Cheap Watercolor Paper, is it worth it. Beginner watercolor tutorial tips. Good watercolor paper.
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- Опубликовано: 2 сен 2023
- Buying poor quality cheap watercolor paper is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a new watercolor artist.
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My teaching manual: Mastering Watercolors - A Practical Guide: amzn.to/3ZF2FRW
This full watercolor painting lesson is based on an edited version of one of my regular Zoom classes. It is a long video as I believe you can miss valuable information if I fast forward through some sections.
Topics covered include:
Painting dramatic and complex skies
Drawing and painting sailing boats
Colorful reflections
Painting wet and dry sand
Painting rocks and small waves
I also have a second watercolor painting book which is full of step by step demonstrations and is titled: Watercolor Step By Step: amzn.to/3z4YXEu Both books are available in kindle format and paperback. You can also find a lot of useful information on my website: www.paintingwithwatercolors.com/ 
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I started out using cheap paper - mainly because I thought I couldn't afford better. I wish I had seen your videos when I first started. Your instruction is the best I have ever seen. Thank you so much!
You are so welcome!
I tell new students that cheap paper will defeat them. And you must practice on the same paper as your actual painting. Results are that different. Good demonstration.
Thanks Sandra.
One more comment on paper. Many books & tutorials on watercolors spend a lot of time on how to stretch and tape the paper down. The solution I came up with is to use 300# paper (I like Fabriano vs Arches because to me the Fabriano has a "warmer" more "inviting" and receptive surface. The tradeoff seems to be that the Fabriano doesn't stand up to rough handling like the Arches. Both are excellent papers) instead of the typical 140# paper. Yes, it's more expensive, however it solves the buckling issue. I typically work with a quarter sheet of 22x30 paper, and tape it down onto a 12 x 16 masonite panel using blue painter's tape (much lower tack than "masking tape"). The taping down is simply for convenience as I often have 3 or 4 paintings going at once and I can move them on and off my work table more easily. I have some 140# Arches and Fabriano that I use to try things out, and use student grade paper for color tests while painting.
I liken using cheap brushes, paint, and paper to "smearing children's tempera paint onto wax paper with your finger." Watercolor is demanding enough to frustrate yourself with anything less than the best materials you can get, which compared to all sorts of other avocational activities are really quite cheap. People who spend $500 on a golf club think I'm crazy for spending $150 on a watercolor brush. And I've never been tempted to break a brush even after a particularly frustrating painting session.
Thanks for the feedback.
The only cheaper paper I use is Bockingford, that's pretty good stuff. Where I live in the South West of England is where they make it along with Saunders Waterford. Both those papers are popular here.
I sometimes use Saunders as well.
I wish I had watched this video the first time I tried watercolor several years ago. It was so frustrating that I thought it was me who couldn't learn.
On a second chance this year I decided to use good paper, haha it was as if in half an hour I was turbo-charged, what a difference in results.
It's not affordable, though, specially at the beginning when you don't recover the cost of supplies immediately. So, I think it's great advice to use smaller sheets.
I recently found a class where the teacher provides the paper and charges a little supplies fee upon registration. I think that's a good idea, since as a student you won't notice the price of the paper, you're up for a better start and will see what you can do from the very beginning.
Thanks for such great explanation!
You are very welcome. Glad it expained a few things.
One of the best Videos and you definitely have proven to me to use good paper. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Loving all your videos, I have learned so much from you already. Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
I’ve used a cheap paper from Amazon and Cansón watercolor paper. Thank for posting this wonderful knowledge
You are so welcome!
Thank you for this demonstration- it's exactly my problem ( as well as lack of skill!). As a beginner (I just started watercolor 6 months ago) I didn't want to waste money on expensive paper. But what I paint is so disappointing that I'm about to give up and just give the paper and paint to my grandkids. Obviously better paper is worth trying before I quit.
Thank you for your videos!
Sandy, North Carolina
You are so welcome! Don't give up, just look at each painting you do and see what worked, then look at what didn't and conentrate on that.
I just ordered cheep paper as recommended by a RUclips. I know the good paper works better. I actually like working on Archers rough. I will give this paper to my grandchildren and a box of poster paint. Thank you for reminding me this is not a cheep hobby. ❤
@@maxinewright1556 that is one of the reasons we have grandchildren Maxine. 🙂
So pleased to have found your channel. I’ve had one of your excellent books for years. Working my way through the tutorials.
Welcome!
Compared to other avocations like golf, shooting sports, cars, using the best possible watercolor tools and materials costs almost nothing.
Very true.
Thank you for another excellent video. I wish I had known this when I first tried watercolour years ago and gave up!
Glad it was helpful! I hope the fact that you are watching these videos means you have taken up watercolour again!
@@JoeCartwright Yes I have recently Joe. I am learning a lot from you. Thank you so very much. You are an excellent teacher and explain things really well.
You have certainly convinced me. Thank You.
Glad I could help
Best demonstration of what actually happens on different paper quality! Well done!
Thank you!
Seeing the difference demonstrated was very helpful.thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Now I understand more clearly -- thank you!
You are welcome!
This was really helpful. Especially the demonstration you showed. Thank you !!
You are so welcome!
This has been the best example I’ve seen of cheap vs quality paper. Thank you
You are very welcome.
Now I got it!
Glad to hear!
great advice im new thank you
You are so welcome
Thanks!
You are very welcome, thank you for your support!
I just found this channel tonight and subbed. Excellent tutorials! Thanks so much!
Welcome aboard!
Well done Joe. On the ball and down to earth. Keep up the good work bud.
Thanks, will do!
Very Sincere information and real from what I have found in my previous experience. Thks
You are very welcome
Like the comparison! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
This was great to know Thank You.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great tip!
Thanks for watching!
Glad I found your YT channel. Subscribed!
Thanks for subbing
Thanks.
You're welcome
amazing,❤ new friend here
Thanks and welcome
Great video. It´s one of those lessons we never forget
Glad you liked it!
I invested in cotton paper. The color is more vibrant, and it’s just so much easier to work with. But… I cant adapt to the unevenness of the surface. I’m so used to the artificial “rough” grain of cold press and the smoothness of hot press cellulose paper, the variations in surfaces of both types of cotton paper stumps me. I’m not a fan of granulation and love to work with details. Is it just the brand I got? Or is all cotton paper less flat that cellulose hot press paper? The paper I got isn’t that expensive, I paid 25 cents per sheet- it’s the Shizen stuff in 50 and 100 count packs. I have a Arches pad, but it’s rough too, but it’s also cold press. I’ve been using Strathmore 300 (and store brand) watercolor and mixed media paper for too long…😅
The issue is, more than once I’ve ran through an entire pad of paper (12 or 24 sheets of 5x7 or 6x8 usually) in one day, when inspiration hits. Literally sit on the sofa for 10+ hours painting. I literally switch to index cards when I run out of watercolor paper (that is on hand and/or that I’m willing to use up in one day). Good paper costs $1 per sheet even at the small sizes I usually use… I can’t imagine using >$10 of paper a day. I have found that cheap paints + cheap paper is a better combo than one of the two being higher quality - cheap paints have more fillers, which…fills in the pores of cheap paper? Makes it dry slower? Increases viscosity due to less water added due to lower pigment load? I have no idea. But cheap paints plus my Walmart sketch pad works surprisingly well, though that could just be because I love to work small and dry 😅. Sketch pad, small paint set, waterbrush, towel/paper towel and I’m good to go.
You have certainly found a way for it to work for you, so go for it and have fun!
I only use 100% cotton based paper.
Good idea.
Thank´s I`ve also had bad experiences with cheap paper. Is Arches Paper good to wash out color ?
Yes, it is. An excellent paper for washing out, though if you use staining colors, they will be hard to lift on any paper.
I can buy sizing fluid to help, perhaps?
Possibly, not sure how to apply it after the paper has been made. Let me know how you go. :-)
Is hot press paper much different from cold press cotton?
Hot press watercolor paper is very smooth, while cold pressed has some texture on it making it easier to create various textures in your painting. Cold Press also take longer to dry as the dimples in the paper hold water for longer.
Why would anyone paint on blotting paper?
I was using to show what happens with some cheap watercolor papers that are almost like blotting paper.