Anyone who is new to art would probably wonder about this. Naturally it is an important consideration, according to the type of paint you use. Watercolour paper can be bought in three varieties. "Not" (Cold Pressed), "HP" (Hot Pressed), and Rough.
If, all this is new to you I would recommend "Not". Simply because it is a smooth paper, not really textured, as when it is made, it is pressed through rollers that are cold.
If you have small detailed work, a textured paper really is what you need. "HP" would be my choice as it is nice and smooth as it has been pressed through hot rollers, like an iron in fact. Washes do not hold very well on this, so I wouldn't even try to do one.
Should you be a beginner "Rough" maybe is not for you just yet, as paint stays in the recesses of the paper and often does not reach the actual surface. This paper has a nice texture so it can make very interesting effects.
You can also stretch paper yourself, but you need to know how. If paper is wet, it does stretch, but not usually so that it will be equal the four ways. So you can have problems with wrinkling!
Therefore if you intend to stretch paper, the following has to be done first. Hopefully so that wrinkling does not occur. You will need a pair of scissors, a small bowl of water, a roll of brown gummed paper and a natural sponge.
So, first look at your paper and cut four pieces off the gummed paper larger than the sides of the paper to be stretched. You then need to wet your paper using a small sponge or, if it is small, soak the sponge in water.
On a flat surface you need to start to flatten it out to get your smooth surface with the side of your hand. You need to start from the centre and move outwards. After this, tape all four sides down with your gummed strips.
Probably you will be thinking to yourself it still looks wrinkly, but have a little patience. Let it dry, and I do mean naturally, and it should dry flat. So now you have your support (this is what we call the stretched paper). Ideal paper for watercolours.
All importance is with your actual support, as you want your paint to adhere to it. Also, your brush has to work well with the paint to get good results. Therefore heavy papers are a good choice, but at a price. All paper goes by weight when it is sold.
You might say it helps to give the look of the completed work. Watercolour happens to be transparent, so it can be difficult to use. If you have white paper, it is always the light part of your painting. With watercolours you cannot help, but be aware of the support.
Paper, if it is light, is likely when wet, to get misshapen and wrinkled, as it does not take water well. If you have heavy paper, water works well on it. Paper is sold and measured by weight so is priced accordingly.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
If, all this is new to you I would recommend "Not". Simply because it is a smooth paper, not really textured, as when it is made, it is pressed through rollers that are cold.
If you have small detailed work, a textured paper really is what you need. "HP" would be my choice as it is nice and smooth as it has been pressed through hot rollers, like an iron in fact. Washes do not hold very well on this, so I wouldn't even try to do one.
Should you be a beginner "Rough" maybe is not for you just yet, as paint stays in the recesses of the paper and often does not reach the actual surface. This paper has a nice texture so it can make very interesting effects.
You can also stretch paper yourself, but you need to know how. If paper is wet, it does stretch, but not usually so that it will be equal the four ways. So you can have problems with wrinkling!
Therefore if you intend to stretch paper, the following has to be done first. Hopefully so that wrinkling does not occur. You will need a pair of scissors, a small bowl of water, a roll of brown gummed paper and a natural sponge.
So, first look at your paper and cut four pieces off the gummed paper larger than the sides of the paper to be stretched. You then need to wet your paper using a small sponge or, if it is small, soak the sponge in water.
On a flat surface you need to start to flatten it out to get your smooth surface with the side of your hand. You need to start from the centre and move outwards. After this, tape all four sides down with your gummed strips.
Probably you will be thinking to yourself it still looks wrinkly, but have a little patience. Let it dry, and I do mean naturally, and it should dry flat. So now you have your support (this is what we call the stretched paper). Ideal paper for watercolours.
All importance is with your actual support, as you want your paint to adhere to it. Also, your brush has to work well with the paint to get good results. Therefore heavy papers are a good choice, but at a price. All paper goes by weight when it is sold.
You might say it helps to give the look of the completed work. Watercolour happens to be transparent, so it can be difficult to use. If you have white paper, it is always the light part of your painting. With watercolours you cannot help, but be aware of the support.
Paper, if it is light, is likely when wet, to get misshapen and wrinkled, as it does not take water well. If you have heavy paper, water works well on it. Paper is sold and measured by weight so is priced accordingly.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
About the Author:
Want to discover more interesting "Help" guides such as this one? Anna Meenaghan, the author of this guide and also a contemporary artist, runs a online art community where she also provides help for artists and art lovers alike. As a contemporary painter I found it of great benefit to myself. Comment by Michael Bruckner.
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