your creation, and the lines back for writing addresses.
This Strathmore Postcard paper is made of 100% wood pulp, keeping your card for a long time. It is cold-pressed with a fine-tooth on the surface to absorb the colors well. You will be surprised by the bright “come-out” colors.
Each pad contains 15 sheets. Each sheet measures 4×6 inches. It gives you enough space for your artwork but still keeps the right way to be mailed as a postcard. It will be an awesome “watercolor” gift for your friends and family.
Key Features
- A pad includes 15 paper sheets
- Heavyweight for watercolor
- Postcard size
- Natural white paper
- Glued at the top
Pros
- The back has lines for writing addresses
- Not bend easily
- Easy to remove pages
- Used to make watercolor postcards
Cons
- It is pretty pricey
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 4 x 6 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 15 sheets |
| Color | Natural white |
| Surface/Texture | cold-pressed texture |
| Brand | Strathmore |
If you want to see the detailed review of this Strathmore Watercolor Paper Postcard, let’s check this video.
Arches 140 Pound Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Detail)
For fine detail or portrait, hot-pressed is a perfect choice since it has the smoothest surface and it features a flat finish for reproduction. This Arches 140 lb Paper for Watercolor is a product that you are looking for.
Each paper pad just contains 12 sheets, but each sheet will help you create a masterpiece since the surface focuses on the subject of your artwork and emphasize the drawing.
The item is made of 100% pure cotton with long fibers to produce stable, thick sheets that can keep your artwork resilient and beautiful. All Arches’ products have to experience complicated testing and careful monitoring to ensure excellent quality.
Key Features
- Made of 100% pure cotton
- Have to undergo complicated testing and careful monitoring
- Each pad holds 12 sheets
- The hot pressed texture is excellent for portrait
Pros
- Hard to warp
- Holds watercolor well
- Can glaze and scrub multiple times
- Efficient absorbent
- The finish layer is beautiful
Cons
- Its price is quite high
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 11 x 14 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 12 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Hot pressed |
| Brand | Arches |
Arteza Small Size Spiral Bound Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Gouache)
A gouache painting with a higher pigment level requires to use of heavier paper to paint. A paper for gouache needs to weigh at least 200 gsm to work well with this painting technique. And Arteza Watercolor Paper will be an ideal option.
This cold-pressed paper weighs 300 gsm. The light tooth surface is perfect for holding up the color-paint well. This package comes with three pads and has 90 sheets in total. You can use it for your variety of artwork.
With Arteza Watercolor Paper Pad, your artwork won’t fade over time, thanks to its non-acid materials. This pad measures 5.5×8.5 inches – an ideal traveling size for all drawers. You will be satisfied with its performance.
Key Features
- Pack of 3 watercolor paper pads
- 30 sheets in each pad
- Not too rough texture
- Standard size at 5.5×8.5 inches
Pros
- Colors come out rich and vibrant
- Can apply watercolor without bleeding through pages
- Easy to open and fold up
- Has a satisfaction guaranteed by the manufacturer
Cons
- Need to stretch the paper before painting to prevent it from warping
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 5.5 x 8.5 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 90 sheets |
| Color | White |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Arteza |
Bee Paper Company Cold Pressed High-Quality Paper For Watercolor
(Best For Mixed Medias)
Suitable for mixed medias is the highlight feature of this Bee Paper Cold Press High-Quality Paper. That will be your favorite watercolor paper if you are looking for a paper that can hold up well many painting techniques.
300 gsm weight, neutral pH, and cold-press texture are these advantages of this Bee Paper. With its light tooth finish, you can easily apply watercolor painting without buckling the pages. Its high-quality will make your drawing vivid.
Bee Paper is made from non-acid material and alpha-cellulose, which brings long-lasting paper. Each pad contains 15 sheets of 300 gsm paperweight. It is one of the great papers to begin your watercolor painting interest.
Key Features
- 9×12 inches paper size
- Cold-pressed surface
- Bright white paper
- Pad of 24 sheets
- Made from wood pulp
Pros
- Excellent for a variety of watercolor technique and mixed media uses
- Good weight to hold the reasonable water weight
- Any problem when tearing the pages
- Has other smaller size and lighter weight options
Cons
- Will little warp when applying too much water
Product Specifications
| Paper size | 9 x 12 inches |
| Paper Weight | 140 lb / 300 gsm |
| Number of sheets/pack | 15 sheets |
| Color | Natural white |
| Surface/Texture | Cold-press texture |
| Brand | Bee Paper Company |
How To Choose The Best Paper For Watercolor?
For me, choosing the best paper for watercolor is really decisive for learning watercolor in the right conditions and subsequently making more elaborate works. This is the most important criterion before a good brush and good quality paint.
But how can you choose the best one? In this part, I will list some key features to consider when choosing the best paper for your needs and your art styles.
Manufacturing Process
There are 3 ways to produce premium-quality paper for watercolor that are by hand, by machine, or by mold cylinder.
The paper is made by hand is the best product, then by mold cylinder and by machine. The two previous ways help paper be durable, stable and leave an excellent finish layer after apply watercolor. A lot of artists use them to create masterpieces.
On the contrary, paper is made by machine has a reasonable price and it can be wrapped in case you add too much water on it. For beginners, machine-made paper is a suitable option to start drawing.
Paper Material
Paper materials are what paper is made of. I put this feature first because, for me, it is the one that will most determine if the paper is well suited for watercolor or not.
Watercolor papers are made of cellulose or cotton, or a mixture of both, with varying percentages of cotton and cellulose.
Generally, beginners will choose papers made of cellulose because they are the cheapest and easiest to find. The problem with cellulose papers is that water and pigments tend to stay on the paper’s surface, which causes solid areas to dry unevenly.
On the other hand, the 100% cotton paper absorbs and diffuses water and pigments uniformly. So if you want to learn or progress in watercolor painting, I advise you to opt for 100% cotton paper. This paper will “supports you” and does half the work.
Let’s test the two types several times before making your choice. It is also possible to use cellulose paper for daily watercolor practice and training and opt for 100% cotton paper for more professional artworks.
Paperweight
Paperweight refers to the mass of paper per unit area. It is generally expressed in grams per square meter (g.m²) or pound (lb). The higher the weight is, the thicker the paper is.
It is commonly necessary to choose a paper for the watercolor of at least 180 g.m² (84 lb). Otherwise, it will be too thin to withstand water and may tear. The optimal weight is 300 g.m² (140 lb), and it is the most classic weight for 100% cotton watercolor paper.
There are papers of 640 g.m² (299 lb), extremely thick, practical because they hardly curl under the effect of water, but they present other challenges. You will need a larger amount of pigments to obtain vibrant colors with this paper.
Therefore it is not necessary to get the heaviest paper to use. You just need to pick the paper that has thickness fit your watercolor pens.
Texture/Grain
There are three different watercolor paper texture/grain types: hot pressed (satin grain), cold-pressed (fine grain), and rough (rough grain) texture.
Hot-pressed paper is completely smooth, while cold-pressed paper is slightly textured. Rough paper is the most textured of all. Hot-pressed paper is a little more challenging to use than cold-pressed or rough paper, especially for beginners.
With hot-pressed paper, the brushstrokes are much more visible, requiring the perfect painting skill. On the other hand, the perfectly smooth texture is perfect for inks and watercolor pencils, so I recommend them if you want to use mixed medias.
If you are going to use classic watercolors, I advise you to choose cold-pressed paper. It is easier to work with, and the light tooth is sufficient to create wonderful effects for your artworks.
Kinds of Works
The paper for watercolor painting is important. You need to use the sturdy form because thin paper folds quickly when applying this painting technique. Therefore, the paper’s thickness must be between 200 gsm and 300 gsm.
For beginners, a friendly-budget and decent-quality paper are quite sufficient, and student-grade paper is a proper option.
It doesn’t have to be the most expensive or the best paper available on the market. As soon as you have some experience with watercolor painting, you can experiment with different backgrounds or thicknesses.
If you plan to make a vital art painting, you should ensure that it is one of the highest quality papers that is professional-grade paper. That means that the paper must be acid-free, made of cotton, and weigh at least 300 gsm. The texture of the surface should depend on the pattern and your painting style.
Packaging
You will find watercolor paper in different formats. The choice will depend on your budget and what is convenient for you.
The 4-sided glued block: Like its name, it is a block of sheets glued on four sides. There is a gap at the top or corner of the page to insert a knife and tear the pages away from each other. It is easy to use, and the glued sheets help prevent paper curling when using the watercolor technique.
Spiral pad: This is a notebook bound with a spiral binder to open and fold up the pages easily. It is handy for gathering all watercolor artworks in one notebook and taking them with you outdoors.
The bound notebook: It is bound on one edge of the sheet without a spiral binder. You can use them to make small drawings or small outdoor studies.
The loose-leaf sheet: Buying watercolor paper by the loose-leaf sheet is what many people prefer. You can buy the exact paper size as you need or large size and cut to the desired size to do your different works. However, you will need to stretch the paper before painting to prevent it from curling for almost all artwork types.
How Can I Stretch Watercolor Paper?
Many artists wet or stretch their watercolor paper before painting. That is usually done on lightweight watercolor paper to avoid warping when applying a wet technique on its surface.
Lightweight sheets are more prone to warping in heavy water applications. Watercolor paper can be “soaked and stretched” to solve this difficulty. It will remain completely flat when the artist begins to paint.
Method 1 – Extend the Paper For Later Use
1. Dip the sheet in a tray filled with clean cold water. Sheets that are 190 g / m2 or less can be soaked in 3 minutes. Sheets that are 300 g / m2 or higher can be soaked in 8 minutes. Do not touch the paper surface while soaking.
2. Pour the water out and place the soaked sheet on a sturdy and clean board.
3. Use a clean towel or sponge to soak up water from the sheet.
4. Attach the paper to the wood panel! You have to wet the adhesive gummed kraft paper to make it sticky.
Lightly dampen the adhesive gummed paper or masking tape with a sponge or brush (do not spread too much water as the water will loosen the glue). Moisten the four outer edges of the paper, covering just a quarter of the paper.
5. Let the paper dry overnight. When the paper is dry, it will be tight on the plate and not warp when applying watercolor. Create your painting as long as the sheet is glued to the plate. When your paint is completely dry, trim the attached edges with a ruler and knife precisely.
You also can place the sheet directly on your sturdy and clean plate. Use a clean water spray bottle to wet both sides of the leaf completely. Then follow steps 3 to 5 above.
Method 2 – Extend The Paper For Immediate use
Place your sheet of watercolor paper on the baking sheet.
1. Completely saturate the front side of the leaf with water by using a large brush. Do the same way on the backside.
2. Turn the sheet over and leave it on the back for about 15 minutes.
3. Roll two layers of clean paper towels over the paper sheet and press them firmly across the sheet to absorb water.
4. Start painting while the sheet is still wet.
FAQs
If you still wonder when choosing the best watercolor paper for your artworks, you should take a look at several common questions below to help clear your mind.
My Top Pick
With experience, you will know which watercolor paper is best for your paintings and which, on the contrary, makes them duller or fluff paper too quickly under your brush and which holds up the colors better.
My favorite paper for watercolor is Canson Standard Size Heavyweight Fine-Textured Paper For Watercolor. Fine tooth, 300gsm weight, good resistance to lint, one of the high-quality on the market, I started watercolor with this paper, and I still use it today for training.
Feel free to experience different types of paper for practicing watercolor techniques and share with me your favorite one and experiences in the comment below!
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