How To: Choosing The Perfect Watercolour Paper

When buying watercolour papers, there are several factors that will affect the quality of your work and your overall painting experience. It can often feel overwhelming, so we have put together a list of key considerations to keep in mind while making your paper choice.

Surface

The surface texture of your watercolour paper will affect the painting style and the way that a brush will move on the paper.

  • Cold Pressed (Not): Slightly textured surface, versatile, the most common choice for a variety of different techniques.
  • Hot Pressed (HP): Smooth surface, ideal for detailed works and for fine illustrations. This is a very nice choice for drawing as well. 
  • Rough: Highly textured, great for creating textures and adding character to your painting. Rough paper is the most absorbent, and so can handle generous water-heavy brush marks!

Paper Weight:

Watercolour papers are available in a range of weights, depending on your planned project you may require a certain weight that will accommodate the amount of water used.

  • 190gsm (90lb): Lightweight, suitable for practice but tends to buckle when wet.
  • 300gsm (140lb): Medium weight, the most popular choice amongst watercolourists, provides a good balance of texture and absorption without significant warping. 
  • 640gsm (300lb): Heavyweight, highly durable, minimal buckling, suitable for heavy washes and wet techniques.

Material and Sizing

Watercolour papers general consist of one or a mix of the below materials

  • Cotton: High-quality, durable, superior water absorption, and better handling of washes and lifting techniques.
  • Cellulose (Wood Pulp): Often more affordable, not as durable as cotton, and can be less absorbent. A good choice for beginners or practice work.

Sizing refers to the treatment of paper so as to better control the absorption of paint.

  • Internal Sizing: Added during the paper-making process, affects the absorbency throughout the paper.
  • External (Surface) Sizing: Applied to the surface, helps with lifting and reworking the paint. 
Hahnemühle Expression Watercolour Papers - Melbourne Etching Supplies

Format

Watercolour papers come in a range of formats suitable for the an artist smallest or largest projects.

  • Sheets: Single large sheets that you can cut to size.
  • Pads: Convenient, often glued on one side for easy removal.
  • Blocks: Glued on all four sides, reduces buckling by keeping the paper stretched as you paint. Note: you will need a sharp, clean blade to separate the papers. 
  • Rolls: Large continuous sheets, good for large projects or custom sizes. (Go big!)

At the end of the day, it is good to think about your specific needs. Detailed work will require smoother paper (i.e. Arches HP 300gsm), while more expressive and gestural work will be more suited to a textured, heavy weight choice (i.e. Fabriano Rough 640gsm).Considering these factors will help you choose the right watercolour paper that fits your needs, enhances your painting experience and ensures the longevity of your work.

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