This entry was originally posted on Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Now that you are mentally prepared to begin painting, there some more practical things to consider. One of which is choosing the right paper because having the right paper makes all the difference. There are many types of watercolor papers out there and most are different versions made by the same company.

But the most important thing you need to consider is that 
your watercolor paper is 100% cotton. 

You will have so much more success if it is. The paint flows easier and the paper doesn’t buckle as much.

The paper that is not 100% cotton has a mixture of cotton and wood pulp.
So the paint doesn’t flow. It just settles into the paper causing it to buckle and warp. Then all your color runs together and blooms start to happen where you don’t want them. And finally, when you try to put more color on, it just lifts the color that is already there and you get mud.
Then you panic.
Or you throw your brush down and grumble that you were never meant to do watercolor.

So, please stick with the 100% cotton paper.

 

Leslie Lambert

Author Leslie Lambert

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