What Kind of Paper do You Need?
Well, it depends on what you’re using it for. Do you want to use it for explorations? A fine art piece? Or just scrap paper?
For doodles and studies, using a brand like Canson or better yet, Strathmore is great. You don't need anything expensive, but you do get what you pay for. Go for something that's reasonable, but not the cheapest option. The reason being that the color won't do anything you want it to if the paper quality is too poor.
For Fine Art Pieces or illustration, where you'll be doing lots of layers, I suggest going up a couple tiers to Fabriano. This is my favorite, although Arches is also in the competition. Fabriano has a nice bright white quality, holds paint very well, and doesn't distress with additional layers. Sometimes paper will pile after several layers of paint, but this paper is wonderful and holds up very well. Arches does the same, but has a different quality. It absorbs more and therefore requires a slightly different approach to painting- mainly more water and paint to get the results you want. This is neither bad nor good!
These higher end brands often come in watercolor blocks, which are pieces of watercolor paper, glued together along the edges. You remove them from the block by lifting it off with a palette knife. It's a simple process, and allows for the artist to work on the "block" which will keep the paper flat while painting. Pads of paper great, too, but you'll want to adhere the paper to a board or your table so you can paint easily as it warps.
You Know It's All About That Brush, 'Bout That Brush...
Actually you can relax about the brush. Student grade brushes are fiiiiine. Here's a set that would be great to start with. I'd add a flat brush for washes (for skies or large swaths of color).
Just stay away from Crayola brushes that come in their pallets, but incidentally, the watercolors in those palettes are great. Albeit bright, they work well and I've used them for fine art pieces many times.
Cool Tips!
#1 Watercolor paper will warp, and it's normal. Just paint a layer of water on the back of the paper and it'll relax back to its original state.🙂
#2 If you want to save money on paper and only need a few sheets, you can buy a large sheet of Arches paper and cut it down to custom sizes. A piece that measures 22" x 30" is roughly $10 at art supply stores and Michael's.
#3 Start light to dark. Paint all the light colors first, using more water to paint, THEN add darker colors and detail over time. Here's a time lapse video I made that roughly shows the process. Enjoy!
Good luck on your journey!
Notice I didn't talk about actual paints? Because I encourage you try different kinds! And honestly, although the colors dance differently, the paper is like a stage. You want a solid foundation so that you don't have to think about it when you do your pirouettes. Now, have fun out there and hope this info gives you some peace of mind in the art store!
-Annie
