How to choose the best watercolor paper texture for you.

SUMMARY: There are three kinds of watercolor paper texture. Pick your paper texture based on your subject matter and personal preference.

One of the final steps in choosing watercolor paper is picking the texture. Artist-grade paper comes in three different textures - each lending itself to different purposes. Understanding the differences between each watercolor paper texture will allow you to get the best results in your paintings.

We filmed a short video on Paper Textures with Arts of Course instructor Jess Rice which you can watch here:

Key Takeaways

1. Watercolor paper comes in three textures - Hot Pressed, Cold Pressed, and Rough.

2. Texture of watercolor paper will vary with each brand of paper.

3. Cold Pressed is a popular texture, as it allows for the paint to soak in, allowing for a fair amount of detail.

What are the different watercolor paper texture options?

There are three different artist-grade paper textures to choose from: Hot Pressed, Cold Pressed, and Rough.

Hot Pressed: Hot press is a very smooth surface favoured by artists who use fine details in their work like botanicals or architecture. It is finished by pressing the paper through 2 hot metal rollers.

Cold Pressed: Cold press is the most commonly used paper. It has a slight texture or “tooth” that allow pigment to settle in to the dimples of the paper to give a slight texture to the painting. it is finished by rolling through cold metal rollers.

Rough: Rough paper has much larger dimples on the surface to allow more granulating pigments to be enhanced. It is well suited to loose, bold painting styles. The rough texture makes it difficult to paint fine details and smooth lines. It is finished by pressing between textured felt during the drying process.

Choosing the right artist-grade paper texture

For things that need lots of detail, Hot Pressed paper reigns supreme. This paper’s super smooth texture - or lack of texture - lets you get super precise. For paintings of architecture or detailed landscapes, choose Hot Pressed paper for a crisp result.

For paintings that need just a bit of texture, reach for Cold Pressed. Some people refer to the texture in paper as dimples. Since cold pressed paper has some dimples, the pigment of your paint will naturally settle into the texture. So, as you float your paint out onto your Cold Pressed paper, just be mindful of the texture. Cold Pressed is actually the most popular watercolor paper texture, as it allows for the paint to sink in to some degree, but also allows allows for a fair amount of detail work.

Rough paper is great for painting more textured or rugged things. Since it’s got even deeper dimples, or tooth, in it, the pigment will fall more noticeably into this texture. If you’re painting animals, like bears or dogs, Rough paper will really lend itself to the texture of the animal’s fur. The heavier texture provides enhanced irregular color application, or granulating. For projects where you want to be especially expressive and striking, try Rough paper.

It’s also important to note that the texture of each type of paper will vary a bit from brand to brand. For example, Arches Cold Pressed paper will have a slightly different level of texture than Fabriano Cold Pressed paper.

Closing thoughts

When choosing an artist-grade paper texture, it comes down to subject matter and personal preference. For intricate work, like buildings or cityscapes, Cold Pressed will allow you to get really detailed. For bold work where you’re looking to be more expressive and small details aren’t as important, like when painting fur or hair, Rough paper will lend itself to the cause. For most projects, Cold Pressed is a safe bet - a fair amount of texture, but not an overpowering amount. As you’re building your watercolor skills, try a few brands and textures - you’ll find one that works best for you.

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Categories: Watercolor Paper, Watercolor tips