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Best Watercolor Paper For Professionals (2024 Updated)

If you're looking for high-quality watercolor paper for professionals, there are some important factors to consider. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, choosing the right paper is crucial for achieving the best results with your watercolors.

One key factor to consider when selecting watercolor paper is its weight. The weight of paper is measured in pounds per ream, with heavier paper generally being better suited for professional use. Additionally, the texture and finish of the paper can also affect the outcome of your work. Some papers have a smooth surface, while others are more textured, so it's important to choose the right type for your specific needs.

Are you tired of using subpar paper that affects the quality of your artwork? Do you want to take your paintings to the next level with professional-grade paper that enhances color and texture? What if we told you that there is a watercolor paper specifically designed for professional artists that will make your paintings pop like never before? Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of using the right watercolor paper for your next masterpiece.

10 Best Watercolor Paper For Professionals

# Product Image Product Name Product Notes Check Price
1
This product is ideal for printing fine art watercolor prints and photography on a professional-grade bright white matte finish paper.
2
This product is ideal for artists at any skill level who want high-quality paper that works well with both wet and dry media.
3
Ideal for professional watercolor painting, cold press texture provides texture and absorbs watercolor pigment well.
4
The product is ideal for watercolor, drawing, coloring, crafts and painting on paper and fabric with professional quality.
5
Ideal for beginners and professionals who want a complete watercolor painting set with various accessories, paint colors, and paper.
6
This product is ideal for use in watercolor, drawing, coloring, and painting on paper and fabric with its firm texture and water-solubility.
7
Ideal for artists of all levels, suitable for use with wet and dry media on acid-free paper.
8
The product is ideal for fine photography and art printing projects that require a bright white, matte finish paper.
9
This watercolor paper block is ideal for use with watercolor, gouache, ink, acrylic, and other similar mediums.
10
The paper is ideal for watercolor paintings with a smooth, extra white finish and heavy weight.
This product is ideal for printing fine art watercolor prints and photography on a professional-grade bright white matte finish paper.
This product is ideal for artists at any skill level who want high-quality paper that works well with both wet and dry media.
Ideal for professional watercolor painting, cold press texture provides texture and absorbs watercolor pigment well.
The product is ideal for watercolor, drawing, coloring, crafts and painting on paper and fabric with professional quality.
Ideal for beginners and professionals who want a complete watercolor painting set with various accessories, paint colors, and paper.
This product is ideal for use in watercolor, drawing, coloring, and painting on paper and fabric with its firm texture and water-solubility.
Ideal for artists of all levels, suitable for use with wet and dry media on acid-free paper.
The product is ideal for fine photography and art printing projects that require a bright white, matte finish paper.
This watercolor paper block is ideal for use with watercolor, gouache, ink, acrylic, and other similar mediums.
The paper is ideal for watercolor paintings with a smooth, extra white finish and heavy weight.

1. Watercolor Fine Art Inkjet Paper 18mil

This premium quality paper is perfect for professional gallery-worthy prints. It is compatible with inkjet printers and has a straight-through paper pass that can handle media up to 300gsm/18mil. The paper's fine art gallery-ready texture and bright white surface make it the perfect choice for artists, photographers, and clients with demanding standards. The 50% cotton 50% alpha cellulose base material ensures that prints made on this paper can last for generations. Whether you are creating fine art prints, stationery announcements or other artistic projects, this paper will help you achieve the best possible results.

Pros

  • Premium quality base material ensures professional gallery-worthy prints
  • Compatible with inkjet printers with straight-through paper pass
  • Can handle media up to 300gsm/18mil
  • Fine art gallery-ready texture and bright white surface
  • 50% cotton 50% alpha cellulose base material ensures prints can last for generations
  • Suitable for fine art prints, stationery announcements and other artistic projects

2. Artisto Watercolor Pads: Beginner To Pro Essentials

The set of Watercolor Pads is a must-have for all artists who want to create beautiful artwork using wet and dry media. The paper is highly versatile, making it suitable for use with watercolor, oil, acrylic, colored pencils, charcoal, and pastels. The surface of each sheet is durable and can withstand scraping, erasing, and repeated washes, ensuring better paint performance and longevity.

Measuring 9×12 inches, each sheet is made of acid-free (pH neutral) paper weighing 140lb/300gsm. This means that the paper provides excellent color, absorbency, texture, weight, and size to help you create different artistic effects. Whether you are a professional or a beginner, you will appreciate the universal preference and quality of these watercolor pads.

The watercolor pads are bound by glue, creating a smooth edge that does not damage your painting when removed. At Artisto, we are committed to providing high-quality products, and we offer a 100% guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will provide a free replacement or refund. Contact us today to learn more.

Pros

  • Highly versatile paper suitable for use with wet and dry media
  • Durable surface that can withstand scraping, erasing, and repeated washes
  • Provides excellent color, absorbency, texture, weight, and size to create different artistic effects
  • Glue-bound for a smooth edge that does not damage your painting
  • Suitable for both professionals and beginners
  • 100% guarantee for customer satisfaction

3. Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paper, Wired, 5" X 7", Cold Pressed

The watercolor paper offered is highly durable and resilient, making it an excellent choice for artists who work with large volumes of water. The traditional cylinder mold method of production interweaves the fibers, which provides the paper with enhanced strength and dimensional stability. The paper is internally and externally sized to ensure optimal water absorbency, pigment dispersion, and long-lasting color adherence. This professional-grade paper is made entirely of 100% cotton with pure spring water, making it a high-quality product.

The cold-pressed paper has a smooth texture and produces vibrant paintings due to its increased surface area that holds more color and rejects more light. The paper comes in a pad containing 15 sheets, perfect for professional artists who require quality and quantity in their artwork.

Pros

  • Highly durable and resilient paper
  • Traditional cylinder mold production for greater strength and dimensional stability
  • Internally and externally sized for optimal water absorbency, pigment dispersion, and long-lasting color adherence
  • Professional-grade paper made entirely of 100% cotton with pure spring water
  • Cold-pressed paper with a smooth texture and increased surface area for vibrant paintings
  • Pad contains 15 sheets, providing both quantity and quality for professional artists

4. Vibrant Watercolor Blocks By Derwent

The Derwent Inktense Blocks offer versatility and vivid colors with their 8mm square block design. The edge allows for fine details while the side can be used to cover large surface areas quickly. The set contains 36 colors that can be used to create a variety of effects.

These blocks are water-soluble, which means you can use them with a wet brush to lift color directly from the block, expanding your creative possibilities. When used dry, they deliver pure, vibrant color that is perfect for a range of artistic projects.

The pigments in the Derwent Inktense Blocks dry quickly and permanently when washed out, minimizing color bleeding. Once dry, colors can be placed next to each other or layered without fear of color bleeding. This feature makes them ideal for use on fabrics such as silk or cotton, as well as paper.

The integrated palette on the packaging is great for creating custom colors. You can mix colors together to create blends or add water to obtain lighter shades of one color. This allows you to modify the use of the blocks to fit your project.

For best results, the Derwent Inktense Blocks can be combined with other Derwent products, such as the Waterbrush Set, Inktense Block Spritzer, and Inktense Block Grate and Shake.

Pros

  • Vibrant colors with a versatile square block design
  • Water-soluble for expanded creative possibilities
  • Pigments dry quickly and permanently, minimizing color bleeding
  • Can be used on a variety of surfaces, including fabric and paper
  • Integrated palette allows for custom color creation
  • Compatible with other Derwent products for best results

5. Watercolor Pro Set: 36 Paints & Tools.

If you are looking for a premium quality watercolor paint set, look no further than this 36-color set from int!rend. This set includes everything you need to create beautiful watercolor paintings, including a brush, two water brush pens, 15 sheets of paper, and a pencil. Each element of this watercolor set is made from premium quality materials, ensuring that you get the best possible results from your artwork.

With 36 vivid colors in painting cups, this watercolor set includes all the colors you need to bring your paintings to life. From white and black to brown, yellow, purple, different tones of blue, green, red, pink, and even fluorescent colors, you will have a wealth of options to choose from. You can also mix the watercolor paints to create even more colors and shades.

In addition to the watercolor brush, this set also includes two water tank brushes with different bristles, allowing you to create a variety of beautiful watercolor effects. The 15 sheets of watercolor paper with dimensions of 21 x 12.5 cm are also included, so you can start painting right away.

This watercolor set is the perfect gift for any professional or hobby painter. The paints are protected by a metal case and sturdy cardboard packaging, and both the standard water brush and the watercolor paper are individually wrapped. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, this set is perfect for everyone.

One of the best things about this watercolor set is that the paints are non-toxic and acid-free according to EN71. This means that your children can safely create works of art with this set, and it is suitable for artists of all ages and skill levels. The result and the presentation will surely surprise you!

Pros

  • Includes 36 vivid colors in painting cups
  • Comes with a brush, 2 water brush pens, 15 sheets of paper, and a pencil
  • Excellent accessories for creating beautiful watercolor effects
  • Protected by a metal case and sturdy cardboard packaging
  • Non-toxic and acid-free, suitable for artists of all ages and skill levels

6. Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils – 6 Pack

Unleash your creativity with these water-soluble colored pencils that come in a set of 6 vibrant shades. The round 4mm soft lead core allows for bold and expressive drawings, while the highly pigmented colors ensure a vibrant finish.

These pencils are not limited to dry use only. You can also use them with water to create a bright, translucent ink-like effect that can expand your creative possibilities. And, because the pigments dry quickly and permanently when washed out, you don't have to worry about color bleeding or smudging.

The versatility of these colored pencils is unmatched. You can use them on various surfaces, including paper, silk, and cotton. The permanent color also allows you to layer or place colors next to each other without worrying about bleeding.

Creating custom shades is also easy with these pencils. Mix different colors together to create a unique piece of art. For lighter shades, just add water and watch the colors transform before your eyes.

Pros

  • Comes in a set of 6 vibrant shades
  • Round 4mm soft lead core for bold and expressive drawings
  • Highly pigmented colors for a vibrant finish
  • Water-soluble for expanded creative possibilities
  • Pigments dry quickly and permanently when washed out, minimizing color bleeding
  • Versatile for use on various surfaces, including paper, silk, and cotton
  • Allows for mixing of colors to create custom shades

Cons

  • – May not be suitable for those who prefer traditional dry-only colored pencils
  • – Limited to 6 colors in the set

7. Watercolor Wonder Pad: 90 Sheets For All Artists

Artisto's Watercolor Pad is a high-quality paper that has been proven and tested to perform brilliantly with all wet and dry media, including watercolor, oil, gouache, colored pencils, charcoal, and pastels. Its high-quality paper is designed to absorb ink effectively without causing a drip or leak. Each sheet measures 5.5×8.5 inches and is Acid-Free (pH Neutral) paper – 140lb. /300gsm, which makes it suitable for every artistic purpose. The paper's color, porosity, texture, weight, and size all contribute to helping artists create different artistic effects and styles.

The spiral-binding of Artisto's Watercolor Pad makes it smooth and easy to turn pages, and every page is micro-perforated, which allows it to be easily removed without affecting your painting. This feature is perfect for artists who want to create artwork that requires individual pages to be removed and displayed. Designed to serve every artistic purpose, Artisto's Watercolor Pad is the ideal pad that serves both professional and aspiring artists.

Artisto is confident in their product and offers a 100% guaranteed satisfaction. If the product does not perform to the customer's expectations, Artisto offers a free replacement or refund. Customers can contact Artisto if they are ever unsatisfied with their product.

Pros

  • High-quality paper that performs brilliantly with all wet and dry media.
  • Absorbs ink effectively without causing a drip or leak.
  • Suitable for every artistic purpose.
  • Spiral-binding makes it smooth and easy to turn pages.
  • Every page is micro-perforated, which allows it to be easily removed without affecting your painting.
  • 100% guaranteed satisfaction with free replacement or refund if not satisfied.

8. Fine Art Watercolor Inkjet Paper – Professional Grade

This inkjet paper is the perfect choice for professional-grade prints with its premium quality base material. It is compatible with straight through paper pass printers and can handle media up to 300gsm/18mil. The fine art gallery ready paper produces gorgeous textured bright white surface that is sure to satisfy even the most demanding clients, artists, and photographers. The base material is made from 50% cotton and 50% alpha cellulose, ensuring long-lasting prints that can be passed down for generations.

With this inkjet paper, your prints will have a professional look and feel that is perfect for gallery-worthy presentations. The high-quality base material ensures that your prints will be vibrant and long-lasting, with colors that pop off the page. The paper's texture adds depth and dimension to your prints, making them stand out even more. Whether you're a photographer looking to showcase your work, or an artist looking to sell your pieces, this inkjet paper is the perfect choice.

This inkjet paper is not only perfect for professional use but also for fine stationery announcements. Its premium quality base material will make your announcements look elegant and sophisticated. The texture of the paper will give your announcements a unique look and feel that will set them apart from traditional announcements. The bright white surface ensures that your text and graphics will be sharp and clear, making your announcement easy to read and understand.

Overall, this inkjet paper is a great choice for anyone looking to produce high-quality prints that are sure to impress. Its premium quality base material, compatibility with straight through paper pass printers, and ability to handle media up to 300gsm/18mil make it the perfect choice for professional photographers, artists, and anyone looking to create gallery-worthy prints.

Pros

  • Premium quality base material produces professional-grade prints
  • Compatible with straight through paper pass printers
  • Can handle media up to 300gsm/18mil
  • Fine art gallery ready with gorgeous textured bright white surface
  • 50% cotton 50% alpha cellulose base material can last for generations
  • Ideal for professional presentations, art sales, and fine stationery announcements

9. Arches 300 Lb Watercolor Block – Premium Quality

Bring out the artist in you with the Arches Natural White 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper. This premium quality paper is available in 13 different sizes and 3 textures: cold press, hot press, and rough. The long fibers in this paper provide a unique touch and timeless beauty.

The cylinder mold process ensures that the cotton fibers are distributed evenly, making the paper exceptionally strong and resistant to scratching and erasing. The heavyweight cold pressed watercolor paper is designed to uniformly slacken when wet, providing outstanding control.

Arches cold press watercolor block is made of pH-neutral paper with a natural grain and no optical brightening agents. It is glued on all sides to preserve its integrity and comes with a protective cover sheet.

Arches watercolor paper is gelatin sized 'to the core' using an exclusive process. This increases the luster and transparency of colors while preventing paints from penetrating into the paper. You can easily blend, overlay, or remove paint, whether wet or dry.

Arches has been producing premium quality art papers since 1492. They remain committed to their philosophy of making the best papers to help artists produce their finest works, while guaranteeing that they will last as long as their papermaking heritage.

Pros

  • Long fibers provide timeless beauty and inimitable touch
  • Exceptional resistance to scratching and erasing
  • Uniform slackening when wet provides outstanding control
  • Gelatin sizing 'to the core' increases luster and transparency of colors
  • Glued on all sides to preserve paper integrity

Best Watercolor Paper For Professionals FAQs

Are there any special storage or handling considerations for watercolor paper to preserve its quality?

Yes, there are several storage and handling considerations that need to be taken into account in order to preserve the quality of watercolor paper. Firstly, it is important to keep the paper in a dry, cool environment to prevent moisture from affecting the paper's texture and color. Secondly, the paper should be stored flat or rolled, never folded, as this can cause creases and damage to the surface. It is also advisable to use acid-free storage materials such as archival paper or plastic sleeves to prevent yellowing and deterioration. When handling the paper, it is recommended to use clean, dry hands or gloves to avoid smudging or transferring oil to the surface. Finally, it is important to avoid exposing the paper to direct sunlight or other sources of UV light, which can cause fading and damage over time. By following these guidelines, watercolor paper can be preserved in excellent condition for many years, ensuring that your artwork remains vibrant and long-lasting.

Can I use watercolor paper for other mediums, or is it exclusively for watercolor painting?

Watercolor paper is specially designed to withstand the wetness of watercolor paints. It has a different texture and weight than regular paper, which makes it perfect for watercolor painting. However, that doesn't mean that you can't use it for other mediums. You can use watercolor paper for other mediums such as acrylics, gouache, and even pencil drawings.

The texture of the watercolor paper can add an interesting and unique effect to your artwork. Acrylics and gouache can be applied to watercolor paper, but they may not have the same vibrancy as they do on canvas or other surfaces. If you're using watercolor paper for pencil drawings, it's important to note that the paper may smudge more easily than regular paper due to its texture.

In conclusion, while watercolor paper is primarily designed for watercolor painting, it can be used for other mediums as well. The texture and weight of the paper can add a unique effect to your artwork, so don't be afraid to experiment with it.

How does the weight and texture of watercolor paper affect the outcome of my painting?

The weight and texture of watercolor paper play a crucial role in the outcome of your painting. Watercolor paper comes in different weights, such as 90lb, 140lb, and 300lb. The weight of the paper refers to its thickness and density. The heavier the paper, the more water it can absorb without buckling or warping. This means that a heavier weight paper can handle more layers of paint and water without compromising the quality of your painting.

The texture of the paper also affects the outcome of your painting. Watercolor paper comes in three textures: hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough. Hot-pressed paper has a smooth surface, while cold-pressed and rough paper have a slightly textured surface. The texture of the paper affects how the paint spreads and how it is absorbed by the paper. A rough paper will produce a more textured and grainy effect, while a smooth paper will produce a more even and flat effect.

Ultimately, the weight and texture of the paper you choose will depend on your personal preference and the style of painting you wish to create. Experimenting with different weights and textures will give you a better understanding of how they affect your painting and help you achieve the desired outcome.

What are the best brands of watercolor paper for professionals?

As a professional content writer, I can suggest some of the best brands of watercolor paper for professionals. Watercolor paper is an essential part of any watercolor artist's toolkit, and using high-quality paper can make a significant difference in the final outcome of their artwork.

One of the most popular brands of watercolor paper for professionals is Arches. Arches watercolor paper is known for its durability and high-quality texture, which provides an excellent surface for watercolor paints. Another popular brand is Fabriano, which offers a wide range of watercolor papers with different textures and weights to suit different artistic needs.

Winsor & Newton and Saunders Waterford are also renowned brands that offer high-quality watercolor papers. These brands are known for their excellent absorbency, color retention, and texture, making them ideal for professional use.

Overall, choosing the right watercolor paper depends on the artist's personal preferences and the specific requirements of their artwork. However, by investing in high-quality watercolor paper from reputable brands, professionals can ensure that their artwork looks amazing and lasts for years to come.

What qualities should I look for in watercolor paper for professional use?

When it comes to choosing watercolor paper for professional use, there are several qualities that you should consider. Firstly, the weight of the paper is crucial as it determines how well it can handle water without buckling or warping. A heavier weight paper such as 300gsm or more is recommended for professional use. Secondly, the texture of the paper is important as it affects how the paint is absorbed and distributed on the surface. A rough texture is great for creating texture in the painting, while a smooth texture is suitable for detailed work. Thirdly, the material of the paper is essential as it affects the longevity of the painting. Acid-free and archival quality paper is recommended for professional use to prevent the paper from yellowing or deteriorating over time. Finally, the sizing of the paper is significant as it affects how the paint reacts on the surface. A well-sized paper will allow for even paint distribution and prevent the paint from bleeding or feathering. Overall, choosing high-quality watercolor paper with a suitable weight, texture, material, and sizing is essential for creating professional-level watercolor paintings.

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