Just some extra information about watercolor blocks. They are glued in all sides so that you get automatically a stretched paper and the warping is reduced. You are supposed to paint on it while glued to the block, when you are done and the paint is dry you separate it from the block. The best tool to separate the paper is a “book bone tool”, also useful to fold and cut paper for the following tip: You can buy imperial sheets which are 22x30 inches. Cut them to the size you want. It’s way cheaper that way, you can find videos how to cut a full sheet. Also, you can create your own blocks using an acid free/archival PVA glue like pad/book compound. You can find videos for DIY watercolor blocks.
Really loved this review! Thank you. I love Saunders Waterford too. I use HP white and I noticed that after a while the paper when soaked turns yellow. Has this ever happened to you?
This is my favorite paper, too. I just discovered it recently and I was thrilled with my results on it. I normally use cold press, but I accidentally ordered hot press. I have never been able to paint on hot pressed paper. I was totally surprised when I actually completed a successful painting using hot pressed. Of course I had to have the cold pressed after that! It's amazing. I used to use Arches exclusively, but no longer. It's pretty comparable in price to Arches, too.
Thank you for this! Ironically, the 140# was the first paper I had ever tried because it was given to me by a retired artist. I was then encouraged to try arches 300# by my watercolor teacher, as she loves it and uses it exclusively. It was weird and I honestly thought there was something wrong with me because I just didn’t like it as much. Interestingly I spoke with a tech at Blick Arts and asked him why arches was considered better and he said that a)he also prefers Saunders😂 and b) arches does have a “harder” surface, which keeps the water resting on top of the paper longer. He also said that arches hot press is smoother than Saunders and the cold press is actually a bit rougher than Saunders.
Just some extra information about watercolor blocks. They are glued in all sides so that you get automatically a stretched paper and the warping is reduced. You are supposed to paint on it while glued to the block, when you are done and the paint is dry you separate it from the block. The best tool to separate the paper is a “book bone tool”, also useful to fold and cut paper for the following tip:
You can buy imperial sheets which are 22x30 inches. Cut them to the size you want. It’s way cheaper that way, you can find videos how to cut a full sheet. Also, you can create your own blocks using an acid free/archival PVA glue like pad/book compound. You can find videos for DIY watercolor blocks.
Thank you for all this info!
Thanks for this - I bought his and had no idea how to use it.....wasn't even sure it was individual pages! Thanks for explaining!!
You are so welcome!
Really loved this review! Thank you. I love Saunders Waterford too. I use HP white and I noticed that after a while the paper when soaked turns yellow. Has this ever happened to you?
This is my favorite paper, too. I just discovered it recently and I was thrilled with my results on it.
I normally use cold press, but I accidentally ordered hot press. I have never been able to paint on hot pressed paper. I was totally surprised when I actually completed a successful painting using hot pressed.
Of course I had to have the cold pressed after that! It's amazing.
I used to use Arches exclusively, but no longer. It's pretty comparable in price to Arches, too.
I love hearing that! I also just discovered Hahnemühle The Collection
Thank you for this! Ironically, the 140# was the first paper I had ever tried because it was given to me by a retired artist. I was then encouraged to try arches 300# by my watercolor teacher, as she loves it and uses it exclusively. It was weird and I honestly thought there was something wrong with me because I just didn’t like it as much. Interestingly I spoke with a tech at Blick Arts and asked him why arches was considered better and he said that a)he also prefers Saunders😂 and b) arches does have a “harder” surface, which keeps the water resting on top of the paper longer. He also said that arches hot press is smoother than Saunders and the cold press is actually a bit rougher than Saunders.