<p>Depends: are you sketching (with pencils, presumably), or are you painting with watercolors? :)</p>

<p>If you're sketching/drawing with pencils and other dry media, the sketching paper is probably to be preferred, because the vast majority of what is available as "watercolor paper" is cold-press, i.e. pebbly/rough surfaced. </p>

<p>If you're painting with watercolors, unless you're using a particularly dry technique, the sketch paper will probably simply fall apart on you. You need to use a paper that is designed to withstand watercolor techniques such as washes and blending, which pretty much means using the heaviest-weight watercolor paper you can afford, or using a lighter weight and investing in the equipment to stretch it as it dries. Either way, though, a paper that tears when wet will not cut it.</p>

<p>And if you're doing neither sketching nor watercolors, but, say, pen and ink drawings, neither sketch paper nor watercolor paper will be particularly satisfactory. Moral of the story: match the paper to the material/technique.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-08T17:26:31.233Z
A high tooth support is generally valuable in just about any medium.
JAMalcolmson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-09T14:00:11.837Z
@JAMalcolmson - not any... try using a quill pen on rough plate water color paper.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-24T02:55:35.570Z
2016-05-24T02:55:35.570Z
Martha
<p>If you want the best results in your paintings, you also need to find the best watercolor paper brand. This way, you will not only have a perfect texture but also incredible results.</p>

<p>There are various factors that you need to keep in mind when you try to find the best one. The material, quality, texture, roughness of the watercolor paper matters a lot. Moreover, if you plan on selling your paintings, the finished painting has to be impressive.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-27T12:28:17.543Z
This doesn't add anything to the existing answers, and is very superficial. The 'best' brand doesn't automatically give you 'perfect texture' or  'incredible results', that's what technique, skill, experience, adaptability, etc. are for. And these 'various factors' should be kept in mind, but can you expand on *how* that is important? And what are you trying to achieve with the last sentence? It is completely random and subjective.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-27T09:33:01.950Z
2019-11-27T09:33:01.950Z
Salmanforlife
<p>That really depends on the paper itself. Usually, sketch paper will be too thin for watercolors to come out in a satisfactory manner. That being said, it all depends on what your final outcome is. Where the piece will be displayed, and what effects you are trying to get. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T19:35:09.490Z
2016-04-26T19:35:09.490Z
KingsInnerSoul
<p>Watercolor paper is, normally, quite a bit heavier and made from cotton. Basic watercolor paper, 140lb, is okay for practice and will tend to buckle unless stretched. The expensive 300lb paper is where professionals tend to land. In any case, the paint pools and absorbs differently than normal paper, and gives you options around blending, washes, etc. that you can't otherwise get.</p>

<p>Traditional paper, made from wood fibers, is much thinner and absorbs the pigment faster, will generally buckle and warp rapidly and is much more likely to rip and tear when wet. It's just not designed for that.</p>

<p>In any event, sheet watercolor paper can be had and you can always cut it into smaller sizes for practice, which is pretty common anyways. The cheaper option will only frustrate and disappoint, it's already a challenging medium, don't make it hard on yourself.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T19:48:57.450Z
2016-04-26T19:48:57.450Z
Joanne C
<p>I've been looking around for some paper for watercolour painting. Watercolour paper can be over double the price of sketch paper.</p>

<p>What makes watercolour paper better? Should I invest the money, and buy the watercolour paper, or save my money and take a chance on the cheaper option?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T12:51:29.787Z
If someone has a reason they think this should be closed writing a comment with justification would be preferable.
Matt
<paper><watercolor><sketching>
What are the advantages of watercolour paper over sketch paper?
Tim
# What are the advantages of watercolour paper over sketch paper?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-26)

I've been looking around for some paper for watercolour painting. Watercolour paper can be over double the price of sketch paper.

What makes watercolour paper better? Should I invest the money, and buy the watercolour paper, or save my money and take a chance on the cheaper option?

**Tags:** paper, watercolor, sketching

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If someone has a reason they think this should be closed writing a comment with justification would be preferable.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2016-04-26. Score: 23 | Accepted answer

Watercolor paper is, normally, quite a bit heavier and made from cotton. Basic watercolor paper, 140lb, is okay for practice and will tend to buckle unless stretched. The expensive 300lb paper is where professionals tend to land. In any case, the paint pools and absorbs differently than normal paper, and gives you options around blending, washes, etc. that you can't otherwise get.

Traditional paper, made from wood fibers, is much thinner and absorbs the pigment faster, will generally buckle and warp rapidly and is much more likely to rip and tear when wet. It's just not designed for that.

In any event, sheet watercolor paper can be had and you can always cut it into smaller sizes for practice, which is pretty common anyways. The cheaper option will only frustrate and disappoint, it's already a challenging medium, don't make it hard on yourself.


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### Answer by username_7 on 2016-04-26. Score: 4

That really depends on the paper itself. Usually, sketch paper will be too thin for watercolors to come out in a satisfactory manner. That being said, it all depends on what your final outcome is. Where the piece will be displayed, and what effects you are trying to get.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-24. Score: 2

Depends: are you sketching (with pencils, presumably), or are you painting with watercolors? :)

If you're sketching/drawing with pencils and other dry media, the sketching paper is probably to be preferred, because the vast majority of what is available as "watercolor paper" is cold-press, i.e. pebbly/rough surfaced.

If you're painting with watercolors, unless you're using a particularly dry technique, the sketch paper will probably simply fall apart on you. You need to use a paper that is designed to withstand watercolor techniques such as washes and blending, which pretty much means using the heaviest-weight watercolor paper you can afford, or using a lighter weight and investing in the equipment to stretch it as it dries. Either way, though, a paper that tears when wet will not cut it.

And if you're doing neither sketching nor watercolors, but, say, pen and ink drawings, neither sketch paper nor watercolor paper will be particularly satisfactory. Moral of the story: match the paper to the material/technique.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: A high tooth support is generally valuable in just about any medium.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 - not any... try using a quill pen on rough plate water color paper.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2019-11-27. Score: -2

If you want the best results in your paintings, you also need to find the best watercolor paper brand. This way, you will not only have a perfect texture but also incredible results.

There are various factors that you need to keep in mind when you try to find the best one. The material, quality, texture, roughness of the watercolor paper matters a lot. Moreover, if you plan on selling your paintings, the finished painting has to be impressive.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: This doesn't add anything to the existing answers, and is very superficial. The 'best' brand doesn't automatically give you 'perfect texture' or  'incredible results', that's what technique, skill, experience, adaptability, etc. are for. And these 'various factors' should be kept in mind, but can you expand on *how* that is important? And what are you trying to achieve with the last sentence? It is completely random and subjective.  

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