Tips For Beginner: How To Choose The Right Paper?

Have you ever asked yourself, why your paintings don’t look like the ones in the tutorials although you’re using the same kind of paints? Or why some effects and techniques just won’t work for you?

Oftentimes the paper is the reason for it. Especially in the beginning most underestimate the importance paper plays during the painting process and the learning experience.

In this article I want to share which possibilities you have when getting into watercolors and how you can choose the best paper for yourself as well as which differences there are between different papers.

Chapters

• Watercolor Paper Qualities
• The Right Stuff To Make Paper
• The Weight Of Paper
• Surface Textures
• Vegan And Non Vegan Papers
• The Price
• My Personal Recommendations
• What To Choose?

Watercolor Paper Qualities

In the beginning I heard, that I could get “any” watercolor paper to start painting and was wondering why it didn’t work out just as I wanted. Over the last few years I learned enough to know why something I attempted didn’t work. And can now prevent this by choosing the right supplies for the task.

My experience shows, that paper, paints and brushes can have different qualities, which will influence your painting experience. It doesn’t mean that cheap is automatically bad, but you should be aware if the things you get will indeed live up to the task you intend for them. When it comes to paper, the info on the packaging will give you first clues, whether you’re choosing a good paper or not.

The Right Stuff To Make Paper

The material that paper is made from is probably something beginner never look at initially. Most papers that have no info about what they’re made from are probably made from cellulose or wood pulp. But there are other papers too made from bamboo, hemp or cotton/rag. They all have different properties, which do not depend from the manufacturers.

Cellulose

Cellulose is made from plant fibers, to be exact: trees. They’re treated exactly as for any other paper, what makes this paper into watercolor paper is the sizing. Sizing helps paper to be better when it comes to handling watercolors.

As papers made from cellulose are often on the cheaper side, the sizing is not as good too, which shows in how papers behave when painting. Watercolor paper from cellulose deals worse with masking fluid and washi tape/masking tape in general and rips easier when either is removed. The masking fluid sticks much more to the paper because of the lack of sizing.

When it comes to painting, it can happen that colors look weird or move weirdly. Especially blooms, if unwanted, are a bad surprise when painting. Cellulose paper is not as good when it comes to even out moisture on the surface and will create blooms easier. It’s definitely possible to create blooms on purpose too as an effect. I happen to do it on occasion. Additionally papers made from cellulose will warp more during the painting process.

Blending colors, lifting or softening edges doesn’t work as nicely on cellulose paper as paints stick much more to it. Especially after drying it can be difficult to lift them.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a pretty new fiber in the watercolor world and is used only by a few companies to actually make watercolor paper. In my - very limited - experience it does work slightly better than papers made from cellulose, but I have not found one, which I’d call the ideal watercolor paper. The problems are basically the same as with cellulose papers, but slightly less.

Hemp

When it comes to hemp papers, I was able to test only one so far: the mixed media paper made by Hempa.

The paper really surprised me. It behaved well, although not ideal for painting with watercolors and maybe not suited for absolute beginners. I had to adjust my techniques to receive decent results. This is something I’d not expect from absolute beginners though.

I was very surprised though that the paper handled masking fluid and tape so well. There was no ripping at all. I also like the weight of it. So you can use it nicely, although you need some adjustment to do so.

Compared to the papers before the hemp paper, which is made in Germany, is not cheap and costs similar to high quality watercolor papers.

Cotton

Cotton is the king among watercolor papers and is used by most professional artists.

Papers made from cotton handle water very nicely. It’s absorbed and distributed well. The surface is stable and does not pill, when painted on. These properties make it very easy to achieve flat washes.

Cotton paper is also the most expensive paper for watercolors you can buy. There are price differences between the cotton papers, which I will talk about in the section about prices.

Rag

Rag is another word for cotton, but cotton that is sourced through recycling. Cotton clothes and towels will be shredded and used to make paper. Paper made from rag can also contain some linen and not 100% cotton.

In my experience rag papers behave very well and just the same as 100% cotton papers. Additionally I like the feeling to paint on paper made from recycled fibers. Like a little bonus for environmental reasons.

The Weight Of Paper

The weight of paper is also a sign of quality and is shown on the packaging as gsm. Which means grams per square meter. The higher the number, the thicker is the paper inside.

A weight of 300gsm is perfect to paint on for beginners and experienced painters alike. Some prefer thicker paper of up to 600gsm, which are more like thick cardboard. The higher thickness makes paper sturdier and prevents it from warping when painting wet washes. It’s definitely something of personal preference and depends on you what thickness you prefer for your art.

If the paper is thinner than 300gsm it can become tricky to paint on it, because it tends to warp pretty heavily then. There are some exceptions though for me: When I’m doing mail art. I like to create envelopes myself from watercolor paper and paint them after. It’s easier to do that with slightly thinner paper. But it’s also not the perfect painting that I attempt to paint on it, but a little something for close friends to enjoy.

Surface Textures

Something you might not have yet paid attention to are the different surface textures you can get when purchasing watercolor paper. There are three versions: hot press, cold press and rough.

In the following examples I will compare papers made of 100% cotton as they will show properties better and it will be easier to compare which role surface texture plays in painting with watercolors. I used Prussian Blue for the lines and dry brush and Schmincke Ocean Grey for the granulation.

Hot Press

Hot press watercolor paper shows almost no texture on the surface and is very smooth. It’s perfect to paint crisp lines and fine details. It tends to grasp paint more than other papers, so lifting can become tricky. Water control can also be a little difficult in the beginning and needs some adjustment.

Hot press watercolor paper is loved by artists who paint with small details such as botanical art, but also manga and comic artists. Especially for manga the benefit of crisp lines is a huge one in comparison to other paper textures.

Granulating pigments will show little effect on hot press paper.

Cold Press

Cold press watercolor paper is really the all-rounder among the watercolor papers. It has a slight texture, which can be a little different from manufacturer to manufacturer. This paper can handle water absolutely gorgeous, it’s very easy with flat washes and can be used for all kinds of subjects.

Granulating pigments will show their properties nicely on the paper and you can use all techniques on this surface.

This is just what I need in a paper and it’s why I’m using is a lot for all the swatches in the watercolor database sunandcolors.com.

Rough

Rough watercolor paper is really just what it is. The surface is very textured and shows clearly when you look at it and differs a lot from the previous two versions.

It might not seem like it, but rough watercolor paper can be an adventure. It deals very well with water and granulation will show very nicely on it. It’s great for landscapes and loose, more abstract paintings with little details. Especially when painting loose small details will get lost and become insignificant, so you can fully immerse yourself int he adventure of painting with this paper. There are just so many possibilities!

For me personally, it’s not the paper I use the most, but I love it, because it allows me to play and experiment more. It’s the little adventure that forces me to paint more intuitive and not pay too much attention to details.

Vegan And Non Vegan Papers

Now you know a lot about papers made of cellulose, bamboo, cotton and might think those are all vegan, right? So what about paper is not vegan you might think. It’s the sizing. Sizing is used on watercolor paper specifically to make it better at handling water. Sizing is also what can go bad when paper is not stored properly. It will show in spots and weird colors. That’s why I always recommend to use the paper instead of hoarding it. In some cases the papers, which are sized with gelatin, do smell a bit when painted on. It’s not a strong smell, but definitely one that can bother some people.

Sizing for watercolor paper can be made from gelatin. There are vegan alternatives though. Hahnemühle for example offers both vegan and non vegan papers. So you have to look closely which ones would fit your needs better in case you want to go vegan. Fabriano Artistico is another brand that offers vegan watercolor papers. Both are sized, but use a sizing that is not made from animals.

So in case it’s important to you, whether your paper is vegan, it’s good to take a closer look and do some research about the papers you want to purchase.

The Price

Let’s be real: Watercolor paper is not cheap. Especially if you want to have a good and joyful painting experience.

Watercolor paper made from cellulose is always cheaper than that made of cotton, but it also handles painting accordingly. Cotton will give you the best painting experience. But there are price differences in cotton paper too! In my experience it’s best to see what local brands are available to you and what their cost is, as those are often cheaper. There are a few Chinese brands which can be cheaper than local papers though too, but maybe more difficult to buy.

Oftentimes papers that need to be imported are more expensive because of added customs, but will be recommended a lot because you’re in a community with lots of people from a certain region for example. In most cases there are regional alternatives though that offer the same quality. So it’s worth checking.

My Personal Recommendations

In general I’m not a big fan of the “buy what I tell you” mentality. Your supplies must fit you and no-one else. If it’s not the case, it’s more likely to loose motivation or struggle to actually achieve what you want in a painting.

Through my long term experience and testing of supplies, I can give some recommendations. And it’s what it is, those are suggestions. You can always choose to go with something else, if you feel like it.

When I recommend something, the most important criteria for me are: Price, availability and quality. Especially in the beginning those are important as beginners might not have the experience yet or have tested out so much to decide for a favorite themselves yet but need guidance to still experience joy when painting.

Hahnemühle Brittania

Brittania is in comparison a very cheap paper made from cellulose. It handles painting well, but struggles when using masking fluid or tape. Both stick a lot to it, because of a weaker sizing, and will rip the paper when removed. In the beginning it can be a good start though to try out painting and experiment, without using any masking methods. It’s also a great paper for teens and students to paint on as it won’t warp as much.

Gerstaecker Centenaire

Centenaire became quickly my go-to-paper. It’s made of 100% cotton, handles painting and masking well. I use it for all of my tutorials, handmade sketchbooks and all the swatches in the watercolor database. It’s also a good price in comparison to other cotton papers available.

The Centenaire paper is available in cold press and rough only though, so there is no hot press version of it sadly. The texture is very close to Arches, although I feel that Centenaire is nicer to the touch for me personally.

Please consider, that I’m writing as a German author and Gerstaecker is a German shop. So this paper is the local version that offers me the best price for a fully cotton paper, which I was talking about earlier.

Fabriano Artistico

Fabriano Artistico is a great paper that is also made of 100% cotton. It’s made in Italy and is just a dream to paint on. I love the texture of it and the feeling of all three versions, hot press, cold press and rough too. Additionally it’s available in extra white and traditional white, which is a nice creamy color.

Price-wise it’s more expensive than Centenaire is for me. It’s the paper I would consider to be a nice treat and something precious to get to paint on.

Why not Arches?

Arches is a great paper, which is loved by many and rightfully so. But it’s just not my personal favorite, because it feels too rough for me when I paint. It’s a sensory issue I have with the paper when I touch it with my hands or the brush, but it’s not an issue of quality of the paper.

What To Choose?

Well… my tests have not nearly ended at this point. Just at this moment I’m testing even more papers and will soon publish more reviews on different brands and papers, which haven’t been mentioned in this post yet.

What you choose for yourself, is sadly your choice. Read through the reviews, watch videos and compare prices and availability in the shops around you. It makes sense to choose a paper that will work to begin with and one that is recommended often so you can practice. But it also should fit your budget, because you’ll need a lot of it.

I hope the info I collected here will give you a little guide on how to purchase watercolor paper and will help you decide on one.

If you’ve tested one of the papers, let me know how you liked it. Let me also know if your favorites are completely different. I love to extend my view and get to know new stuff.

Have a creative day!

Lana