Saunders Waterford watercolor paper

sashntash · #1 06-13-2010, 10:17 AM

I use acrylics like watercolors and have been using Saunders Waterford 200 lb cold press watercolor paper - which I love.

Now I'd like to give "rough" paper a try and in looking at your website (my only source of art supplies !!!), I noticed that you don't sell any of the rough in any weight.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/saunders-waterford/

Does the Saunders Waterford wc paper not come in rough or do you just not carry it???

Thanks in advance !!!

In my last order, I did get one sheet of Arches 140 lb rough and one sheet of Arches 300 lb rough... but since I love the Saunders 200 lb weight I was hoping to try that in the rough version....

Blick Art Materials · #2 06-14-2010, 10:37 AM

Hi Susan,
Saunders Waterford papers are available in a 300lb rough, 22"x30" sheets. I'm not sure why we've chosen to not carry it. It could be simply there isn't a big enough demand for it. Regardless, we may be able to special order it for you. There may be a minimum quantity, but they would let you know after pursuing the order for you.

Just let me know if you'd like to place a special order request. I'll need a means to contact you via email or a phone number.

If you'd prefer to work with what we carry in stock, we offer samples of the papers to test out. There isn't a large selection of 300lb papers, but we are happy to send you what we offer. If interested, I'll need your mailing address with your request.

Thank you for your business!
Kristal

sashntash · #3 06-14-2010, 01:01 PM

Kristal - thanks for your reply !!

My current order - with the Arches rough 140 lb and rough 300 lb - is due to arrive here on Wednesday...

I'll give those a try first and see if the Saunders Waterford rough is anything I want to persue....

Thank you !!!

Blick Art Materials · #4 06-14-2010, 03:10 PM

My pleasure, Susan, have a great day!

Kristal

sashntash · #5 06-16-2010, 03:31 PM

Kristal -

Just an FYI to follow up on our conversation.

I Googled and found this page which describes all the Saunders Waterford wc paper weights and surfaces. (Inveresk is the parent company)

http://www.inveresk.co.uk/node/98

As you can see, they do make the 200 lb 22" x 30" sheets in Rough.... as well as the 300 lb...

I know that you carry Arches in CP, HP and Rough in all weights. While I certainly understand that there is more demand for Arches, it sure would be nice if you carried the Saunders Waterford in all weights in CP, HP and Rough too

Anyway.... there was a place on their website to request a sample... which I have done. But I have no idea if they will send samples to an individual and/or whether they will send them to someone in the USA.

We shall see......

Again.. thanks for your help !!!

Blick Art Materials · #6 06-16-2010, 04:16 PM

Hi Susan,
Glad you found a source....I'll put a note in with our buyers to consider expanding the product line. If they do, you'll find the products first on our website.

Take care,
Kristal

sashntash · #7 06-17-2010, 06:31 AM

Hi Kristal -

Just to clarify. That link is not to a retail source.... Inveresk is the parent company of Saunders Waterford.

It's just an informational website.... they don't do any selling. But they did have an offer to send samples.. but that may just be sending samples to companies like yours.. not individuals... we shall see...

So I'm hoping that dickblick.com will consider expanding your offerings of this wonderful watercolor paper..... adding just the 200 lb rough and the 300 lb rough.

I've found quite a few art supply websites in the UK that sell the whole line of Saunders Waterford.. but that doesn't do me much good.

200 lb is such a great weight for watercolor paper. Sturdier than the 140, but not as thick as the 300 lb.

Thanks for sending a note to the buyers... I'll keep my fingers crossed !!

robertsloan2 · #8 08-18-2010, 09:00 PM

I hope the buyers do get the full line of Saunders Waterford paper. I'd surely try it - I'd be very interested in 300lb Hot Press, because I love using fine detailed pen work with wet sloshy washes and wet-in-wet painting. Each of the paper surfaces has its own uses, and 300lb paper is a joy.

Blick Art Materials · #9 08-19-2010, 01:29 PM

Hi Robert,
Thank you for posting. I will pass your post along to our buyers again so that that they are aware that the interest in this version of the Saunders Waterford paper is growing.

Audra

Evelien1 · #10 12-09-2010, 09:12 AM

Anyone with experience with old sheets of Saunders and waterford?

I've used old sheets of 300gr. rough S&W, they seem to act differently than the new ones. The paper is extremely absorbent, coloring very dark when you only put water on it. Everything you do is sucked in immediately. Funny. Would it be the age, or something else? It's as if some component has changed - on new paper you can do washes that don't get stuck immediately.

I'm used to rough - i like it because it fusses perception a bit. Little mistakes don't show.
I was recommended saunders and waterford because it's so stable. It doesn't warp much, even if you soak it through and through . You don't really need to stretch it - it won't be completely flat, but flat enough to put it behind glass.

Blick Art Materials · #11 12-09-2010, 01:40 PM

Hi Evelien,
It sounds as though the difference between your sheets of paper is due to possible changes in the sizing. I do not know how "old" you older sheets are, but we are currently getting our Saunders Waterford Paper from Legion. It could be that the mills have changed since your older paper was made or they changed what they were using for sizing. For instance, many companies are changing from plant or animal based sizing to synthetics which can tend to not break down as quickly and thus allow for more working and changes on the paper.

As I said before, if you let me know when you think you bought your "old" Saunders Waterford Paper, I would be happy to contact Legion and see if they might have any suggestions as to the change in its working properties.

Thanks,
Audra

murphe · #12 12-15-2010, 09:18 AM

Did you ever get samples from Inveresk? I've sent a couple of requests in the past and have yet to hear anything back. I do have 140lb in HP and Not but I hoped to try out their heavier papers or the rough before having to order a pack or two.

sashntash · #13 12-15-2010, 10:54 AM

I did receive a packet of samples.

I filled out the form on their website and received the samples in a couple of weeks.

I have been using their 200 # CP for quite a while now.... so I requested that they send me samples of 300# CP and Rough in 140#, 200# and 300# which they very nicely did !!!

murphe · #14 01-15-2011, 02:41 AM

I do have rough in 140lb and have 200lb Not/CP along with 140lb Hot press but, like you I wanted to try the other 200lb nad 300lb finishes but they never did get back to me or send anything.
Their website seems to have been down for a while. I just hope they aren't having trouble as I like their 200lb paper and I don't think I've come across anything that I might replace it with at a reasonable price and availability.

dpgchris · #15 10-06-2012, 12:53 AM

I was looking for artists with experience using Saunders Waterford. I received a couple packages from the widow of an artist I know. I exprienced this over-absorbancy described below also. When applying a flat wash, I was getting streaks even with an absorbant brush loaded with paint. The paper was so absorbant, that I could not get a bead of color to sit on top of the paper without soaking in. I have no idea how old this paper might be. It is 200 lb cold press. The paper also seems more brittle when tearing it in half than the Arches I normally use. So, I don't know if this is how Saunders normally acts or if my paper is no longer usable.

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evelien1

Anyone with experience with old sheets of Saunders and waterford?

I've used old sheets of 300gr. rough S&W, they seem to act differently than the new ones. The paper is extremely absorbent, coloring very dark when you only put water on it. Everything you do is sucked in immediately. Funny. Would it be the age, or something else? It's as if some component has changed - on new paper you can do washes that don't get stuck immediately.

I'm used to rough - i like it because it fusses perception a bit. Little mistakes don't show.
I was recommended saunders and waterford because it's so stable. It doesn't warp much, even if you soak it through and through . You don't really need to stretch it - it won't be completely flat, but flat enough to put it behind glass.

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