Watercolors &Papers

May '21 Rabbits3

Hello everyone,
I've been scrapbooking for over 20 years (and still love it), but have been trying some new things lately like... painting with watercolors. I have lots to learn! Can anyone recommend watercolor paints to me (pan or in the tubes) and also watercolor paper that are reasonably priced?? Thanks. Have a great weekend.
Vickie
May '21 Eapipkin

Don't know much about using watercolors but you can get watercolor paper at Walmart for a reasonable price in a pad of about 50 sheets. Also, Hobby Lobby carries nice watercolor paper. I have used my Tim Holtz distress ink pads in a watercolor fashion. I tap the color I want to use on my craft sheet, spritz with water, and then use a paint brush to apply it! So, if you have any TH products give it a try!
May '21 Lisn2cats

Also depends on the "look" you're going for - cold press watercolor paper is what most people like/used to - it's textured, holds the paint well and you can blend colors a little more easily. Hot press has a smooth finish. I buy the big pads from any craft store that has a coupon I can use LOL. I get the big pads because then I can cut the paper down to the size I want (12 x12, 5x7, etc.) and trim off the edges (my edges are always a mess because of the tape not wanting to let go). Also go for the 140# - I think it's more versatile and you don't end up with a project weighing a bazillion pounds or breaks your trimmer.

I am soooo not a painter (but I want to be!) so I bought a cheap palette (Crayola) just to figure out strokes and color washing and that good stuff. Then I went for something a little more decent - but affordable, Arteza. I also splurged and bought the metallic Finetec set because I love how easy they are to splatter and shimmer (yum!). My friend likes the Hobby Brand (and he does "real" painting). - I have the Derwent tubes, which I like a lot and they're very affordable. One type of watercolor that turned out - for me - to be a waste of money are the watercolor brush pens. It's a pain to try and mix colors and they're just not worth it (IMHO).

FYI, pan paints will last longer than the tube paints (in terms of you'll use up the tubes more quickly) BUT the tube paints are easier to play with and blend colors and use on a bigger surface. Pans are also less messy in some ways (or maybe I'm just messy with tubes because I forget to cap them then squish them). Someday I hope my talent catches up with my empty wallet!

I love using my inks like @eapipkin too but it does give you a slightly different look than watercolor-watercolor. And if you use the Oxides, it'll dry more opaque and a little chalky than what you think of when you think of watercolor painting. Too bad @Groovy Deborah isn't here - I think she does a lot of areal artist-quality water-coloring. Can't wait to see what you create!
Jun '21 Rabbits3

Thank you Eapipkin & Lisn2cats for your wonderful advice! I do have some Prima watercolor paper and some Tim Holtz watercolor paper, but would like to give something else a try! Good paper and good watercolor paints are pricey but I'm NO professional (yet)...haha, so I'll use what I have for now. I thought watercolor painting would be easy, but I have so much to learn. Thanks again.
Jun '21 Lisn2cats

@rabbits3 I learned something new ... even if you're a newbie, go for cotton paper. I can't remember the details but something about the “regular” watercolor paper is made of cellulose (?). I just put in an order with Amazon - it was a little bit of splurge but, according to the article I was reading, I won't be so discouraged when following along tutorials (it's like the author was in my head!).
Nov '21 Rabbits3

Thanks Lisn2cats. I haven't been doing much with watercolors lately but plan to pick it up again soon when I have a little more time...winter is coming! Yes, I have heard of the cotton paper, I will check it out on Amazon...thanks a bunch, Vickie
May '22 Annieclover24

What i like about these watercolours is the variety. https://www.craftyhangouts.com/best-watercolor-paints/
For every bright there is the coresponding muted shade. Lovely for painting skin tones, with high lights and low lights that are reflected in a complexion. Also, every colour of the spectrum has its warm, cool and neutral. This is time saving for artists and an absolute must if colour mixing is not your best skill. Talking of mixing though, i doubt if there is any hue not mixable even if the set lacks it. Only thing im not 100% with is, when left, it does flake but its not a huge problem and rehydrates easy enough. The quality is overall good. I dont find pigment separates unduly; itmakes a good wash as well as paints well doing small detail. Its a good all-rounder and for the price, cant be beaten. Honestly? Every student and professional could use these.
May '22 Njr007

I am not a big artist, and mostly used my distress inks for the watercolor effect but I have found that good paper is the key even when using the less expensive watercolor mediums. The Walmart paper is terrible and will never give you good results which can be discouraging. Once I change to better paper I was much happier playing with my watercolors
May '22 Scrapmomof4

I love stamping images with black staz on ink and coloring it in with watercolors. Definitely good watercolor paper is worth the extra money. .