The Features Of A Good Paper For Water Color Artists

By Marissa Velazquez


The most challenging task for most water color artists is to choose the best paper for their work. This situation has been aggravated by the fact that there are too many types of papers in the market which tend to confuse them. For instance several artists have wasted huge amounts of money in purchasing rolls of papers which turn out to be inappropriate for their job. Since most outlets do not offer options to return such papers, the artists end up disposing them thus losing their money. However, this can change for the better if you follow the points as explained below.

The qualities of the paper you are bound to purchase form the greatest factor to be considered at before doing any purchase. Issues such as texture and weight should be thoroughly scrutinized before making the purchase. For texture, you should be fully aware of the various types available in the market. Three types, namely rough, hot and cold press texture papers are available for you. Understand the details of each type and where to apply them. As a description, hot press types are smooth and work well with different inks and color pencils. Cold press types on the other hand are designed for use by experienced artists. They can be a challenge to most beginners as the papers are very versatile.

As it pertains to weight matters, you need to understand the various batches available in the market and how to differentiate them. The batches are labeled in pounds as their standard measuring units. The least weight in 90lb. However, the 140lb type paper is mostly preferred for beginners. It is smooth and ideal for detailed artistic works. For more experienced artists, the 300lb paper can be good for various works though it is expensive.

The absorbent properties of the paper need to be keenly looked at. Chose the types which will not let the pigment absorb to the other side of the paper. You can do a small test before procuring for huge quantities. Just apply a few drops of pigment on the sample paper provided by the outlet and observe the results. Be sure that you leave the outlet with the right work for your drawing works.

The cost of the paper is another factor which needs to be considered as well. Look out for papers which are within your budget. It is important to compare prices for different outlets. This will serve as an eye opener as you will be provided with the choice of selecting the outlet which fits your budget.

The size and format of the paper still forms another important consideration for you to consider. Decide whether you are going for the pads, rolls, sheets or the block size papers. Pads are those papers which are held together by either glue or a spring file. The papers range from 20 to 50 in number. Artists prefer these intact papers as they are not usually misplaced or lost after work. Their standard size is usually 18 inches by 24 inches.

Clean drawings are always appealing to the eye. The secret to this is to purchase papers which are spotlessly clean. Make sure that the papers you are purchasing are all clean.

Also it is important that you go for acid free papers. These are the ideal papers which work well with most pigments. They do not react with such pigments. They are the ones used by successful water color artists.




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