I want to buy really nice paper- suggest some!

[Pars]

I use several different watercolour papers, including Saunders Waterford, but I only discovered which I preferred by ordering (or in my case visiting) and selecting numerous papers and then testing each. Buying an assortment of the papers listed at Bromley’s is such a terrific way to learn what works for you.

It’s a matter of preference. I use Saunders Waterford 200lb rough, but you could try a [URL=http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/item-watercolour-paper-starter-pack.htm]starter pack of 11 different papers[/URL] from Ken Bromleys.

Doug

Zoe

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

That assorted pack from Bromleys is a terrific way to really try out some very good papers. Wish we could get the same assortment here from some of our suppliers.

Sylvia

[Seaspray]

Sylvia,
I believe Cheap Joe’s still sells an assortment pack with Arches, Waterford, Lana, Kilimanjaro and Fabriano Artistico…all 140 lb.cp, either 1/4 or 1/2 sheet size. Bockingford is not included in the pack.

I need to try some of these papers, and get out of my comfort zone. I’ve used only Arches for 7 years, but have recently been trying out Artistico…and I like it a lot.
Carol

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

Carol,
I am not a fan of Kilimanjaro and Lana, so that package at Cheap Joe’s doesn’t appeal to me, unfortunately.

I did like the mix in the Bromleys package though.

Sylvia

[beetlejazz]

I have lately fallen in love with Meirat (rough, 300 gsm). The only thing I can complain about it is that it isn’t as resistant to scrubbing as Arches, but well what is??? It’s a linen paper and the grain is very beautiful, and above all I think it’s incredibly easy to stretch. If I soak a sheet and tape it with gummed tape there is absolutely no buckle, I can create a pond on my paper, no problem (unlike with Arches which, as lovely as it is, I think is tricky to stretch). Generally I think that if you’re big on wet-on/in-wet it’s a great paper.

http://www.galeria3.com/meiratpapers.html

I like arches cp 300gsm too, because it’s so strong and can take a lot of scrubbing. And fabriano artistico, because they have a very white one.

Sorry about the ramble, I’m just a total paperophile

Anna
http://maalattua.wordpress.com/

[watercolourfanatic]

I’m sure everyone is trying to help but buy buying paper from the USA isn’t an option for UK citizens, except if money is no object:eek: .

There are three main sources that give best value (and the widest range) in the UK and they are Jacksons Art, Ken Bromley and Great Art. There are many other sources like Heaton Cooper but the best deals are with these three. Google them and you will find them easily. Great Art are German and supply from Germany but are very efficient and have a UK telephone order system plus an excellent website in English.

As what to buy? For a budget make Bockingford cannot be beaten but if you want a cotton paper then Arches is very popular if extremely expensive. Next along would probably be Saunders Waterford followed by Fabriano Artistico. To a large extent it depends how you paint.

My personal favourites are Waterford and Fabriano, although I have bought two fabulous handmade papers that sadly are so difficult to get it’s better to forget them. One is made in the town of Amalfi near Sorrento in Italy. To get it you would have to go there and visit the shop! The other is Czech-made Moldau paper, a fabulous paper available in the USA via Italian Art (I believe) but not in the UK. I should qualify that last statement. I saw this paper when Charles Reid was using it and decided to get some. After a six month campaign, which is detailed on my blog (what a saga!), I managed to get a supply at a price. The Velke company that makes it even appointed a UK agent following my enquiries but I was unable to pin them down to a fixed price with add ons like 20% Czech VAT and variable carriage charges being estimated:evil: . They would only quote in Euros so this raised another issue.

Currently I am trying the new Great Art Centenaire paper and this looks very promising, being 100% cotton and at a great price.

Most of this is irrelevant if you are newly into watercolour. My humble opinion would be to start off with Bockingford, which is available in a wide range of sizes and weights, blocks, pads even tinted and then graduate to Waterford with more experience. I like Fabriano because it suits my method of painting. I have used Arches, which seems to be the choice of a majority, but it is very expensive to my eyes.

Peter:)

`loosening up is a state of the mind not a state of the brush' - Charles Reid

"The Watercolour Log"
www.watercolourfanatic.blogspot.com/

[Studio-1-F]

:thumbsup: +1 on Fabriano Artistico 300lb. Rough. Lush and talkative. Love the stuff. Enjoy!

Jan

[Kaylen]

I am experimenting with various papers and have stocked up on arches 140 and 300 cold and hot and they are fine papers ,but the nicest one yet for me was 300 lbs cold Zoltan Zabo “Jack Richerson”paper , . but everyone has a different approach ,someone already suggested you try a sample pack and I think that’s very wise advice ,good luck,,,and thank you Sylvia for moderating,I reread the post several times and could not understand how some reposes related to the original question

Kaylen Savoie
https://www.savoieartist.com/
At least twice a year,paint something better than you ever painted before.

[Neeman]

Saunders Waterford 300 gm is an excellent English paper
it is harder than Fabriano and holds brilliant color
It takes wash very well and you can layer easily
It does not scrub well
I really like it

Rough has a strong texture
NOT is fairly standard but has two sides, so the back side is smoother
So it nice to have that choice of sides
Hot Press has a very fine texture and is not a smooth as others

I like the regular paper which is quite ivory
you can get the extra white if you want a whiter paper

the best prices are
Discountart
http://www.discountart.co.uk/Saunders_Waterford_cat_326.html
But they don’t cut into 1/2 and 1/4 sheets

Jackson’s
http://www.jacksonsart.co.uk/images/fp_jacksonsuk.php

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

I like the Saunders Waterford 200 lb rough – no need to stretch.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[Author]

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