Home › Forums › Explore Media › Watermedia › watercolor paper differences
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March 20, 2012 at 3:35 pm #989482
So simple question I hope. I have a ton of cheaper “student” watercolor papers from Canson and Strathmore, and I have only 4 large sheets of Arches and Fabriano. I want to save the better sheets for when I have something that I really want to put effort into painting, as money is tight and I can’t really buy good paper for practice.
So my question is, all sheets are cold press, how large of a difference is there between the two. Is it outstanding like the difference between notebook paper and pastel paper for dry pastel, or is it subtle but nothing too great to get “use-to” at first.
I know work with what you have, but I don’t to use my good paper experimenting when, for the time being, it is a rare thing to have. I want to know from other people’s experience what options of my cheaper papers for the quick paintings that I might not spend as much prep time for.
March 20, 2012 at 8:12 pm #1158284March 20, 2012 at 8:24 pm #1158289400 series 140lb cold press, I also have a bit of 300 series 140lb cold press.
The Arches and Fabriano are both 300lb cold press, boy does it cost a lot at $10-$13 a sheet
March 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm #1158283Welcome to the forum and to WetCanvas! I don’t know where you live, but there are other types good quality cheaper paper out there. I love Strathmore and use it all the time, the type you mentioned; if you use enough water it is just perfect. I also am fond of using Italia Acquerello 140 lb cold press, sold thru Dick Blick product #10140-1012, at $3.79 a sheet (I order ten 22×30 full sheets) then cut them up as needed. Saunders Waterford is another favorite priced a bit higher. Fabriano is very good and very expensive. Canson I’ve found when using their blocks doesn’t mix and mingle colors as well. For my florals, I prefer using the Italia, as it gives me great unexpected surprises as seen in nature. For the most part, student grade paper is thinner and tends to curl and buckle. I hope this helps you
Kay
Moderator: Watermedia, Mixed Media, Abstract/Contemporary
March 22, 2012 at 11:21 am #1158288I particularly like Cotmans watercolour 300gsm, 140lbs paper, which is not too absorbent and yet holds colour well. I have some really expensive stuff which I don’t like as much, it is like blotting paper!
I’d say use up your cheap paper for ideas, practice etc., then use the expensive stuff when you have an idea worth developing more.
March 25, 2012 at 7:06 pm #1158286I am an Arches fan! Having said that I sometimes will do something for practice on cheap paper and it will turn out wonderfully…making me which I had it on more durable, longer lasting paper.
It truly ends up being trial and error sometimes. Try any and everything you can get your hand on…
Meanwhile just remember to enjoy making art!
Pam
May 12, 2012 at 11:31 am #1158290if your talking about canson XL watercolor or mixed media.. it’s only really usefull with watercolor crayons, which bring their own waxy barrier, so the paper does not shred itself when you apply more than a tiny drop of water, but it will still become water logged quickly and buckle, crease all over the place.
my next bit of fun will be to put a coat of cheap student grade gesso on top, like I’ve seen on the youtube videos fromt the visual journal people
something from journal artista on the subject http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh-OxeN3qSs
May 12, 2012 at 5:31 pm #1158287I was lurking! What good advice! I like arches hot press. But I’m going to try Strathmore because of it’s availability in my town. And it’s more reasonably priced. I use Canson XL for sketches which I cut out and place on my canvases to structure a painting. I was to try the gesso too…. That intrigues me.
Happy weekend
Happy Painting
http://lalflen.wordpress.com/
LindaMay 13, 2012 at 7:50 am #1158285I am an Arches Rough fan but also am fond of some of the Fabrianos — except my most recent, Fabriano Uno, which absorbed the paint rather than let it float around on the surface.
May I suggest that you use and enjoy your cheaper paper as fast as you can but always have them stretched. Heavy corrugated cardboard, as used for large cartons, can be used as a lightweight backing, with one sheet stretched on either side. Prepare a few at one time and have a feast. All my plein air work is on such backing as it is light-weight and free from many stores.
GeoffSuccess is a Journey -
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