This post and video are from 2015, as I documented my initial forays into watercolor. This post has been updated as of 2021 with notes about what I have come to use, and opinions of some products discussed here originally.
I started in with watercolors last fall (2014), and have been trying to learn all I could from experimenting. Many of my readers have wanted me to make recommendations – and that’s so hard! There are so many brushes, papers, and paints, and much of the decision-making has more to do with YOU and what you plan to do with it.
This post is part of a series of three, and is broken into:
- Papers and Pan Paints
- Brushes
- Technique basics
Links to products are listed below each section.
The paper test was a labor of love! I have bought so many papers that I think I’m stocked up for a good long while. And yet…I still can say I love all of these for different reasons. And I won’t stop buying. I am a total paper lover.
Terminology
- Rough: the most-textured paper.
- Cold press: a textured paper, most popular.
- Hot press: smooth paper.
- Weight: papers come in 300lb, 140lb and 90lb; most use 140lb.
- Pads: Papers attached at the top only.
- Blocks: Papers attached on all 4 sides. (More expensive)
- Sheets: Full 22″ x 30″ sheets, cut to size you want
- Enhanced Surface Cohesion: takes more beating up without pilling
Testing Notes
I chose to do the paint tests on the pad itself, rather than taping it to a board; that was not because I didn’t know to tape them down, but because I wanted to test and see if some papers had more ‘curl’ to them after being completely soaked with water and paint.
As for paints – I chose to only assess pan (cake) paints at this time. I’m trying to find apples-to-apples things to compare, and bringing tube paints and palettes into the mix can muddy the waters, so to speak. (See Getting to Know Daniel Smith for more info on tube paints.) I kept the colors similar too, so there would be fewer factors to compare. And I did not include all the paints in the testing, I had to pick four to keep it easy to follow as I photographed everything.
Below the video I’ll give you my 2021 assessment of papers and pan paints after years of experience.
2021 assessment: Canson XL is a student grade paper. Techniques that work well on artist-grade paper won’t work here; lots of blooming happens on this paper. I still use it for things like stamping Art Impressions Watercolor since the stamping comes out clearer, and it can work well if you’re trying for blooms deliberately. Canson XL Paper: EH – BLICK
2021 assessment: I’ve never bought any more of the Moulin du Roy after this test; it performs much like the Canson XL and for more money. The rough is better than the cold press, but I didn’t find them to be good papers for me. The “satin” or hot press was really difficult to deal with as I worked through the last of that pad – so no more for me.
2021 assessment: Canson Montval is one of my tests of a block – but it’s still got a lot more blooming than I liked, and I haven’t bought any more of this paper after using up this block.
2021 assessment: While Fluid 100 papers (I only saw them in Blocks in my local art store) were far better as we move up the chain of quality, it never did end up being a favorite. Useable for sure, just not fantabulous.
2021 assessment: Fabriano makes some nice papers – though I wasn’t as much a fan of the edges I got as I used up the block. I was intrigued by its lower price, but that didn’t prove to be what I was looking for.
2021 assessment: the good stuff: Arches! I’ve now used it for years and it’s my #1 paper. This is artist grade paper and it’s very obvious in the way the paint moves – edges blend better, it’s easier to create beautiful edges. You can FEEL the difference – it’s softer and more velvety than the cheaper student grade papers. The rough is by far my preference now that I’m experienced; cold press is better for most people. The paper has ridges and valleys that help the paint move; think of it as pouring water on a carpet vs a linoleum floor – the linoleum will have hard puddled edges, whereas the carpet flows the liquid out in a nicer way as it works through the fibers.
Not tested at this time are papers by Saunders Waterford; I’ve become a great fan of their papers since I began this painting adventure; they only come in sheets or blocks, though. Price is relatively the same as Arches. Another I tried in 2020 is Winsor and Newton – those are almost the quality of Arches, and again comparable in price.
Recommended papers
- Arches Pads
- Arches Blocks
- Arches Bright White Sheets
- Arches Natural White Sheets
- Saunders Waterford Blocks
- Saunders Waterford Sheets
And now for paints!
2021 assessment: I’ve moved on to using tube paints almost exclusively now; while some of these paints tested are artist quality, I found I wasn’t a fan of the color selection in the artist sets, and they’re so small they don’t accommodate the large brushes I use. The craft quality sets are most certainly useable – but as I have learned more about these paints, I’ve not used them and even gave a lot of them away.
- Children’s paints: Crayola
- Artist grade:Sennelier
- Craft Grade: Sakura Koi sketchbox sets
- Craft Grade: Kuretake Gansai Tambi sets
- Artist grade:Windsor & Newton Field Box
- Artist grade:Holbein Palm Box
2021 assessment: After actually using these paints for more than the swatching tests, here’s my two cents worth:
- Children’s grade paints: fine to play with, but don’t expect them to do much in terms of techniques you’re trying to achieve. Even for Bible journaling these paints can be bad – SOME brands of Crayola and equivalent dollar store paints will bleed through Bible paper, so test carefully!
- Craft grade paints: The Gansai Tambi paints had a little more painterly edges, though the Crayola paints just smooth out whatever paper they’re used on, and colors do get muddy sometimes. It’s a bit of proof that we get what we pay for
- Artist grade paints: The sets shown here are travel sets – while I definitely pull them out when flying somewhere if I don’t want to cart my whole kit n kaboodle, I just don’t find these sets super useful. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good! Just that I’ve found things that work better.
If you’re into traveling and watercoloring, there’s a video all about tiny palettes you can use with your tube colors!
Watercolor Supplies I use in 2021
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- Recommended paper:
- Daniel Smith Tube Watercolors
- Palette:
- Spray bottle
- White artist tape, 3/4”
- Synthetic blend watercolor brushes:
- Natural hair watercolor brushes:
Thank you, so much!
Sandy, I love your videos and tutorials. Thanks for sharing and teaching us!
A truly gifted teacher/artist who has the unique ability to explain how she does what she does in an understandable and delightful way!
Words to describe Sandy: – Full of surprises! I never know how an image is going to turn out – will Sandy add a unique background or other element to make it TOTALLY different from the original??
you certainly are thourough I love that you have used such detail in explaining what works and what does not. I have been “playing” with water color, I have to admit it is a bit addicting 🙂 I love your art and your style of teaching.
Wow what a great review! So detailed and so helpful! Thanks so much! Hugs, kristina
Wow, you have been a busy bee Ms Sandy! I loved all your research. I’ve tried the Tim Holtz, Strathmore and Moulin Du Roy and I prefer the MDR best. My brushes are by Claudia Hellmuth and Royal and Langnickel “Espresso”. Thanks for all your hard work.
You have such interesting techniques to share and I love watercolor, so thanks.
One word for Sandy Allnock???? Supercalafragilisticexpialadocious. So detailed, so generous, so caring, and so talented! Beyond extraordinary, so that is the word that can only come close to covering it all!
Wow! What an amazing amount of research, information and hints all rolled up in one post. Thanks so much for sharing with us Sandy.
A phrase to describe your contributions to our art education? “Sharing your True Colors”…encouraging what is unique to each person and honestly helpful. Not sure if this is the post you wanted this on….hope so!
Thank you so much for doing all of the foot work on researching for water coloring. I find these videos and blog posts very helpful!
Color Guru
What a comprehensive collection of products uses and information. It’s obvious there was a lot of effort but into this. I love watercolors and often wondered about different papers, thanks for being a go to resource next time I’m shopping for WC supplies!
There is not particular word to describe your work rather than you start with scribble and you end up with art piece and that’s WOOW
Wow, that’s a lot of info. I keep trying watercolors but I don’t have the hang of it yet.
Your video’s and posts were so very helpful, thank you for taking the time to share. I used to oil paint many years ago as I was always too scared to try to watercolor! After watching so many different techniques and videos, I’m ready to give watercoloring on my cards a try. I just received my Kuretake Gansai Tambi paints last week, so I am anxious to try them out.
Sandy, you did a great job on comparing brushes, pan paints, and papers! Thanks for all the research!
Thank you Sandy! These videos were incredibly helpful for me. I love watercoloring and did not realize how significantly the quality of my tools would alter my “talent”!
That was a lot of work on these three videos. Thank you for all your work to inform us of the best choices for our needs in paper crafting. I for one appreciate all the work you have done and am now thinking of which purchases to make. I really like those black brushes and are on my wish list at Blick’s.. Again Thank You.
This is what I have been waiting for. I love your videos and techniques and am impressed with your ability to teach this art/craft. I’m just getting started and would call myself a crafter, but with time and practice I would like to become an amateur artist in this medium. Thanks so much.
Thank you kindly for the videos! I’m a happy novice. I use Koi and QoR, but I’d like to invest in Holbein some day soon. Going to buy a Black Velvet brush or two too. I’m excited to try the Moulin paper. Have you tried Yupo? I think you would like it 🙂
I’ve been trying it but oh my. It’s a whole new beast! Lol!
So much great information here!!!! I SO appreciate the effort put into this post and the videos!!!
Thank you for the time it took to put together those videos. There is so much information I’ll have to watch a couple of times to absorb it all.
Great information!! Thanks for taking the time to video it all!!
THANK YOU FOR THESE VIDEOS! It can all be very overwhelming! I do hope you will consider doing a tube paint video as well. Thanks again!!
Thanks for the wonderful information. Extremely helpful. You are very talented and I thank you for sharing you gift!
Sandy, it would have taken me ages to figure out everything. Thanks for doing all the heavy lifting for us
I have been following you for a while now & love your videos. This post is amazing with the amount of work, time & effort you have put into it. The information has been so helpful, especially your comparisons on papers. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing.Great work!
You really are an angel to provide us with so much information. All of it is so valuable.
The basic techniques video is most helpful for me, a water coloring novice and I learned so much from watching it just once, so far. The other videos were also very interesting. You are such a fabulous teacher and I am in awe at how much time it must have taken to put this together. You reach people at all levels of experience and inspire us all!
Thanks for the videos…I am just getting started with watercolors so your information is extremely helpful!
Thank you for so much great information. It was long to get through, can’t imagine the time it took for you to post! But it is much appreciated. Blessings.
This is a wonderful undertaking–thanks so much for documenting all of your research for us!
So much great information here!!!! I SO appreciate the effort put into this post and the videos!!!!
I’m so glad i found this post (strangely it was via Pinterest) as I have been looking at adding water clouring to my craft repertoire. Really useful information, will watch the videos again with sound ! as I’m working right now.
wow. thank you so much for all the information! your videos are always great but these are just so very helpful. You can read the information (and I did :-)) but seeing the products in action – suffice it to say i’ll be bookmarking! again, thank you so very much.
Woooooow….I can’t even imagine how much time and effort this took you to do. Thank you so much for the very exhaustive watercolor review!! It has been amazingly helpful and informative!!
I really found the watercolor comparison helpful! Thanks!
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for all your hard work in doing this for us. It truly is greatly appreciated. I did have two additional questions though please? Are there any watercolor books that you would recommend for beginners? I thought you had mentioned 1 or 2 in a previous video but I’m having no joy in find that particular video (and I watch so many crafting videos it could have been a different site altogether) and secondly, other than water is there anything else that should be used to clean your brushes?
Thanks again!
I’m not sure that I know of books for beginners; even the ones recommended aren’t really for folks who can’t draw.
I only use water, but I know there are soaps – but with watercolor, a good ol’ fresh water rinse should keep brushes good and clean.
Excellent, thanks for the response!
Thank you for doing all this research. It is very helpful. I hope you’ll also do a video on watercolor markers. I find I get a lot of bleed with them when I use ink instead of embossing and I add water. I am sure it has something to do with the paper or the different markers or possibly even the user. 🙂
April
That’s in the works 🙂
I am so very grateful for you doing this. I will never be renowned for my painting skills, but having the advantage of you showing all of these comparisons is such a sweet blessing! You are awesome! I am going to watch a second time! So informative!
Oh, my goodness! What a treasure this post is. I cannot believe how much research you’ve done. This information is priceless. Thank you so much!
Love it so much the info is priceless. thanks alot for your time and posting this video.
Thank you so much for doing all this work so we don’t have to. I particularly appreciate that you are parochial this for us paper crafters – I don’t necessarily need the most expensive stuff – just stuff that performs well. You da bomb!
Thanks so much for the video. I am new to water coloring and it was very helpful.;)
Thank you so much for this series of watercolor 101. I already have some of the paints and paper mentioned on your blog but little afraid to start. Just need to jump into that wagon, I suppose 🙂 You are a great teacher, artist and crafter so again THANK YOU for all you do to help us. Hello from Croatia 🙂
As I said, I need MORE coffee and MORE free time to pay attention to this several times. You always amaze me. I’m sure your day has more than 24 hours in it. Or you don’t need sleep like mere mortals. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
This has been so helpful to me. Thank you so much…God Bless!