The choice of surface for your painting projects is incredibly important, as the different ingredients in different paint types, from watercolour to oils, and everything in between, necessitate a range of different surfaces - Artway have endeavoured to provide you with a range of options, depending on your paint medium.
For watercolour and gouache, we serve multiple types of painting paper with high cotton content. Cotton fibres are naturally stronger and more durable than wood pulp making them more reliable when working with watercolours.
We have two types of Italian-made paper, a 35% cotton content available in paper packs and sketchbooks. As well as a 100% cotton content variant exclusively available as a gummed pad. These two papers are both cold pressed making it suitable for both large area washes and fine detail. Perfect for beginners, students or artists looking for a traditionally made watercolour paper.
You can also try our cotton-rag paper which are completely handmade. Providing a completely natural and luxurious surface. Our cotton rag papers are available in three types, a smooth variant which is cold pressed, a mid-texture 250gsm and mid texture 500gsm. The mid-texture 250gsm mid texture variant has proven so popular we also have them served in a casebound sketchbook format.
For oil painting, a canvas is naturally your ideal surface - however, with a gesso preparation, the Studio 240gsm Mixed Media Sketchbooks can accommodate oil paint. In addition to the rougher surface texture, both paper types can also hold a more varied set of mixed media, absorb water better, and maintain surface flatness due to the extra rigidity the heavyweight paper provides. Being a mixed media surface, the paper is very versatile - great for light watercolour use, gouache paint, dry and soft media inc. soft pastels and drawing in ink and graphite pencils.
If you would like to test any of our ARTWAY papers, we have a paper sample pack available here.