Choose Artists' Watercolor Paper
Selecting artists' watercolor paper can be tricky, because there are so many kinds to choose from. This article will tell you, the buyer, what to look for.
Contents
Steps
- Familiarize yourself with the types of paper available:
- Weight and texture: Watercolor paper is available in a variety of weights and textures, and choosing the right paper will depend on technique as well as personal taste.
- Absorbent ability: Unlike drawing and printmaking papers, watercolor paper contains sizing, which reduces the absorption of paint into the paper itself. The pigments remain on the surface of the paper, so the colors remain brilliant. (To see this for yourself, make one watercolor painting on heavy drawing paper and another on watercolor paper.)
- Cost: Watercolor paper can be very expensive, but if you want to get the best results, you've got to use the right materials. Copier/cartridge paper, sketch paper, illustration board, and other types of papers and artists' boards aren't meant to be used with watercolor, and the results will reflect that.
Texture
- Understand the different qualities of texture is usually the first consideration when selecting paper. There are three general categories:
- Hot-Press has a smooth surface, and is sometimes even labeled as "Smooth." It's your best bet if you work with fine detail, combine watercolor and fine pen-and-ink work, or use watercolor as a base for colored pencil.
- Cold-Press has a noticeable texture that may not be suitable for extremely detailed work, but otherwise it's a versatile surface that lends itself to most watercolor techniques. Cold-press is the most commonly used surface, and if you're taking a beginning watercolor class your instructor will usually specify it on the supply list. There is no standard "cold-pressed" surface, however; the relative roughness of the paper and size of the grain varies between manufacturers. Strathmore's cold-press paper, for example, has a much larger grain, and thus a coarser appearance, than Arches.
- Rough is--well, rough. It's great stuff if you're into bold brushwork and larger-scale paintings, but is generally not used by beginners.
Weight
- Understand the importance of weight. How thick the paper is is the next thing to consider. The weight of paper is given in pounds (or grams per square metre). The higher the number, the heavier the paper.
- The most commonly-used weight is 140lb (300gsm) because it works well for most artists' purposes. If you plan to work very large or use a lot of heavy washes, there are much heavier papers available; 300lb (620gsm) is also popular.
- Watercolor papers as light as 90lb (200g) are available, and they are usually less expensive than 140lb. However, they often end up causing problems for beginners because they buckle once you start applying washes. Unless you know how to stretch watercolor paper, they are best avoided.
Paper Size and Format
- Decide in what size and format you're going to buy your paper:
- Pads usually contain 12-50 sheets (depending on weight) of watercolor paper, either spiral-bound (like a sketchbook) or glued along one edge. The spiral-bound kind are great if you want to keep all of your paintings together, or are traveling and want to keep an illustrated diary that includes your paintings. The glued ones make it easier to tear off a finished painting while it's drying and start work on another. They come in a range of sizes, usually from postcard-size up to 18 x 24" (45 x 60 cm).
- Blocks contain 20-25 sheets of 140lb paper, glued together on all four sides. The advantage to blocks is that by having all four edges bound, the paper is less likely to buckle as you're painting. The thick backing board onto which the sheets of paper are bound keeps everything stable and makes it easy to hold the block of paper on your lap while working.
- Sheets are a great deal if you want to try a paper without committing to an entire pad/block. You'll also end up switching to sheets if you work larger than 18 x 24", or want to use heavier-weight papers. You can buy most brands of 140lb watercolor paper either in individual 22 x 30" sheets, or in a package of 4-10.
- Rolls are usually 44-60" wide and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long. If you love a particular paper so much you want to use it all the time, buying it buy the roll will be most economical in the long run. If you want to paint watercolors larger than 22 x 30", buying paper by the roll and cutting it yourself will be your only recourse.
Other things to keep in mind
- Note that there are some other important factors to consider when purchasing watercolor paper:
- Acid-free paper is pretty much a given, anymore, but check the label to make sure (especially if you're buying cheap or "student" paper). You might end up painting something you're proud of; don't let acidic paper slowly destroy it.
- Whiteness of the paper can significantly affect the look of your finished painting. Some artists like a very bright white paper; others prefer a softer off-white. Some manufacturers (such as Arches and Fabriano) offer bright white papers for those who prefer it.
- Cleanliness is important when working with watercolors. There are people who can't go through the paper section of an art supply store without getting their dirty paws all over the paper. Not only are fingerprints and dirt impossible to get off paper, but the oils in people's fingerprints can mess up your painting. Buy the paper that's still sealed, or is on the bottom of the stack, and always check to make sure it's clean before buying it.
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