Watercolour Paper
Your choice of watercolour paper as an artist is a very personal thing and is completely dependent on the way you work because different watercolour papers share different properties and will react slightly differently to different methods of painting.
I have tried a whole host of papers over the years and three of my all time favourites have to be these ones Bockingford, Saunders & Arches. I think out of the three it is surprisingly Bockingford that I will usually opt for because it suits my method of painting, takes a lot of punishment and has to date never let me down even when mistreated lol!
Best thing to do is to try a few different papers to find out what is right for you. Why not order a pack of each!
Arches Aquarelle watercolour paper sheets are available in three surface finishes. HP (Hot Pressed) is better for highly detailed paintings. CP (NOT) is a good all round surface. The Rough is a fantastic surface for looser landscapes and seascapes where the rougher paper surface really works with the painting. Arches fine art paper has maintained the quality and performance that artists have relied upon for centuries and is now considered one of the finest watercolour papers made today with each and every sheet of paper produced being hand checked for quality before leaving the factory.
I stock Arches watercolour paper in NOT, and Rough Surfaces and in either quarter, half or full Imperial size sheets.
Bockingford is one of the worlds most popular watercolour papers - not surprising considering it offers superb quality at a great price. Bockingford watercolour paper is available in a range of weights with the most popular weight being 300gm² (140lb). Bockingford is ideal for beginners as it shares many of the important qualities of a top quality rag sheet but at a lower cost.
This watercolour paper is available in NOT, and Rough Surfaces and in either quarter, half or full Imperial size sheets.
Saunders Waterford Watercolour paper is a high quality watercolour paper that is mould made from 100% rag (cotton). It is acid free and watermarked, has deckled edges (only on full imperial sheets) and is calcium carbonate buffered.
This watercolour paper is available in NOT, and Rough Surfaces and in either quarter, half or full Imperial size sheets.