Best watercolor paper for beginners, and why?

The Best is Subjective

What would be "best" is subjective, meaning it really depends on your goals and your personal preference.  In order to know what is best, you’d have to know what it is that you want to achieve in the painting.  This could mean achieving a certain look and particular style of painting, or it could be something completely different.  You could be wanting to develop the skill that overcomes the challenge of using a certain kind of paper. The best starts with the end in mind.

Before I keep on going, if you don't know who I am, let me introduce myself.  My name is Zarah McIntosh and I’m a watercolor enthusiast. I decided to get back into art about 3 years ago, starting with watercolor and I do feel I'll be on a forever exploration journey. 

My advice is to first be clear on what you want.  What style or look are you wanting to achieve?  You’ll need to know the specific things that the painting demands in order to know the best paper for the job.  Second, you’ll need to know what the paper you’re considering for the final project is able to do.  Can the paper accomplish your needs and your vision?  OR, again, are you more interested in the challenge of making the effects of one type of paper look like another?

Understandably, this is pretty difficult to do if you have no reference to how different papers behave in the first place.  You can spend endless hours down a rabbit hole listening to how others describe the experience of using different papers... OR (and this one gets my vote) you can bite the bullet and test different papers out for yourself.  Experience is the real teacher, and faster still is experience with a guide, mentor, or teacher.  My vote goes very heavily towards exploring and experiencing different papers you have access to, for yourself.  This is the ultimate way of knowing, through experience.

When you see paintings in watercolor that have soft gradient color changes and deep colors, realistic style, tight control, etc, those things would be best done on an absorbent, thick, 100% cotton watercolor paper.  This is because the paint will have room to move into and settle in, and you'll have control over that because watercolor is all about water control.  

People describe watercolor as having a mind of its own and this is because watercolor moves depending on how wet the paper is, how absorbent it is, and how deep the paint can sink into the layers or areas of paper.  A painting that looks well controlled is best done on thick, 100% cotton watercolor paper. And a side note, keep in mind that different companies have different formulas and different ways they apply the sizing (that's the glue that holds the paper together) which will also affect your result.  Your painting skills and your knowledge of what the paper is capable of doing will help you reach your painting vision.

A painting with one or two washes of color could be done on less absorbent paper.   If you really want a non-absorbent paper effect, you can look into trying out a fully synthetic paper called YUPO too.  The paper's internal and external composition affects how your paints behave.  It becomes a real integral part of your experience and final painting.  This is why 100% cotton watercolor paper is not necessarily the best, if the look and effect you want is what a less absorbent paper can easily provide.

Watercolor is Easy

Watercolor is actually easy and can be forgiving, once you know how it all works.  I’ve learned from different teachers from all over the world, through the wonders of the internet.  I would love to be able to share what I’ve learned through a course and membership with an active, encouraging, and wonderful artist community. 

Paper is the most important supply in watercolor painting.  The ability of the paper combined with your skills as a painter will have the most effect on your final result. Paper is more impactful on the experience and the end result than your paint brushes or your paints will have.  Granted, as a human with limitless capabilities, you could take on the challenge of making anything look the way you want, it would just mean developing that skill which will take more time.

Papers of all types are marketed as watercolor paper even while they behave very differently from each other.  This behavior depends on the ingredients used, the glue or sizing formulas, the thickness, and even the texture.  Even when you’ve finally decided to give in, and get the more expensive 100% cotton watercolor paper, you’ll find that the different brands will also matter.  This is because each company has their own way of making their papers.

The two main categories of paper are between wood pulp and 100% cotton watercolor paper.  The main differences between the two are cost and their behavior.  Wood Pulp is generally cheaper while cotton is much more expensive, and wood pulp is less absorbent than 100% cotton watercolor paper.

As far as behavior, wood pulp papers will not absorb water as well as cotton will. This hinders the movement of the paint.  Water tends to sit on top of wood pulp papers which makes layering difficult. BUT, if you like the look of painting on a certain wood pulp paper, then technically that would be the best choice for your preference. That’s how and why I say it can be subjective.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Some people like the look of wood pulp paper paintings, or even 25% or 50% cotton papers.  

You are MORE than worthy

A lot of beginners beat themselves up when it’s really the paper that’s not able to get them to where they want to be.  They listen to advice that makes them believe they’re not worthy of 100% cotton while learning, but that’s not a good way to think about it.  You’ll need to learn on the supplies you need, to do the job you want to achieve (he he.. I rhymed, like Zig Zigler). You need to know how your supplies behave in order to achieve your vision easily.  It has nothing to do with being a beginner.  

For example, the style I prefer is best achieved on 100% cotton.  Therefore I do my best to use and learn on 100% cotton paper, even if it is of lesser quality than the ultimate king of watercolor papers, Arches.  I do general studies on the BEE watercolor paper, and do studies of final pieces on Arches.  Nail down the look and style of the painting you want to achieve and the supplies will show themselves.  I'm fairly sure Amazon is listening and wants to help. (lol, I joke.. but really it's no joke)

Watercolor is a Partnership

Knowing the abilities of your paper and your skills in water control will help you  with guiding and allowing watercolor to dance in the way you want to see. The paper is half of the battle. One way to get faster results is to find the style you are drawn to and see what that artist used in order to achieve that look.  Things would be even better if that artist offered workshops that taught and showed you the techniques used, step-by-step on how they achieved their paintings. 

OK, hopefully that was clearer than mud.  See you in the next post!!