A Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paper is often the most critical factor in the performance of a watercolor painting. You may have had the experience of casually painting in a journal or a notebook with decent results, but can they truly replace watercolor paper?

The answer is no. To achieve better painting effects, explore new techniques, or effectively practice controlling water and pigments, it’s essential to use proper watercolor paper. Ordinary paper cannot showcase most of watercolor’s beautiful characteristics. Compared to watercolor paper, regular paper tends to produce duller colors, lacks interesting water flow effects, and is prone to pilling, wrinkling, and tearing.

Now, let’s dive into understanding watercolor paper, so you can make informed choices more easily.

photo of stacked clear papers — Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Paper Thickness

The thickness of watercolor paper is measured by weight, using units such as gsm or lb.
Common standard weights include 190 gsm (90 lb.), 300 gsm (140 lb.), 356 gsm (260 lb.), and 638 gsm (300 lb.). The heavier the paper, the thicker it is.

If you use 190 gsm (90 lb.) to paint landscapes with large washes of water, it’s unlikely to stay flat, even if taped to a board. However, for detailed botanical illustrations or sketches with fewer layers, it should not pose much of an issue.

What impact does uneven paper have? Aside from making brushstrokes and continuous lines difficult, colors tend to pool in the paper’s curved areas, leading to uneven color distribution (often not the effect you want 😓). To avoid this, using 300 gsm(140 lb.) watercolor paper would be a more ideal choice.

Brand

Common watercolor paper brands include Arches, Canson, Sennelier, Fabriano, Winsor & Newton, and BaoHong. Some brands offer both 100% cotton and non-cotton paper series. For example, Canson’s Heritage is a 100% cotton series, while Montval and XL watercolor are non-cotton options, providing more affordable alternatives.

How to tell if it’s 100% cotton paper?
→ If it’s 100% cotton, it will always be labeled on the packaging as “100% cotton,” as this is the main factor affecting the price.

If beginners don’t have the budget for a full 100% cotton watercolor pad, that’s okay! You can try purchasing individual sheets. It’s important to compare the results of cotton and non-cotton paper to understand their different effects.

Paper Texture

Watercolor paper textures are generally divided into three types: hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough. Most brands and paper thicknesses offer these three textures, allowing artists to choose based on their creative habits and techniques.

Hot Pressed / Smooth Texture (HP)

Surface: The smoothest and most refined surface, ideal for detailed and intricate work. It’s also suitable for colored pencil drawings.
Effect: Since there’s little to no surface texture, it can be challenging to achieve visible brushstroke effects.
Drying Time: Dries faster during painting.

Cold Pressed / Medium Texture (CP)

Surface: Falls between hot-pressed and rough paper. It is versatile and suitable for almost all techniques.
Effect: Balances the ability to capture fine details while still allowing for some texture. This is the most commonly used texture for watercolor paper.

Rough Texture

Surface: Has the most noticeable texture, and you can feel the grain clearly when sketching with a pencil.
Effect: Particularly effective for creating dry brush techniques and emphasizing brushstroke textures.
Application: Works well for pieces where texture is a key feature.

Watercolor paper typically has one side with more pronounced texture and a smoother side. Both sides can be used depending on the desired effect.

Paper Format

Typically, you can buy individual sheets of watercolor paper at art supply stores. Some products, however, are primarily sold as sketchbooks, including options like single-sided glue binding, four-sided glue binding, and spiral-bound formats. Certain brands also offer paper in rolls, such as Arches rolls in sizes like 113 x 914 cm (44.5 in x 10 yd) or 130 x 914 cm (51 in x 10 yd). While rolls are more cost-effective, they require manual cutting.

Sketchbook

100% Cotton Watercolor Sketchbooks

Here are some brands I follow:

Hahnemühle (Germany): Offers a variety of paper products, including fine art inkjet printing paper and sketchbooks in brown, black, and gray tones.
Etchr Lab (Australia): Specializes in outdoor sketching products, such as backpacks and compact palettes.
Khadi (India): Features beautiful hand-crafted papers with deckled edges. I love these sketchbooks and often repurchase them.
Furrytailarts (India): Offers sketchbooks in various bindings. They don’t have an official website, but you can contact them via Instagram for orders.
Kovalsketchbooks (Germany): Produces high-end, handcrafted hardcover watercolor sketchbooks with a minimalist and elegant design.

As you may know, 100% cotton watercolor paper is already expensive. When combined with branded designs, sketchbooks become even more costly, especially when adding international shipping fees.

However, if you can consistently use them, sketchbooks are highly portable, easy to store, and provide a great way to look back on your creative journey. I believe they’re worth the investment! 🙂

Non-Cotton Watercolor Sketchbooks

Here are some non-cotton options that I’ve noticed many sketch artists use:

Talens Art Creation (Netherlands): Made from non-cotton paper, making it more affordable. It’s suitable for pencil, pastel, gouache, ink, or watercolor works that don’t require heavy water use or many layers.
Fabriano Venezia Book (Italy): I really love this art sketchbook with the cute cover, and I usually use it for simple watercolor sketches.

There are even more choices when it comes to non-cotton watercolor paper, so you can select one based on your preferences.

Additional Thoughts on Using Watercolor Paper

If you’re taking watercolor classes, use the same paper as your instructor during lessons and practice. This allows you to fully apply and practice the techniques and water control you’re learning. For drafts or quick tests, you can switch to more affordable paper.

When switching to a different brand of paper, you might feel unfamiliar with its texture and handling at first. Give yourself time to adjust and practice a few more times before giving up. You might discover the paper’s strengths, find which media or effects it suits best, and gain insight into the differences.

Watercolor paper is a consumable resource, and you’ll go through a lot of it during your learning process. It’s natural to feel like it’s a waste when you use so much, but remember that these practices are essential.

Without them, you can’t build the experience needed to control paint and water effectively. Don’t see unfinished or unsatisfactory works as failures or wasted efforts. They are stepping stones that help you improve and reach the next level!