Intro to Watercolor Papers
Stacks of paintings on my desk
So you might be wondering, what paper should I start with? What do all these different watercolor papers do? Which one should I choose? I know it can be a bit confusing at first! Let me break it down for you:
There are 2 types of paper: cold press and hot press. The paper you choose depends on the kind of look you want. For most beginners, the best paper to start with is cold press paper that is 100% cotton. This type of paper is textured, absorbent, and allows the water and paint to blend nicely together. Hot press paper is smooth, and better if you are going for a detailed illustration with some blending and a lot of fine details.
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With cold press paper, the surface is easier to work with for lots of brushstrokes, and not as precise for details, since it has a textures surface. With hot press paper, the smooth surface is harder to work with for water, but easier to work with for details.
Both papers are great, but if you are a beginner, I recommend starting with a cold press paper while you are learning how to blend your colors! If you are looking for the best quality watercolor paper, Arches is a great choice. If you are looking for a student grade option, this one here is a good choice. A good paper weight is about 140lbs or higher. Anything less, will be too thin to hold the water.
This is what cold press texture looks like.
Watercolor paper also comes in different formats. You can get blocks, loose sheets or watercolor sketchbooks. All three formats have their purpose! I recommend starting with loose sheets if you’re a beginner. When you are ready for larger, more detailed work, you can gradually add in some watercolor blocks to your artist suitcase. Watercolor blocks are great for holding lots of water without the paper buckling!
I highly recommend having a watercolor sketchbook on hand when you’re just starting. This is such a fun an easy way to keep going with your daily practice. Add this to your routine with a travel set of paints so you can paint anytime, anywhere. I usually keep one of these or these in my bag when I’m out.
I really love this tiny little sketchbooks. You can paint something quickly and it’s perfect for on the go!
If you’d like to get started in watercolor but don’t know where to start, you can grab your Passport To Watercolor Toolkit here:
