All about watercolor paper, part III

 

Part III – Weight

Watercolor paper comes in various thicknesses and these are labeled by weight, with prices being lowest for the lightest weights and higher for the heavier weights. 

The most common weights of watercolor paper are 90 pound (light), 140 pound (medium), and 300 pound (heavy) – although there are many other lower and higher weights available. These numbers refer to the weight of a ream of paper – not an individual sheet. Keep in mind, too, that heavier paper will come out of the pressing process with more texture than lighter papers. 

It’s important for an artist to choose a paper weight that will accommodate the size of the work and the amount of water they use in their painting techniques. 

A small painting that is painted without using a lot of wet techniques will work fine on a lightweight paper, but larger paintings and wet techniques require heavier papers. 

If a painter intends to use a lot of water or heavy washes, then a heavier weight paper must be used. Paper should never be “stretched,” and the reasons why will be discussed in the next chapter. 

Read all of the articles in the series: 

All About Paper - Part IV -- Handling 

All About Paper - Part II -- Sizing Matters  

All About Paper - Part I -- Surface and Texture 

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Annie Strack is an industry trained expect in the uses and properties of artist materials, and is an Artist Ambassador for Hahnemuehle paper and many other companies. She travels around the world to teach in art centers, schools, and artist supplies stores.