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For Beginners in Watercolour
Paper
When we start anything new we are always baffled by the names used for different items. This is particularly noticed when we come to choose paper to paint on. All we have to remember regards watercolour paper is that its surface is Smooth Medium and Rough.
A smooth surface means the paper has been subjected to hot pressing. All or most of the indentations in the surface have gone. This type of paper is ok for pen and ink work, but is does not readily absorb paint.
A medium surface paper is left with slight indentations having been cold pressed. Now here lies the confusion. It is Not hot pressed. NOT is used to denote a medium surface. It is the type of paper to begin with.
Rough means exactly that surface is very rough, not that the paper is inferior in any way. Useful for large painting when you have developed a little.
So you want NOT paper sometimes called cold pressed.
But this is not the end of it. Paper comes in different weights lbs or grams. How is the weight worked out, well the thinner the paper, will weigh less per ream. Thicker paper will weigh heavier per ream. Thinner paper will cockle when water is added to the paper surface, (edges go crinkly). So what we want is a paper that will not cockle very much. Choose a Paper 140lb or 300gsm (grams/square meter) to start with. As you develop go on to heavier paper
We now know what paper to choose 140lb Not paper. I suggest you buy a block pad of this paper to start with.