Watercolor pencils are a fantastic and unique medium giving the artist both a drawing and painting medium all in one. They draw much like colored pencils yet behave like watercolor paint when water is added. This is because the binder used in watercolor pencils is water soluble unlike the waxy or oil based binder used in traditional colored pencils.
So the best paper for watercolor pencils is, you guessed it, watercolor paper. You need a paper that will be strong enough to handle the water. Thinner papers or papers not made for watercolor will buckle or even tear.
Below are some very popular high quality watercolor papers that you can use with your watercolor pencils. I listed both artist and student grade to fit any budget. These papers are available through Dick Blick Art Materials of which I am an affiliate. This means I make a small commission should you purchase via the links below. Your support helps me pay the website bills. Thanks!
I listed specific products from each line below. If you desire something different, you can simply shop for your preferred paper when reaching the Dick Blick site as they have a wide selection. Happy paper shopping fellow artist!
Paper for Watercolor Pencils
Artist Grade Papers
Arches Bright White Watercolor Paper
Cold Press, Pkg of 5, 22″ × 30″, 140 lb (300 gsm)
Mouldmade without optical brighteners or bleaches. Has two deckle edges, 2 waterline edges, and a watermark. Same durability and strength as Natural White Sheet, and pulp is brighter to show colors more intensely from surface.
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Arches Natural White Watercolor Paper
Cold Press, 5 Pack – 22″ × 30″ – 140lb
Arches papers are probably the best paper for watercolor pencils, but they aren’t just for watercolors. Use them also for drawing, calligraphy, gouache, printmaking, acrylics, and even digital printing. Manufactured from pure cotton fiber, they are so durable they will remain vibrant for centuries stored properly.
Many artists say they choose Arches because working on an inferior surface just isn’t worth the effort. And no other watercolor paper provides such a huge selection of sizes, surfaces, and formats for creative expression.
This paper is the original Arches, sometimes known as Natural White. The choice of leading watercolorists all over the world, Arches is the product of five centuries of papermaking experience. You can rely on Arches to always be consistent.
Arches watercolor papers are mouldmade in France, with 100% cotton fiber content. They are acid-free, pH-neutral, gelatin-sized, and air-dried. Sheets have two natural deckle edges, two torn deckle edges, and are watermarked and embossed. The 16″ × 20″ sheets have four deckle edges. See the Item Specs tab for gsm equivalent weights.
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Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Blocks
See your paintings in a new light with this extra white paper. Created without the addition of optical brighteners. Available in rough grain, hot, and cold press blocks. Paper weight is 140 lb (300 gsm). 20 sheets per block.
This stunning paper delivers the purest bright white available without the use of optical brighteners or bleaches. Fabriano’s Artistico papers are mould-made of 100% cotton and are acid-free/pH neutral and chlorine-free.
Artistico is the only paper that offers a “soft press” sheet, a luxurious texture that falls between hot press and cold press. Papers are luxurious yet durable and can handle lifting and scraping without compromising their integrity.
Papers are synthetically sized both internally and externally so that no animal by-products are used. Suitable for all water media, printmaking, digital printing, charcoal, pastel, and other drawing applications.
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Arches Watercolor Blocks
Hot Press Block, 15 Sheets, 14″ × 20″, 140 lb (300 gsm)
Arches papers aren’t just for watercolors. Also Use them also for drawing, calligraphy, gouache, printmaking, acrylics, and even digital printing. Manufactured from pure cotton fiber, they are so durable that they will remain beautiful and vibrant for centuries without conservation, if stored and handled properly.
Many artists say they choose Arches because working on an inferior surface just isn’t worth the effort. And no other watercolor paper provides such a huge selection of sizes, surfaces, and formats for creative expression.
Arches is the product of five centuries of papermaking experience. Arches watercolor papers are mouldmade in France, with 100% cotton fiber content. They are acid-free, pH-neutral, gelatin-sized, and air-dried. You can rely on Arches to always be consistent.
Arches Watercolor Blocks contain natural white, mouldmade watercolor paper that is cut and glued in convenient blocks. Sheets are 140 lb (300 gsm) weight, with 20 sheets per block. Several sizes of Cold Press blocks are also available in a 10 sheet, 300 lb (640 gsm) variety.
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Student Grade Watercolor Paper
Blick Student Watercolor Paper
Sheet, 15″ × 22″, 90 lb
Machine-made in the USA of 30% post-consumer waste fiber, 100% of the electricity used to manufacture it is offset with certified windpower certificates.
A lightweight but sturdy sheet perfect for students, Blick Student Watercolor Paper is a textured, white, acid-free paper created for both quality and value. Additional sizing makes it perfect for watercolor applications, but it’s also suitable for drawing techniques and erasing.
Blick Student Watercolor Paper is archival and pH-neutral. It is not recommended for stretching.
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Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Paper
Sheet, 22″ × 30″, 140 lb (300 gsm)
Strathmore Artist Papers has been manufacturing watercolor papers for more than 70 years. Boasting one of the broadest ranges of watercolor papers of any manufacturer, artists are sure to find a paper that is suited to their level of expertise and technique within the Strathmore product range.
All Strathmore watercolor papers are made with watercolor felts, giving each paper a traditional watercolor paper look and feel. All are acid-free to ensure longevity, and made using natural and synthetic sizing, in keeping with Strathmore’s strong environmental stance.
A Cold Press professional surface for intermediate and advanced watercolor students. Acid-free. 140 lb (300 gsm) weight.
Deckle is on the 15″ side of the 15″ × 22″ sheets and on the 30″ side of the 22″ × 30″ sheets.
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Canson Montval Watercolor Paper Rolls
48″ × 5 yd, 140 lb (300 gsm)
Canson Foundation Montval Watercolor Paper Rolls are great for creating artworks large or small without being restricted by a particular paper size. Use them for finished artwork, or for practicing and perfecting techniques. A French-made, acid-free watercolor paper, Montval is ideal for heavy watercolor and acrylic work, plus dry and mixed media. The mouldmade paper is internally and externally sized for durability. 140 lb (300 gsm).
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I hope you found this post on what is the best watercolor paper for watercolor pencils a helpful resource.
Hi can you help me I’m trying to find a watercolour paper that is good for watercolour pencils i have arteza watercolour pencils but are struggling to find a paper that is good for the watercolour pencils I’m using you are saying archers is good also heard winston and newton is good and strathmore watercolour cold press