Fabriano
Surfaces: Not and rough Weights: 200, 315, 600gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, tub-sized
A robust, textured surface that stands up to erasure and scrubbing and carries washes without sinking. Four deckle edges. Watermarked.
Richard de Bas
by Richard de Bas
Surfaces: HP, Not and rough
Weight: 480gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, internally sized
A thick, robust paper with a fibrous texture. Washes fuse into the paper structure. Four deckle edges.
Watermarked.
Indian
by Khadi
Surfaces: HP and Not
Weights: 200, 300gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, internally sized
A strong paper, able to withstand wear and tear. Lifting out colour is easy, and masking fluid rubs off well.
Artists’ Paper
Surface: Not
Weights: 175, 250gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, tub-sized, loft-dried; buffered with calcium carbonate
Gently absorbent, but robust and firm. Also available in cream, oatmeal and grey. Four deckle edges.
Mould-made papers
Arches Aquarelle
by Canson
Surfaces: HP, Not and rough
Weights: 185, 300, 640, 850gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, tub-sized, air-dried
A warm white paper with a robust, yet soft, texture. Carries washes without undue absorption. Resists scrubbing and scratching. Lifting out is difficult, and fibre-lift occurs when masking fluid is removed.
Lana Aquarelle
by Lana
Surfaces: HP, Not and rough
Weights: 185, 300, 600gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, tub-sized
A good, textured surface. Lifting out and removal of masking fluid are easy. All weights stand up well to washes without undue buckling.
Bockingford
by Inveresk
Surface: Not
Weights: 190, 300, 425, 535gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, internally sized, buffered with calcium carbonate
A versatile, economical paper, robust yet absorbent. Lifting out is easy; masking fluid comes away cleanly. 30Ogsm also in tints.
Saunders Waterford
by St Cuthbert’s Mill
Surfaces: HP, Not and rough
Weights: 190, 300, 356, 640gsm
Content: 100% cotton rag, internally and gelatine sized
A stable, firm paper, which is resistant to cockling, and with a sympathetic surface. Scrubbing, lifting out and masking are easy.
| Weights of watercolour paper | |
| Metric | Imperial |
| 150gsm | 72lb |
| 180gsm | 90lb |
| 300gsm | 140lb |
| 410gsm | 200lb |
| 600gsm | 300lb |
| 850gsm | 400lb |
Acid content
Papers that contain an acid presence, such as newsprint and brown wrapping paper, are prone, in time, to yellowing and deterioration. Paper acidity is measured by the pH scale. An acid-free paper does not contain any chemicals which might cause degradation of the sheet, and will normally have a pH of around 7 (neutral). All good-quality watercolour papers are acid-free, to prevent yellowing and embrittlement with age. Some are also buffered with calcium carbonate, to protect against acids in the atmosphere.
Increasing sizing
If paper is too absorbent, paint sinks into it and colours appear dull. To remedy this, dissolve a teaspoon of gelatin granules in 500ml (18fl oz) of water and apply to the surface before painting.
Reducing sizing
If a heavily sized paper does not take paint well, then pass a damp sponge over the surface several times. Leave it for 30 minutes, then dampen again before painting. Some handmade papers may need to be soaked for up to two hours in warm water.
Trying for size
The amount and quality of sizing varies according to the brand of paper. A quick test is to lick a corner of the paper with the end of your tongue: if it feels dry and it sticks to your tongue, you will know that it is absorbent paper.
Spiral pads
