Ah, the watercolor paper. One of the most confusing things you can stumble upon in the art field, as a beginner.
There are so many different types of watercolor paper on the market today that it’s enough to make your head spin.
There are sheets, packs, blocks, rolls, by weight, by press… How do we know which is meant for what and which one should I get?
As someone just as confused once as anyone, I decided to do a little research and learn more about the watercolor paper to answer those questions. Here is what I have learned.
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WHAT IS A WATERCOLOR PAPER
Let’s take a look at what this particular paper is made of. How it is different from any other paper in existence.
Regular paper, for the most part, is made out of the wood pulp, also known as cellulose fibers. It gets combined with water, and then with the use of the papermaking machine, pressed flat, dried, and cut into sheets.
But unlike regular paper, watercolor paper is made of cotton fibers or cotton linters. These organic fibers are also turned into a pulp, which is then placed into the papermaking machine, pressed flat, dried, and turned into sheets.
This type of paper absorbs water well and will not dissolve. It is also acid-free and will not yellow over the years.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE between cotton fibers and cotton linters. Cotton fibers are extracted from cotton material and are long and much stronger.
Cotton linters, however, are short fibers that are still attached to the seeds after initial processing and not as strong.
THE COTTON PULP is extracted from the leftover scraps of cotton fabrics or recycled cotton rags. It is then ground into a pulp and converted into a cotton paper.
The higher the grade of the paper, the more cotton fibers it contains. And the lower the grade of the paper, the more cotton linters it has. The best paper for watercolor is 100% cotton fiber.
THE COTTON LINTERS ARE used more in making a student grade watercolor paper. There’s also a mixed paper that contains half fibers half linters.
Some of the student grade paper is made out of the wood pulp as well, to cut the cost. The ingredients and percentage will usually be stated on the cover of the paper pad or a block.
WHAT DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE WATERCOLOR PAPER MEAN?
Now that we know what the watercolor paper is made of, let’s take a look at another confusing thing, it’s weight.
Weight is something that determines the quality and grade of the paper, as well as the price.
For new painters, it could get confusing in terms of which weight paper you should get. It depends on the preference, but let’s take a look at how the weight of the paper affects its performance.
The weight of the paper refers to how thick the watercolor paper is.
WATERCOLOR PAPER WEIGHT
90 LB WATERCOLOR PAPER – The lowest weight of the watercolor paper is 90 lb. This particular paper is meant more for print-making and ink art, rather than watercolor painting.
It can not hold too much water and will warp and might even dissolve. However, if you are using dry on dry watercolor technique, you can get away with it.
140 LB WATERCOLOR PAPER – The 140 lb watercolor paper is the widest, most common type of paper, that’s preferable by most watercolor painters.
140 lb is also the most affordable type of watercolor paper on the market and is available in various sizes.
This paper, although it will buckle when wetted, and requires stretching, could be quite ideal to work with.
Depending on the percentage of fiber it contains, it will dry flat most of the time.
300 LB WATERCOLOR PAPER – And then there’s a royal, whooping 300 lb watercolor paper. The highest grade and quality paper, which usually comes in large individual sheets or rolls.
This paper will not warp or buckle during your painting unless way too much water is applied.
A lot of professional artists prefer this particular paper for its high quality and long-lasting properties. But of course, this paper is very pricey as well. Depending on the brand and press, it could be the most expensive paper on the market.
Most of the paper that’s specifically meant for watercolor painting will be no less than 140 lb in weight.
WHAT DOES THE PRESS OF THE WATERCOLOR PAPER MEAN?
Let’s look at another property of the watercolor paper, which can throw a new artist in for a loop. It is the press of the paper.
If you ever had to choose your own watercolor paper, then you have come across phrases such as hot press, cold press and rough. And perhaps asked yourself, what is the difference between those and which one do I get?
HOT PRESS – Hot-pressed watercolor paper is very compressed during the making prosses, resulting in a very smooth surface. Hot pressed paper won’t work well with wet on wet and glazing techniques. Not much of pigment with seep into the paper, and will just sit on the surface.
It is, however, great for dry on dry fine detailing techniques, inking, and calligraphy. It is also great for gouache painting.
COLD PRESS – Cold-pressed, also known as semi compressed watercolor paper’s fibers, are more separated from each other. It results in a much rougher paper surface. This allows a better water absorbance and pigment penetration deeper into the paper.
This paper is excellent for various painting techniques, including wet on wet as well as dry on dry. Cold press is ideal for landscaping as well as finer detailing. It is the most popular among the majority of watercolor painters.
ROUGH – Rough watercolor paper is loosely compressed, which means, just like it’s called, it has a very rough surface. The rough watercolor paper is great for landscape painting and wet on wet as well as glazing techniques. It allows the pigment to penetrate deep into the paper, resulting in more vibrant colors with each additional layer application.
However, it won’t allow you to lift the pigment once it’s placed, unlike the hot-press or cold-press. It is also great for dry-brushing to create an illusion of foliage.
WATERCOLOR PAPER TYPES
Now that we are a bit more familiar with watercolor paper types and properties, it still begs a question, which brand is the best? There are countless brands of watercolor paper available to us on the market.
It really depends on the preference of each artist, budget, and quality, as well as the style of painting.
I personally haven’t tried too many different brands, as I like to stick to the kind which works well for me. But here are the few which I did try out.
CANSON WATERCOLOR PAPER
CANSON is one of the oldest and most extensive paper making companies. It offers a wide variety of different kinds of paper, from art-making to print-making. It is known for its high-quality product and is favored by many artists, both professional and beginners.
Let’s look at the main paper choices for watercolor.
CANSON XL SERIES WATERCOLOR PAD 9X12
QUALITY It is a cold-press with a smoother surface, 140 lb in weight, and is made of the wood pulp. It comes in 5 different sizes, 7×10, 9×12, 11×15, 12×18, 18×24, both fold over and side wire.
PERFORMANCE This is a student-grade quality. This paper isn’t ideal for professional watercolor painting as it can’t tolerate much wetness and will curl like a dry leaf. However, it’s a good paper for beginner practicing, inking, calligraphy, and for young children school projects.
PRICING Canson XL series watercolor 9×12 can be found at a starting price of $5.97 for 30 sheets on Amazon. You can also find it in most stores that carry art supplies and other websites, including eBay.
CANSON MONTVAL WATERCOLOR PAPER 9X12
QUALITY This watercolor paper is also made out of a wood pulp. It’s 140 lb in weight, cold press, and it comes in various formats and sizes: blocks, pads, and spiral pads 4×6, 6×9, 9×12, 12×16, 16×20.
PERFORMANCE This paper is also student-grade but much higher in quality than the XL series. Although not as great as 100% cotton watercolor paper, it performs much better than the XL series.
It is very affordable and is an excellent alternative for a new artist. One other great feature of this watercolor paper is that artists use it with other media as well. It works well with gouaches and acrylic in addition to watercolor.
PRICING Canson Montval watercolor paper can be found on Amazon at starting price as low as $11.00 for 9X12 20 sheets, either block, pad, or a spiral pad. You can also order it directly from the Canson website as well as find it on eBay and other sites.
L’AQUARELLE CANSON HERITAGE PAD 9×12 COLD PRESS
QUALITY 140lb in weight, 100% cotton cold press with semi-rough texture, acid-free. It also comes in a hot press and rough press, as well as different sizes. Block 9×12 and 10×14, pad 9×12, 10×14, 12×16, 14×20.
PERFORMANCE This paper is one of the highest quality, also known as artist-grade paper. It performs excellently with the wet medium, such as watercolor paint. This paper does buckle a little when moistened but will flatten out upon drying.
To get a completely flat finish, fasten your sheet to a hard surface using masking tape. L’Aquarelle Canson Heritage is durable and absorbent. It retains moisture a bit longer than most, allowing the artist more time to work on larger areas. It allows crisp brush strokes, and the colors remain vibrant even after drying.
PRICING L’Aquarelle Canson Heritage watercolor paper is starting at $43.00 for 9X12, 20 sheets on Amazon. You can also order this watercolor paper directly from the Canson website.
The prices may vary, though. Although this paper is on a bit pricey side, it is still quite reasonable. I would recommend investing in this paper. It makes your artwork look brilliant and high end, which encourages self-inspiration and confidence in your skills.
FABRIANO WATERCOLOR PAPER
This is another paper making company that has been around for a while. They specialize in watercolor paper and produce both rag cotton high-quality as well as premium blend. Fabriano is not as widespread as CANSON, ARCHES or ARTEZA, yet it is known for the more budget-friendly and good quality paper.
It is a very good choice to go with when you are not sure which paper to start off with for watercolors, gouaches, and even acrylics.
FABRIANO STUDIO WATERCOLOR PAPER 9X12 COLD PRESS
QUALITY This particular paper is 25% cotton 75% cellulose blend. It is cold press, 140 lb in weight, has a soft texture, and higher quality than the Canson XL series. The Fabriano studio usually comes in a pad format in 8×10, 9×12, 11×14 sizes, cold press, hot press, and rough.
PERFORMANCE Fabriano Studio watercolor paper works well with the majority of watercolor techniques. It won’t buckle as much due to the 25% cotton in it and will hold water much better than none cotton watercolor paper. However, it is best to either pre-stretch it or fasten it to a hard surface using artist, acid-free masking tape before painting. It works well with watercolor paint, and the color will appear pretty vibrant after drying.
PRICING Fabriano Studio watercolor paper 9×12 cold press pad starts at $29.97 on Amazon for 50 sheets. We can also find it on eBay and Blick art supplies store.
FABRIANO ARTISTICO EXTRA WHITE 9X12 COLD PRESS
QUALITY This paper is a high quality 100% cotton 140 lb in weight, cold press. But it comes in the hot press and rough as well by block, in various sizes such as 5×7, 9×12, 12×18, 14×20, 18×24.
PERFORMANCE This paper has a fine grain, which shows through nicely in the finished painting. It is high quality and works well with the wetness of the watercolor. As any watercolor paper, it will warp a little if a lot of water is applied, so don’t forget to use artists, acid-free masking tape. It retains moisture well, giving you more time for color blending. The pigment of the paint layers nicely and appears quite vibrant on the final artwork. While the texture is there, this paper allows the application of crisp and clean brush strokes.
PRICING Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper 9×12 cold press is on Amazon for only $27.69 for a block of 20 sheets. We can also find it on eBay as well as the Blick art supply store.
ARCHES WATERCOLOR PAPER
Arches company is as old as Canson, and just as famous for its quality watercolor paper. But unlike Canson, Arches specializes only in watercolor paper making. Arches pride themselves in preserving the traditional way of papermaking, using only the finest cotton and natural binding ingredients, resulting in exclusively high-quality products. It is favored by many professional artists as their paper tends to produce very vibrant works of art.
ARCHES AQUARELLE WATERCOLOR PAPER 9×12 COLD PRESS
QUALITY One of the highest quality watercolor paper out there, Arches pride themselves in preserving traditional techniques of making their paper. It is 100% cotton, and 140 lb in weight cold-press with a semi-rough texture. But it also comes in a hot press and rough press and various formats and sizes. By pad, it is a 9×12, 10×14, and 12×16. By block, you can find it in 8×10, 9×12, 11×14, 12×12, 12×16, 14×20, 18×24 and more.
PERFORMANCE Beautifully textured, this paper is excellent for watercolor painting. It holds water very well and works fabulously with practically all of the watercolor techniques. The pigment application is smooth and comfortable, with beautiful layering and seamless blending. This paper retains the vibrancy of the paint colors even after the painting has dried, giving it a high-end finish. It does buckle a bit when you apply too much water but dries flat for the most part. Either pre-stretching it or fastening it to a hard surface is a great way to achieve the most effective flatness.
PRICING Arches aquarelle is available in most art supplies carrying stores as well as on Amazon, where you can find it at a great deal. A starting price on Amazon for Arches 9×12 pad is $23.99 for, and a 9×12 block is as low as $49.95 for 20 sheets.
I highly recommend investing in this paper for those who aspire to turn watercolor painting into a career. If you are not sure which paper to use for your first commissioned artwork, you can’t go wrong with Arches.
MOZART WATERCOLOR PAPER
Mozart is a new company, and there isn’t much of the information available on it yet. Their paper appeared on the market recently, which the curious me immediately wanted to try. If you are as experimental as me and like to try new things, then go for it. Otherwise, I would recommend for widely popular watercolor paper companies such as Canson, Arches, and Fabriano. You just can’t go wrong with those.
MOZART WATERCOLOR PAPER 8.5X11
QUALITY The Mozart brand is a watercolor paper I discovered recently and decided to give it a try. This paper is of premium quality, although it’s made out of the cellulose (wood pulp), 140lb in weight. So far, it only comes in 8.5×11 pad, cold press.
PERFORMANCE Mozart has a very particular linen-weave texture that resembles canvas. It is fairly sturdy for a student-grade paper and does not warp much. It takes water quite well and works with most watercolor techniques. Although, because of it’s specific texture, clean lines can be a bit challenging to achieve.
This particular paper doesn’t require to be pre-stretched and doesn’t have to be fastened to a hard surface. It takes more layers to achieve the desired opaqueness in colors, but the end result is very well worth it. Mozart paper, although not as high quality as Canson Heritage or Arches, makes your paintings look unique and extraordinary. For those who like to venture outside the comfort zone, this would be an excellent paper to experiment with.
PRICING Mozart watercolor paper is very inexpensive, starting at only $16.99 for a pad of 30 sheets on Amazon. Artists can also find it on other sites, including eBay. Mozart watercolor paper is not very popular and maybe a reasonably new brand, but it is fun to try. It can be a good alternative for artists on a budget.
ARTEZA WATERCOLOR PAPER
Arteza is an art production company. They specialize in manufacturing their own brand of all sorts of art supplies, from paper, to paint to canvases. They offer the widest variety of art supplies that are both decent quality and affordable for every creative branch. Arteza strives to enrich the creative community and inspire students. Their product is available through many retail companies and online, as well as on their original website.
ARTEZA WATERCOLOR PAPER PREMIUM 9X12 PAD
QUALITY This paper is cold press, 140 lb in weight, acid-free and made out of cellulose (wood pulp). It is pretty thick and durable and has both smooth surfaces as well as textured. It comes mostly in a 9×12 or 11×24 pad, and a 5.5×8.5 spiral pad. They also offer a wide verity of watercolor paper sketchbooks.
PERFORMANCE Durable and double-sided with multiple performances, this paper is pretty versatile. Artists can use it not only for the watercolor but also for gouaches and acrylic. Though this paper is of premium quality, it takes wet media quite well with very little buckling. Although since it’s cellulose base, the pigment of the watercolor won’t absorb into the fibers and will sit on the surface. This will make layering of the color a bit challenging because your previous pigments will lift off with each rewetting, resulting in muddy hues and blotchiness. And because of that, it also makes it more challenging for smooth blending. This paper is great for practices and quick sketching. But if you want to create a professional work of art, it is always best to invest in cotton rag paper.
PRICING Arteza 9×12 premium watercolor paper pad is available on Amazon at a very good deal of only $25.98 for two pads of 32 sheets each. Artists can also order it from Arteza official website or find it in a few retail stores that carry art supplies.
ARTEZA WATERCOLOR PAPER EXPERT COTTON RAG 9X12 PAD
QUALITY Just like the title states, this Arteza watercolor paper is in fact 100% cotton. It is 140 lb in weight, cold press, and has both texture and smooth surfaces. I haven’t been able to find Arteza in either hot press, or rough. I assume that it is one of the reasons that they make their paper double-sided with grainy texture on one side and smooth surface on the other. This paper comes in a standard 9×12 size pad.
PERFORMANCE Arteza watercolor paper, being a cotton rag, naturally performs much better than the premium one. Although not as great as Arches, Canson L’Aquarelle or Fabriano Artistico, it is a better choice than the noncotton watercolor paper. This particular paper has a uniform, almost linen-like texture on one side, and very smooth on the other. It absorbs water well and works decently with most watercolor techniques with minimal buckling.
The color pigment applies nicely and seeps into the fibers. The result of which it allows you multiple layerings for richer colors and the paint will not lift off the paper upon rewetting. The colors will, however, have a bit of chalky look upon drying, but that rather depends on the type of paint you are using. All in all, this is a good paper, especially for those who like to have a more uniform texture to their paintings or a very smooth surface for a cold press.
PRICING Arteza 9×12 expert watercolor paper pad is also available on Amazon at a very good deal of $19.99 for 14 sheets. You can also order it from Arteza official website or look for it in retail stores that carry art supplies.
CONCLUSION
Each brand of watercolor paper and its properties will affect the water absorbance and pigment application as well as vibrancy of the color. Therefore it is quite important to find the right kind for you.
100% cotton watercolor paper is a high-grade or artist-grade paper and is strong. It is very absorbent and can withstand multiple layering of the pigment.
High-grade watercolor paper can get a bit pricey, depending on the brand and type. But in the long run, it is worth investing in, if you consider turning the watercolor painting into a full-time career.
Premium-grade paper is made out of linter or mixed with cotton fibers and wooden pulp. It works reasonably well with watercolor painting and is a great alternative to high-grade watercolor paper. It is more budget-friendly and more widely available.
Student-grade watercolor paper is mostly made out of the wooden pulp. It is much smoother, less absorbent, and not as durable. Student grade paper is cheaper and can be found pretty much anywhere. Just like the title suggests, the student-grade paper is intended for practicing, learning, and school projects.
