Watercolor Paper

Does watercolor paper have a right and a wrong side?

There is a difference between the two sides of a sheet of watercolor paper, with one side usually slightly smoother (less hairy) than the other. But I'm not sure I'd label them "right" and "wrong" because which was which would depend on what you require from your watercolor paper.

The smoother side of a paper is better if you're painting a lot of detail, while the hairier side is better if you're wanting to build up color by using use lots of glazes.

Watercolor paper is divided into three categories according to the surface of the paper: rough, hot-pressed (HP), and cold-pressed (NOT).

As you'd expect from the name, rough watercolor paper has the most textured surface, or most prominent tooth. It's sometimes described as having a pebbly surface, a series of irregular rounded shapes like a pebble beach. On rough paper the paint from very watery washes tends to collect in the indentations in the paper, creating a grainy effect when the paint dries. Alternately, if you whisk a dry brush lightly across the surfaces, you'll apply paint only to part of the paper, the tops of the ridges and not in the indentations. Rough paper is generally not regarded as a good paper for painting fine detail, but is excellent for a loose, expressive style of painting.

Hot-pressed watercolor paper has smooth surface with almost no tooth. It's smooth surface is idea for painting fine detail and for even washes of color. Beginners sometimes have problems with the paint sliding around on the smooth surface.

Cold-pressed watercolor paper is sometimes called NOT paper (as in not hot pressed). It's the paper in between rough and hot-pressed paper, having a slightly textured surface. Cold-pressed is the most commonly used watercolor paper surface as it allows for a good amount of detail while also having some texture to it.

Soft-pressed watercolor paper is in between hot-pressed and cold-pressed, with a slight tooth. It tends to be very absorbent, sucking in paint, making it harder to paint dark or intense colors.

Once again it's important to remember that surfaces vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The thickness of a sheet of watercolor paper is measured by weight. So, logically, the greater the weight, the thicker the sheet. It is measured either in pounds per ream (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm). The standard weights of paper are 90 lb (190 gsm), 140 lb (300 gsm), 260 lb (356 gsm), and 300 lb (638 gsm).

Thinner paper needs to be stretched to prevent it from buckling or warping when you paint on it. How thick the paper needs to be before you can happily paint away on it without buckling does depend on how wet you tend to make the paper as you paint. Experiment with different weights to see, though it's likely you'll find that paper less than 260 lb (356 gsm) wants to be stretched.

Not having to stretch it is not the only reason for using heavier paper. It'll also stand up to more abuse, and take a greater number of glazes.


STRETCHING WATERCOLOR PAPER


It's generally recommended that watercolor paper less than 356 gsm (260 lb) is stretched before use, otherwise it'll warp. It's a simple process.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: On-going
Here's How:
1.Cut four strips of gummed brown tape, one for each side (edge) of the piece of watercolor paper. Cut these slightly longer than the sides. Put them aside for the moment.
2.Soak a sheet of watercolor paper in cold water for a couple of minutes. This is to allow the fibers in the paper to expand.
3.Lift the sheet of watercolor paper and gently shake off the excess water. Place it on a drawing board, which must be lying flat.
4.Smooth the watercolor paper out with a clean sponge (preferably) or your fingers (but wash them first to get any grease off them). If the sheet of watercolor paper not perfectly smooth at this stage, it won't dry smooth.
5.Moisten a strip of gummed tape and stick it down firmly alone one side so that one third of the tape is on the paper and two-thirds on the board. This will stop the watercolor paper pulling off the board when it dries.
6.Tape down the other sides of the sheet of watercolor paper in the same way.
7.Leave to dry for several hours, away from direct heat. As the water evaporates, the fibers in the paper contract, leaving the sheet of watercolor paper flat.
8.Keep the board flat while the watercolor paper dries, otherwise the water will drain to one edge and the paper will drive unevenly.
9.When you paint on the watercolor paper, it'll stay flat because you won't ever soak the whole piece as much as you did in step one.

Tips:
1.Don't use hot water to soak your watercolor paper as this could remove the sizing from the paper, and don't soak it for too long for the same reason. Sizing is added to watercolor paper to reduce its absorbency.
2.Use different color sponges for smoothing a piece of paper and moistening gummed tape so you never run the risk of getting gum on your sheet of watercolor paper.
3.If you don't get on with gummed brown tape, an alternative method is to staple the paper down onto the board instead.
4.You may be able to peel off some of the tape, but be careful not to tear the paper. Rather just trim off the edges of the paper or hide them under a mount.
What You Need:
•Watercolor paper
•Drawing board
•Gummed brown tape
•Two sponges