Artist Papers for Botanical Art
Finding the right paper for watercolor painting can be overwhelming at first. There are so many manufacturers, product lines, and surface textures to choose from.
And what do gsm or g/m² mean anyway?
This article aims to give you a clearer understanding of the options available, what the different specifications mean, and help you determine which paper is best suited for your needs.
I'll start by giving you tips on what characteristics to look for and prioritize. Later in the text, I will introduce some tried-and-true papers that I personally use and recommend.
Paper Characteristics
1. Components
There are papers made from various materials, such as bamboo, which have not yet caught on in botanical art, and I haven't found any that I would consider suitable.
For botanical painting, papers made from 100% rag or cotton have proven to be the best option.
The colors stay well on the surface and are not absorbed by the paper, which keeps them very vibrant. You can work very precisely on them and make corrections easily.
These papers are also very durable, making them ideal for high-quality work.
Make sure the packaging says "acid-free" or "pH-neutral." This is crucial for the paper to be age-resistant and not yellow or deteriorate over time.
2. Paper Weight
Gsm or g/m²: This abbreviation indicates the weight of the paper per square meter.
You may also often see the abbreviation “lb,” which gives the weight in pounds.
For watercolor work, I recommend at least 300 g/m² or 140 lb. This weight can absorb water well without immediately buckling and is thick enough to make small corrections without excessively damaging the paper.
If you work very wet and cannot manage with this weight, you can use heavier paper, e.g., 640 g/m².
Often, the same paper model is available in different weights.
3. Texture/Grain
When it comes to texture, also known as grain, there are three types:
Satin, HP (hot pressed)
Fine grain, CP (cold pressed)/NOT
Rough, torchon
No doubt, all paper surfaces have their advantages and are fun to work with. You can also create great effects on coarser papers.
However, for detailed, very precise botanical painting, it is essential to work very cleanly and controlled.
Therefore, satin or hot pressed (HP) paper is the first choice. It is extremely smooth, allowing you to apply colors and lines very precisely and achieve a particularly realistic representation.
4. Gluing
For paper blocks or pads, you will find another specification on the packaging: the type of gluing.
There are two variants:
1-sided: The paper is glued on one side only, like a regular drawing pad.
4-sided: The paper is glued on all sides and must be removed from the block around the edges.
Is one type of gluing better than the other?
It depends on your preferred working method.
The advantage of 4-sided gluing is that you can leave it in the block until your painting is finished. Because it is attached on all four sides, it cannot buckle too much while painting.
Do you prefer to remove your sheet from the block and attach it to a painting board, like a drawing board, or do you mainly paint dry?
In that case, you can just as well use the 1-sided gluing and save a bit of money.
Formats and Their Advantages and Disadvantages
Now from gluing to a related topic: paper formats.
We can roughly divide four common offerings from manufacturers, which I will outline below with their pros and cons:
1. Loose Sheet or Paper
Advantages:
Available in various sizes
Flexibility in paper size and brand/model
Lower costs
Disadvantages:
Must be stored protected
More frequent repurchase required
May need to be attached to a painting board with tape
2. Block or Pad
Advantages:
Easy to handle and stays flat depending on the gluing
Paper is protected in the block and can be stored well
Enough paper for several paintings
Disadvantages:
Not as flexible as loose sheets
3. Roll:
Advantages:
Formats can be cut flexibly
Large format work possible
Lowest cost per sqm, making it the most cost-effective option for high consumption
Long time before needing to repurchase
Disadvantages:
Requires space for storage and space/preparation for cutting
Higher investment in one paper model, so you should be sure about the paper
4. Sketchbook with Various Bindings:
Advantages:
Convenient for on-the-go
Various bindings for different needs
Disadvantages:
Some bindings (e.g., ring bindings) can interfere with drawing.
More suitable for practice and preparatory work; you may need additional paper for artwork
Sketchbook paper is not always available in other formats
Paper behavior differs from the final paper
Popular Papers in Botanical Painting
To save you from starting your search from scratch, you can rely on the experience of long-time botanical artists and try out one of the frequently used papers.
Here are some of the most popular papers commonly used in botanical painting:
Fabriano Artistico Extra White, 100% Cotton, 300 g/m²
Arches Watercolor, 100% Cotton, 300 g/m²
Saunders Waterford Classic Watercolour Paper, High White, 100% Cotton, 300 g/m²
Tips for Testing Paper
I’d like to share some tips for testing watercolor paper, especially if you are new to selecting your paper.
At the beginning, you may feel extremely motivated and suffer from a kind of FOMO (fear of missing out), worrying that you’ll run out of paper after just two days. At least, that’s how I felt…
Unfortunately, I spent quite a bit of money on papers that I didn't find convincing, and their pads are waiting in the drawer to finally be used again.
It's better to use one of the following options:
Single Sheet
Buy a single sheet to test the paper before purchasing a whole pad or even a roll.
Small Pad
Choose the smallest size of a paper type. This allows for multiple tests while keeping the investment lower.
Sample Packs
Many manufacturers offer sample packs with various paper types. This is a cost-effective way to try different papers.
Swatch Cards
If you want to test multiple papers, create swatch cards where you perform small tests with different techniques. This helps you better compare paper properties.
What I'm Currently Testing
As you can see, there are many different papers you can use for botanical painting, and I have tried several to find out which paper(s) I particularly like.
Currently, I am testing Clairefontaine's “Fontaine” watercolor paper. This is the paper my favorite sketchbook is made from.
Here is the link if you want to read the sketchbook article.
I get along incredibly well with it, and it would be great if I could use it for my artwork as well.
It is a satin paper made from 100% cotton, is acid-free, and has a weight of 300 g/m².
I also really like the bright white tone, and I can easily imagine using it for graphite and ink in addition to watercolor.
So far, it has been great to work with and has a wonderfully beautiful surface texture.
Summary
The right paper significantly determines the outcome of your painting and, unfortunately, can often lead to major disappointments, even if it’s neither the watercolor paints nor your skills at fault.
I hope this article helps you find your personal favorite watercolor paper with which you can create your artwork.
"Trial and error" is sometimes part of the journey, so don’t be disappointed if it takes a few tries to get it right.
Be adventurous and find out which paper best suits your individual style and preferred technique.
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