Next Steps: Watercolor paper

Watercolor paper is a specialty paper that will hold up to large quantities of water being added to it. There are three things you should look for when deciding on the paper for you: Weight, content, and texture.

Weight:

The most common weights of watercolor paper are 90lb (190g/m²), 140lb (300g/m²), and 300lb (640g/m²). The heavier the paper, the more expensive it is and the more likely it will stand up to excessive water and abuse. Paper weights can vary slightly from brand to brand.

90lb paper:

• Fine for mixed media use and practice

• Will warp easily with excessive water

• May pill or rub off with excessive working in an area

140lb paper:

• Great for everyday use and most projects

• Will warp slightly under excessive water

300lb paper:

• Most expensive

• Very thick and less susceptible to warping with excessive water use

• Great for high-end or gallery-quality projects

Content:

Watercolor paper is typically made up of wood pulp, cotton, or some combination of the two. Higher-end paper tends to be 100% cotton, while more affordable paper is made with cellulose or wood pulp or a combination of cellulose and cotton. 

Paper can behave very differently depending on its makeup. For example, cotton paper is typically more absorbent than pulp paper. While cotton is typically more expensive than cellulose paper, cotton paper is not always the right paper for your project. Cellulose paper is typically better for ink-based paints. So, if you are trying out liquid watercolors, don’t use Arches paper. You will be disappointed. Something like Canson XL or Hahnemühle Agave paper might be better suited. Likewise, you may find that you have better water and pigment control when using traditional watercolors if you are painting on cotton-based paper. 

The quality of your paper will make a difference in your final painting. Paper is often one of the most affordable aspects of watercolor painting; therefore, it might be worth investing in a couple of different brands to see what you prefer. 

Texture:

Watercolor paper comes in several textures: cold-pressed, hot-pressed, and rough. 

Cold-pressed paper has a slight texture to it and will typically hold onto pigment a little more. The texture of the cold press paper can vary from brand to brand but can be characterized as a light bumpiness, yet still smooth. Cold press paper is a classic go-to paper for most watercolor applications.

Hot-pressed paper, on the other hand, is completely smooth, with no visible or tactile texture on the paper. Hot Press paper is often used for very detailed work and can withstand repeated washes easily. It’s great for illustration work but can be pricey.

Rough paper has the most visible texture of all watercolor paper. Rough textured paper is excellent for atmospheric or loose styles and is not ideal for detailed work. It is also excellent for granulating paints–as it dries, the pigments naturally settle into the dips and peaks of the paper's rough surface. 

Recommended Supplies:

Here is a paper supply list I put together with my preferred brands. I’ll talk through those below:

• Strathmore is one of my go-to papers. I have several kinds listed. I will detail below.  

  • 400 series is a great everyday paper and my preferred economical paper. I like the 5 ½ x 8 ½ size for my everyday practice. 

  • Strathmore Watercolor cards: Great for quick small paintings with the bonus of being able to mail them to friends and family later. 

  • The watercolor visual journal has a great hard cover made of chipboard, making it an ideal travel companion. It’s spiral bound and has great paper inside. It also holds up well to other mixed media applications.

• Legion Stonehenge Aqua Cold press is another paper I use in my every day practice. I typically buy the trading card size (2 ½ x 3 ¾”) because they are about the same size as a baseball card and fill easily into a trading card protector page for a binder

• I have several Hahnemühle papers listed. I like their paper in general but I’ll go into a little more detail about why I like the specific products

  • The bookmarks: Could I cut my own? Of course. But having a pre-cut pad of book marks makes it easy for me to create one quickly with little fuss. 

  • Sugar Cane Block: I like that Hahnemühle is playing with different, more sustainable waste products to make their papers. The sugar cane paper is comparable to the Strathmore and a little better than the Stonehenge, in my opinion. It is a more expensive paper than the Strathmore, however.

  • Agave paper: This is on my list because I think it is better for liquid colors and comparable to Canson XL. I did not like it for traditional watercolor paints. 

  • Hahnemühle The Collection: Clearly, I love this paper. 

  • Hahnemühle Watercolor postcards: Again, painting small is an easy way to learn and if they are actual post cards you can send them off to friends/family if you feel up to it. 

• Etchr The perfect sketchbook: I love the size of this sketch book and the texture of the cover. The paper is great–very comparable to the Strathmore 400 series.

I do use one additional paper not listed above. Contrary to what I said above, this rough, 100% cotton paper is what I use as my go to paper for the detailed botanical/fungus paintings I do. I love this paper–it comes in 3 colors, antique, gray, and white, has a deckled edge, a medium rough texture, and holds up extremely well to repeat water washes and even brush scrubbing. I have it in the 8x10” and the 12x16” in antique and white. It is available through Amazon.