Beginning in Art

Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paint should not be used on a canvas. During the watercolor process, you mix just a tiny bit of paint with a lot of water.  Depending on the stage you are at, you will use more or less water.  Using so much water would cause your canvas board to become soaked and ruined. You have to use special watercolor paper.

Watercolor paper is different from ordinary paper. In order for the color to remain where you put it, watercolor paper has ridges. If you are beginning in watercolor paint, you will want to get a sampler of paper so that you can experiment and decide if it is for you.

The following are just a couple of my top picks for watercolor paper.  They are both solid choices that will not disappoint you.  As always, Strathmore is an exceptional brand and their watercolor paper is of superior quality.  This is a sample of different weights of paper.  You may prefer one over the other.  This sample is perfect for testing.

Strathmore 500 Series Watercolor Paper Sampler pad of 13 Comprehensive sampler of Strathmore’s top of the line 500 Series Watercolor Papers. Included are two sheets each of Imperial 140 lb. (hot, cold, and rough surfaces), three sheets of Aquarius II 80 lb. cold press, two sheets each of Gemini 140 lb. rough and cold press. Acid free, archival. 13 sheets per pad. 10 1/2 in x 14 1/2 in.

Once you get the hang of it and you are sure you want to continue, you should get some good quality watercolor paper.  By now you will know the weight that you like and because you know you want to continue with watercolor, you won’t mind making the purchase.

Bienfang pH Neutral Watercolor Paper 9 in. x 12 in. sheets pad of 15 Excellent for watercolor. Good for mixed media. 140 lb. medium weight. Optimal sizing resists buckling. Uniform medium surface texture ensures that brush strokes do not blotch or bleed. Acid free. Resists yellowing and aging. 140 lb. Sold in individual sheets or tape bound pads of 15 sheets.

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