Your first painting looked amazing. Until the paper buckled. Colors went muddy. Edges dried all weird.
Wasn't your fault. Wrong paper ruins good paint every time.
Here's what matters: watercolor paper has sizing (basically glue) that holds water and pigment on the surface instead of letting everything soak straight through. Get the right paper and your colors stay vibrant, blends work properly, surface stays mostly flat. Get cheap paper and you're fighting the medium before you even start.
We're covering what watercolor paper actually is, why GSM and weight matter, which texture works for what, and that confusing "which side do I use" question. Plus paper formats and how to stop warping.
Best part? You don't need expensive paper to start. Just the right paper for what you're painting.
What Is Watercolor Paper & Why It Matters
Paper isn't just a canvas. It's half the equation.
Watercolor paper is cotton or cellulose sheets with sizing-a glue-like coating that keeps water and pigment on the surface. Without sizing, water soaks straight into fibers. Paint dries in seconds. No time for blending, no wet-on-wet magic, no dreamy color blooms.
Regular printer paper? Water hits it, paper drinks it immediately, pigment follows. You get flat, patchy, dull colors because pigment disappeared into the paper instead of sitting on top where light can hit it.
Quality watercolor paper holds water on the surface long enough for you to work with it. Colors stay vibrant. Blends happen. Drying is even instead of splotchy.
How Sizing Works in Watercolor Paper
Sizing creates a barrier. Water and pigment sit on top instead of soaking through immediately.
Without sizing, paint sets and dries in seconds. No blending time. No layering. No fixing anything. With proper sizing, you've got minutes to work-blend colors, add more paint, lift areas, create effects.
Fun fact: oversized paper (too much glue) makes paint bead up and slide around. Undersized paper drinks water too fast. Good sizing hits that middle zone where water stays workable but doesn't puddle forever.
Cotton vs. Cellulose: What's Best for Beginners?
Cotton paper: Smooth, handles water beautifully, premium feel. Made from cotton fibers (linters from textile production). More absorbent without being too absorbent. Expensive though.
Cellulose paper: Made from wood pulp. Cheaper. Coarser texture. Still works fine, just not as smooth or water-friendly as cotton. Great for practice.
Cotton-cellulose blend: 50/50 mix. Middle ground on price and performance.
| Paper Type | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Cotton | Final pieces, wet techniques | $$$ |
| Cotton blend | Everyday painting | $$ |
| Cellulose | Practice, sketches | $ |
Artist vs. Student Grade Paper
Artist grade (archival): Acid-free, lasts decades without yellowing, better sizing, smoother surface. Museums use this stuff.
Student grade: Budget-friendly, still functional, might yellow over time or get brittle eventually. Fine for learning.
Beginners? Student grade works. Once you're painting keepers, upgrade to artist grade. Check Tobio's watercolor supplies for both options.
What's Good Watercolor Paper Weight & GSM?
Weight = warp-proof power.
Paper weight tells you thickness. Two measurements: pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm). Heavier = thicker = less warping.
Quick conversion:
- 90 lb = 190 gsm (light, practice)
- 140 lb = 300 gsm (standard, most common)
- 260 lb = 356 gsm (heavy)
- 300 lb = 640 gsm (extra heavy, barely warps)
300gsm (140 lb) is the sweet spot. Handles water without excessive buckling. Not too expensive. Works for most techniques.
Understanding lb vs. GSM for Watercolor
measurement (per square meter) with visual scale]
Pounds (lb): Weight of a ream (500 sheets) in specific size. Weird measurement, but standard in US.
GSM: Weight of one square meter of paper. Makes more sense mathematically. Used everywhere else.
300gsm is your target. Thick enough to handle water without turning into a crumpled mess. Light enough to stay affordable.
Anything under 200gsm and you're fighting warping constantly unless you tape or stretch it down.
Best Weights for Different Techniques
Light (190gsm/90lb): Quick sketches, light washes, practice. Will warp unless taped down. Dries fast. Good for travel journals where you're not soaking paper.
Medium (300gsm/140lb): Most techniques. Washes, wet-on-wet, layering. Some warping but manageable. This is your workhorse paper.
Heavy (640gsm/300lb): Multiple layers, heavy wet techniques, barely warps at all. Expensive. Overkill for beginners.
Tobio's Extra Sketchbook uses 300gsm. Handles everything from light washes to wet-on-wet without frustrating warping.
Three example paintings
How Weight Affects Warping & Buckling
Water soaks into paper fibers. Fibers swell. Paper expands unevenly. Surface buckles.
Buckled paper creates puddles. Puddles dry unevenly. You get hard edges and weird watermarks where water pooled.
Thicker paper = more fibers = more resistance to warping.
Prevent warping:
- Use 300gsm minimum
- Tape edges down with masking tape
- Paint on flat surface
- Don't oversoak paper (use damp, not dripping brush)
- Or stretch paper first (soak it, tape it flat, let dry stretched)
Hot Press vs. Cold Press: Best Textures for Watercolor
Texture is your style's secret ingredient.
Three textures available: hot press (smooth), cold press (textured), rough (very textured). Names come from manufacturing-hot rollers create smooth surface, cold rollers leave texture.
Hot Press Watercolor Paper: Smooth & Speedy
Smooth surface. Almost slick. Great for fine details and crisp lines.
Pros:
- Clean edges
- Perfect for botanical illustration
- Easy layering without disturbing underneath layers
- Pen and ink combo work
Cons:
- Dries fast (no texture pockets to hold water)
- Can look patchy if technique isn't solid
- Less forgiving for beginners
Hot press works if you're doing detailed work or combining watercolor with pen. Not ideal for loose, flowy styles.
Cold Press: The Beginner Favorite
Semi-rough texture. Little pockets (called "tooth") hold water longer. Most popular choice.
Cold press hits that perfect middle zone. Enough texture to grab pigment and hold water for blending, but not so rough everything looks scratchy.
Works for basically everything: loose washes, wet-on-wet, layering, details. Forgiving for beginners because texture hides small mistakes.
Tobio's Extra Sketchbook uses cold press. That's why it works for so many different painting styles.
Rough Press: For Bold Textures
Heavy texture. Dramatic. Water pools in valleys creating granulation effects automatically.
Great for loose, expressive work. Landscapes with texture. Experimental stuff. Less great for smooth blends or fine details-texture fights you on both.
Advanced territory. Skip it until you're comfortable with cold press.
Tinting Options: White, Cream or Black?
Bright white: Most common. Makes colors pop. Creates that luminous watercolor glow because white paper reflects light back through transparent pigment.
Cream/off-white: Warmer, more natural look. Softer contrast. Colors look more muted.
Black: Experimental. Opaque watercolors or gouache show up better than traditional transparent watercolor.
Most beginners? Bright white. It's what watercolor was designed for.
Watercolor Paper Formats: Pads, Blocks & More
Format fits your workflow.
Pads: Individual sheets bound together. Spiral-bound or glued at one edge. Easy to tear out and work on. Cheaper than blocks. Will warp unless you tape edges down.
Blocks: Sheets glued on all four edges or two edges. Glue holds paper flat while you paint, preventing warping. More expensive but way more convenient.
Loose sheets: Buy big sheets, cut to size. Cheapest per square inch. Need to tape down or stretch before painting.
Rolls: Huge rolls you cut yourself. Best value long-term but biggest upfront cost.
Pads & Sketchbooks: Beginner Essentials
[Image suggestion: Tobio's Extra Sketchbook open showing painted page, coffee cup beside it]
Spiral-bound or glue-bound pads are perfect for starting out. Portable, protected, easy to flip through.
Tobio's Extra Sketchbook (60 pages) gives you tons of practice space. 300gsm cold press paper. Small enough to carry, big enough to actually paint on. €7.95 for 60 pages means you're not precious about wasting paper-which is exactly the mindset beginners need.
Blocks vs. Loose Sheets: Warp Warriors
Blocks: Glued edges hold paper flat. Paint without taping down. Way less warping. Cut sheet off block when dry.
Loose sheets: Cheap per sheet but need taping down. Good once you know you'll use lots of paper.
New to watercolor? Blocks or pads are worth it. Fighting warping while learning technique is frustrating.
Rolls for Big Projects
Buying paper in rolls is cheapest long-term. Cut to whatever size you want.
Only makes sense if you're painting regularly and going through lots of paper. Beginners? Stick with pads or blocks.
Which Side of Watercolor Paper to Use?
Front for show, back for flow.
Watercolor paper technically has two usable sides. Front (sometimes called "right side") is the intended painting surface-slightly smoother or with more pronounced texture depending on the paper. Back works too but texture might be different.
How to tell which is front:
- Check the watermark (hold up to light)-readable side is usually front
- Feel both sides-front is typically smoother on hot press or more evenly textured on cold press
- Look at pad binding-top sheet as you flip it open is usually front side up
Honestly? Both sides work. Front is optimized for painting. Back is fine for practice. Don't stress it too much.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is watercolor paper exactly?
What is watercolor paper exactly?
Paper specifically made for watercolor painting. Has sizing (glue coating) that holds water and pigment on surface instead of letting it soak in immediately. Allows blending and creates vibrant colors.
What paper for watercolor should beginners buy?
What paper for watercolor should beginners buy?
300gsm (140 lb) cold press. It's thick enough to handle water without excessive warping, textured enough to be forgiving, versatile for most techniques. Tobio's Extra Sketchbook checks all boxes.
What's good watercolor GSM or paper weight?
What's good watercolor GSM or paper weight?
300gsm (140 lb) is the standard. Light enough to stay affordable, heavy enough to resist warping. 190gsm works for practice. 640gsm for minimal warping but expensive.
How do I prevent watercolor paper from warping?
How do I prevent watercolor paper from warping?
Use 300gsm minimum. Tape edges down with masking tape before painting. Paint on flat surface. Don't oversoak paper. Or stretch paper first (wet it, tape flat, let dry stretched).
Hot press or cold press: Which is best?
Hot press or cold press: Which is best?
Cold press for most people, especially beginners. Texture helps hold water, creates smooth blends, forgiving. Hot press is smooth, best for fine details, but dries faster and shows mistakes more.
Which side of watercolor paper to use?
Which side of watercolor paper to use?
Front side (check watermark to find it). But both sides work. Front is optimized texture. Back is fine for practice.
Can I use watercolor paper for other paints?
Can I use watercolor paper for other paints?
Yes. Gouache and ink work great on watercolor paper. Acrylic works but might crack since watercolor paper flexes. Oil needs different preparation.
How do I store watercolor paper?
How do I store watercolor paper?
Flat, dry place. Keep it in original packaging or protective folder. Moisture makes paper warp before you even paint on it.
Do I need to stretch watercolor paper?
Do I need to stretch watercolor paper?
Not if you're using 300gsm or heavier. Lighter papers benefit from stretching. Most beginners skip this step-just tape edges down and you're fine.
Is Tobio's Extra Sketchbook good for starters?
Is Tobio's Extra Sketchbook good for starters?
Yes. 300gsm cold press, 60 pages, affordable (€7.95). Handles wet techniques without frustrating warping. Perfect for learning without wasting money on expensive paper you'll mess up anyway.
Ready to Pick Your Perfect Paper?
Right paper = less warp, more wow.
Start with 300gsm cold press. Don't overthink it. Expensive paper won't make you better-practice makes you better. Expensive paper just makes you nervous about wasting it.
Get affordable paper that works. Paint a lot. Upgrade when you know what you actually like.
Grab the Sketchbook → Tobio's Extra Sketchbook: 60 pages, 300gsm cold press, €7.95. Perfect for starting without pressure.
Browse Supplies → More paper options, different formats, weights, textures-once you know what you're looking for.
What's your paper pet peeve? Drop a comment. We love hearing what frustrates people so we can write about it.
