Something You Must Know about Watercolor Paper

Function of watercolor paper

Common sketch paper, first of all, is easy to fluff, and thin. A little layer of water will be crumpled, affecting the beauty of the painting. Water absorption is not particularly good, and it will take a long time to dry. The final color rendering is not so good. Maybe you are adjusting one color, but the last one is another color.

Watercolor paper pad, in fact, is still very recommended for everyone, which is not that thick but the color rendering is OK. It can be paved and used to practice, and finally the price is not relatively high.

Watercolor paper texture

The rough texture of the rough surface is related to the manufacturer. After painting on rough paper with a brush containing mixed pigments, heavy pigments (such as ultramarine blue) are quickly deposited on the concave surface of the paper during the slow drying process, and the coloring power is strong, showing the unique texture effect of the watercolor. Rough texture, which can hinder the flow of pigments and stabilize color, does not accumulate pigments, and the texture expressed is better.

Medium grain paper combines the characteristics of fine grain paper and rough grain paper. Its roughness is best for beginners. Usually, when you start painting watercolors, you will use medium-grain watercolor paper. When you want to change the rubbing, penetration and tracing, you can try rough and fine-grain paper.

Fine lines are easy to absorb pigments, pigments are easy to flow, and dry quickly. When a strong pigment expresses a sense of speed, fine-grain paper is usually used, so it is suitable for creating a work that is completed quickly in a short time. Painters who draw thin lines with pencils and who like to paint details tend to use fine-grained paper. 

Selection of watercolor paper

1. Shape: Handmade paper is usually sold in a single sheet. Mold and machine-made paper can be purchased in sheets, bags, rolls, mats, or blocks. The block is a pre-stretched watercolor paper that is bound to four sides. When you have finished a painting, you use a palette knife to remove the paper from the block. 

2. Surface: Manufactured and machine-made watercolor paper has three surfaces: rough, hot pressed and cold pressed. Rough artist watercolor paper has a prominent tooth or textured surface. This creates a grainy, speckled effect because the watercolor is concentrated on the dent on the paper. It is difficult to control the scratches on this piece of paper. It doesn't work well for multi-layer washing because there is more paint on the surface and it will soon be overloaded. It is the most commonly used paper for watercolor painters because it is suitable for both large-area washing and fine detailing.

3. Color: The manufacturers of watercolor papers are different, so it is necessary not only to test different types of paper, but also to test different brands of paper. Watercolor paper is usually white, but not necessarily white, which offers a variety of cool and warm colors. Use acid-free paper to draw the painting you want to save, because it will turn yellow as you age. 

If you are interested in watercolor painting, hope this article can be helpful for you. Hangzhou Medo Import and Export Co., Ltd. is a professional art material supplier, whose products including professional watercolor brush pen,  watercolor pad, nontoxic solid watercolor cake, and other art materials since 1990's.