Arches26 x 36 cm 300 gsm Cold Pressed Watercolour Pad

I first tried avoiding this brand as it is soooo expensive, but I caved in and ordered it. It does make a big difference in results when you use a combination of good paints, brushes and paper. The price for only 12 sheets makes me afraid to use them everyday. I use cheaper paper and use this for more “serious” projects. I still consider myself a beginner so, until I am a pro at this (will I get there before I’m broke haha), it’s a bit too expensive for my budget. Can’t say anything else but good things about the paper. If anyone can suggest a more economic but still amazing brand…I’m all ears!

Without any hesitancy, I always choose Arches 140 lb. Cold Press paper for superior absorbency of watercolor paint. Colors stay true and with the proper handling of a brush, pigments are far less likely to backrun or create blooms. The paper doesn't fall apart and only slightly buckles when a lot of water is applied. It truly is well made and superior in quality. It's a product I can trust!

Excellent paper to draw and paint on. My go to paper.

This is the best price that I’ve seen on Arches paper so far. I thought I would try this paper because I’ve heard people say it’s the best. I’ve also heard it’s very expensive but it’s the most important thing in watercolors. They say if you’re just starting out with watercolor and want to invest in one good quality item, the best quality paper you can afford is the first thing you should buy. Then they say Arches is the brand of that high quality paper, always followed by, “it’s expensive but worth it”. I find that If you buy it from an art store at full price it is much more expensive. I have been able to find it on Amazon for a much better value. The paper is great and I do get better results when I paint on it. I feel like the paint behaves differently than on cheaper, cellulose paper. I buy this 9x12 paper pad then I cut the sheets down in halves or quarters. This stretches the value a bit further. I find that if I paint on an entire sheet of 9x12 I end up with a lot of empty space around the outside edges of the page anyway. I’m new to watercolor and have been working on composition but a lot of my practice focuses on single subjects. I do a lot of practice on cheaper paper and then bring out this Arches paper for the “higher quality” practice. The “practice” pieces that I don’t mind showing to other people. The cheaper, cellulose paper is a place for me to determine which colors work well for the subject I’m painting, to practice how to hold the brush or even the correct size of brush for the subject I want to paint. Like I said, I’m new to watercolor so I have to start from square one. Once I’ve figured that out I am able to bring out the cotton paper to practice my blending techniques, how much water to use, the different behaviors of all the colors on my palette, etc…. Arches paper is very forgiving for beginners like me because I find that the paper can stand up to the scrubbing and lifting of mistakes. If I accidentally use too much water the paper dries nicely (eventually) enough that the whole piece isn’t ruined. In the event that the piece doesn’t turn out well on the front of the paper I can still use the less textured back side of the paper so that it doesn’t go to waste. The paper is very durable since it’s so thick and made of cotton and it can handle being painted on the front and the back.

Recomiendo este papel a todo aquel que pinte con acuarela, principiante o experto.Hay una diferencia muy grande con otros papeles.