The wrong type of paper is commonly used for watercolour painting which leads to artwork warping and buckling as water is applied, this is because it isn't designed for wet based media, unlike watercolour paper - which can be used for all painting applications if prepared correctly.
The key to a high quality watercolour paper is the fibres used and their absorbency. Traditionally cotton fibres are used precisely for this reason, and it's why our watercolour paper has a percentage of cotton included
Artway premium ‘35’ watercolour sheets are made with 35% cotton allowing greater strength and resilience from each sheet compared to other wood pulp papers. A cold pressed texture makes it suitable for not only the occasional large area wash but also for fine detail.
Artway INDIGO handmade paper is perfect for watercolour painting as it is made using 100% recycled cotton. Created entirely by local artisans in Northern India using traditional paper-making methods, and available in a range of paper sizes, each sheet is unique in tone and grain, finished with deckled edges. Available in a range of sizes, weights and textures.
They are both sized without gelatin making these papers vegan.
To avoid any sort of buckle when working with cotton paper for paper we recommend stretching it before use. Stretching is a simple process that ensures the perfect painting surface for watercolour and gouache.
Firstly soak the paper and tape it down to your work surface or board whilst wet as it dries, it shrinks keeping your sheets of paper completely flat