How I use CELLULOSE watercolor paper (cheap but good!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today I want to share how I use my "cheap" paper - the non-cotton stuff. Cellulose vs. cotton watercolor paper is a hot topic especially for beginners, but just because something is cheap doesn't make it bad. I'll show you some ways I like to use it and hopefully provide some inspiration so you pick up that pad of neglected paper and do something fun with it!
My other video about watercolor papers ➤ • Geeking out about WATE...
00:00 Does paper type matter?
01:50 Cellulose vs cotton watercolor paper
03:09 Challenges of using cellulose paper
05:23 Positives of cellulose paper
07:15 Practice techniques
08:29 Salt
09:25 Fast drying
10:34 Final results & thoughts
--------------------------------------------
Other stuff...
Watch my Skillshare classes ➤ bit.ly/sbskillclasses
Buy Originals, Prints, Books & Calendars ➤ bit.ly/sbbookshop
Newsletter ➤ bit.ly/sbstudionews
➤ My Supply List: bit.ly/SBfavesupplies
➤ Tutorials & Blog: bit.ly/sbpaintingclasses
➤ Patreon: bit.ly/sburnspatreon
➤ Website: bit.ly/sburnsweb - บันเทิง
I really liked this tutorial. I have a “ton” of paper that I didn’t know how to use until you showed me this. I threw them in the storage because they were so frustrating. I can’t afford to buy the really good 100% cotton anymore. Now that I understand why I was so frustrated, I will give that paper another chance. The watercolor teachers I have taken lessons from in the past wouldn’t even discuss papers like this and how to use them. Not a ding, just that they have a particular style that requires the 100% cotton paper! I am too soon old and too late smart. I didn’t get to go to art school just took a class here and there so I have gaping holes in my art knowledge. And a few pinnacles of achievement 😘 Thank you again, Sarah!
Many artists would never look back once they have tried the "nice" stuff - which I totally understand. I sometimes wondered why I would still use cellulose until I really started paying attention to the difference. As I discussed in the video they are so different and can be used in different ways for really interesting results! Keep playing :)
Using these papers with gouache paints is another good use of these less expensive papers too.
I use my "cheap" cellulose paper to bind my own sketchbooks. Even though I don't like the paper on its own, that's a way to trick myself into enjoying it more. All the time and effort I put into making a sketchbook makes me appreciate it more. I feel so proud of myself that I automatically want to use it! It feels special every time I paint in it, because I made it!
My favorite paper for practice or swatching is Canson Aquarelle 60% cotton. It performs almost as well as 100% cotton, but it's cheaper.
Great tip!
I have repeatedly heard good things about this paper honestly!
Great use of the cheaper paper…and a treasure to keep since you made it yourself!
How is light fastness with this paper?
@@midgediener3461it’s acid free so it’s fine. Lightfastness has to do with pigment. Use lightfast pigments if that matters to you.
I took a course in painting semi abstract water colour landscapes. It took me a while to realize that the teacher used cellulose paper, not cotton.
It made a huge difference for me to dig out some cellulose paper from my stash. I did use the same paint and colours as the teacher, and could not for the life of me lift it off the paper like she did (I have never used lifting as anything but a way to remove accidental splatter and things like that before).
Cellulose.... no problem at all. So yea, it is good for something. XD
There is not one painting that I haven't loved of yours. Thank you kindly for all of your wonderful inspiration!
That's so nice, thank you!
What a brilliant video! I’ve never seen a professional artist show us how to use cellulose paper, focus on the pros rather than just the cons.
May I ask, how long did this landscape take you to paint? It’s exquisite. I am blown away, especially because it seemed to be so effortless and quick. I am too perfectionistic still with watercolours so that would have taken me days to do. :/
It took Sarah literal years to do that painting.
@bluewren65 LOL, right? ...after many, many years of practice and study, it only takes about 30 minutes.
That’s like saying it took me years to read a book even though I read it in 1.5 days. Yes, I learnt to read as a kid, and years of reading have made me into a quick reader, but it didn’t take me years to read the book. Or that it took me years to record a jingle for an advert, when in fact it took me 20 minutes. The reason I asked is because it’s never clear with edits how long a piece takes from start to finish. Was it 45 minutes, or 4 hours with 3 tea breaks and a walk, or altogether 2 hours of painting spread out over a week? I have focussed on detailed realistic oil paintings in the last few years. I’m new-ish to watercolour, and it’s a big adjustment from oil, so I’m curious to learn about these things from people proficient in their mediums. 🤷♀️
I like the Pentalic Aqua journals. No cotton but a really nice sketchbook! I use almost 100% cellulose journals for gouache, since the medium uses less water they are perfect.
The beauty of gouache is that you can do it on less expensive varieties of paper!
I absolutely adore the cellulose paper from Hahnemühle, their watercolor book is inexpensive and it's probably my favorite. Very, very nice quality, I can absolutely recommend it to everyone. Another two papers are like - although they are for sketching, but watercolour experiments are nice on them as well, are Hahnemühle Nostalgie and Stilman&Birn Alpha paper. Really good stuff.
Hahnemuhle gets a plus one from me too! I like it!
Thanks for the tip re Hahnemuhle. I'm exploring acrylic inks at the moment and it does all sorts of weird stuff depending on the paper.
Which Hahnemuhle cellulose paper are you referring to? I just went to Jackson's to take a look and there are lots of different watercolour papers, but none of them, besides the bamboo paper, say what the composition is re fibres.
@@bluewren65 Not sure if I can give links here, but on Jacksons it's called "HAHNEMUHLE : WATERCOLOUR BOOK : 200GSM : 30 SHEETS : A4", the specs are there as well. To be honest I did not try acrylic inks on it but I've tried watercolours and gouache and both worked very well. The other paper is "HAHNEMUHLE : NOSTALGIE SKETCH PADS : 190GSM : NATURAL WHITE", they come as pads or sketchbooks. It's a very smooth, nice paper. Normally for mixed media but wet media is surprisingly fun as well depending on your technique.
@@k.b.1996 Thanks for the reply. I figured it out. It seems what they call Akademie paper is cellulose, which is what is in the Watercolour book. I'm still confused about the rest though. I don't know why they wouldn't state upfront what the paper is made of. Most other brands have it written right on the cover. Even the description on the Jackson's website doesn't state the make up of the Hahnemuhle papers. Seems just weird to me.
I've only been painting a few years, but in the beginning was frustrated by the cellulose paper I was using. As I advanced, I began to understand and "make friends" with Fluid paper, creating some lovely textured pieces. While I'll still reach for cotton paper 85% of the time, I appreciate the challenges that face me with the other 15%. Excellent tutorial on the paper, Sarah, and gorgeous painting too! These types of landscapes are my nemesis! :) Fanna
As you were painting the green hillside and saying, "the paint sits on top of the paper", I was thinking "yeah, and look at those fabulous graphic marks!!". It all comes back to what you are trying to achieve. Sometimes working with a material that "fights" you forces you to come up with your own solutions which helps you to develop a language of your own. I'm currently experimenting with acrylic inks. The brand I have does some really interesting things with separation of colour mixes when you use a ton of water. It's a property of the medium that I don't see many people exploiting but that has fabulous potential. I'm currently trying all sorts of paper in exploring just how acrylic ink moves and behaves. I think black and white thinking about "what is best" can block opportunities for discovery.
Your video is great, because it finally made me realize why I didn't get all the hype around cotton paper before. I was painting on cellulose just fine, even often using non-watercolor papers for that purpose, but it always struck me as odd that many watercolor artists talked about cellulose paper as if it's unusable.
I paint on pretty small formats, I don't like using a lot of water in my watercolor art, also I layer watercolors the same way I do with markers, so the fast drying is a big pro for me. It's definitely a more graphic and illustrative approach, as you mentioned. But i for sure want to try cotton more someday, bc experimenting with technique is always fun.
Thank you so much for this! I've used a little 5x5 cellulose sketchbook I bought at Temu for cheap and I really like it. Small, convenient, inexpensive. I've also learned how to make my own single signiture sketchbook with 16 pages out of the Strathmore Travel Pad paper. I'm pretty stoked about that too.
Oh 😃 yay! Sarah I used Canson XL Watercolor & the Canson XL Multi Media Wirebound Sketchbook papers for 4 years now, although I did start using 100% cotton watercolor papers (Strathmore 500 Series, Hahnemuhle, & Arches) about a year ago. I started with the pulp papers as a beginner because I wasn’t sure if I would like doing watercolor, then went to the multi media papers for learning gouache a year ago. I was using graphite pencils, with ink & wash before making the leap to watercolor & gouache. Definitely each type of paper does have its benefits & challenges depending upon how I want to use it. Thanks for sharing this informational video with us! 🥰
Yea, and cellulose paper is so affordable that most people start with it (myself included). And although there are some hard limitations, it does help to do a lot of experimenting to find ways to make it work for us!
This video is so timely, it's almost spooky. I recently decided to finish all my sketchbooks regardless of how much I dislike the paper. I grabbed my least favorite and finished it (hurray). Now I'm working on another. I'm a beginner at watercolor and struggle with the cellulose paper. I finally approached it with a different attitude: learn what the paper can and cannot do. I also remind myself that artists I admire (like you) create beautiful paintings on this same paper. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Yes, I'm new too and had trouble with the cellulose... so I got some expensive paper but didn't want to use my cheap paints on them... then I got some nice paints and realized I'm not good enough for them because I haven't practiced enough! 😂 In the end, I picked up a huge book of mixed media paper and keep it out with my set of "Doodle Hog" watercolors. (They cost almost half the price of an empty tin, and the paints are okay) It's always handy, so I can splash around and play with whatever idea strikes my fancy. It's great for making me work fast and loose and learning water control. I've also learned to identify my pants by their color because 'warm field' and 'lucky penny' aren't the usual names. Cheers and good luck. ❤
It’s nice to hear another mindset about paper.
I experimented a lot initially & here are some of my finds: I absolutely love Clayboard or aqua board. It is absolutely the best to work on. Very forgiving, you can layer to your heart content and great to learn on since you can basically redo. The only drawback is its cost. I retain this for the smallest works since I work only very large 30 x 40” or very small -
6” x 6”. Another option is using watercolor ground on any surface - panel, board, or watercolor paper. Yupo or drafting Mylar is a lot of fun. I did a whole series on that but have moved on.
Currently I am enjoying watercolor canvas. Its drawback is it does not do well with anything more than two layers. I am experimenting with enhancing the canvas with a choice of watercolor grounds and then adding touches in other media.
I have the LEAST experience in plain watercolor paper.
Oddly enough I'm just playing around with my favourite cellulose paper -Hahnemuhle 200lb Aquarell-using granulating pigments that lift really well off it just to see what happens.Sploshing on big unruly wet in wet washes then carving out /tidying up with synthetic brushes yields some great results when my good paper just won't do this. It ends up tired and overworked but the cellulose paper works well at this. Really good fun.
I love the demos in the middle part. They will help me with practice and give a really nice guide. And I am inspired!
I gave up on cellulose paper as quick as I could afford to, lol... and it had nothing to do with talent cause I still can't really justify needing 100% cotton. You've made me reconsider. Your demonstration was beautiful and inspiring.
I used van gogh paper in the past that didn't work for me but I still use it for swatching etc until I finish the block. I recently discovered winsor&newton aquarelle paper, also 100% cellulose ,and it works really well for me. So that is a keeper for me!
Great to know!
I enjoy using Hahnemühle's cellulose paper for abstracts. I actually induce the dreaded cabbage, let it dry, and add layers of color and then layers of detailing. Great stress reliever.
I have been using cotton paper exclusively for quite a while, but recently took a class in which we practiced certain strokes and techniques repeatedly. I didn’t want to use cotton paper to practice so pulled out a large pad of canson watercolor paper 140 lb. I really liked the way the pigment dried on this paper, showing layers and granulation beautifully, but I wasn’t laying down large washes… I started using this canson more like you said, to use it up, but also to see again what it can do!
Interesting. Normaly we hear "drop celulose paper, ONLY 100% COTTON WILL WORK FOR WATERCOLOR!". Your take is quite refreshing, I'm so happy you don't just dis on celulose. Lol, you've no idea how happy this video made me :D I'd like to hear more from you on the subject, it's so fascinating, this new aproach (for me at least).
This is my first time on your channel. Your art is beautiful. You are a wonderful teacher, too!!!
I love practicing on cheaper paper, and I appreciate the quicker drying time with sketches, but this video has given me some food for thought about trying some more stormy sky techniques on cellulose paper! I did a couple stormy paintings on cellulose but I wasn’t thinking about it exactly how you described. Very inspiring and encouraging! 😊
I love this video as most people can use cellulose paper with enjoyment given that there are so many kinds of watercolor painting, including abstract works. You have given extremely valuable information about how to use it most effectively! It would be a terrible tragedy if people with limits on income didn’t paint just because artists prefer cotton paper. Creativity can emerge with any supplies and maybe that is a way to strengthen the ability to rely on inner resources rather than strict rules. THANK YOU!!!
That painting is beautiful! I liked that you showed a different size of paper.
I love your landscape painting so beautiful, I have never seen a large long paper that size in a pad before, I normally when I want to paint a large piece, I intend to order large sheets of Fabriano Artistico 640gsm. I find it a delight to paint on, it feels like painting on a thick cloth. I fully recommend it! Thank you for sharing, your art is very inspirational.
I've used the Fluid paper for gouache-appreciating the odd sizes they make. Also use cellulose mix for oil pastels, And bookmarks, mixed media, where the base layer isn't a vital visual part.
This vid did open my eyes to revisit the lesser papers for watercolor. Thank you😊
I discovered Fluid 6 months ago and have not looked back. I love the HP pads.
I have tuned in to your videos for some time and have always learned something. The variety of your subject matter shows your skills, as well your ability to communicate. It was helpful to hear about “cheaper paper” and how to utilize it. Although I am not as accomplished as you, I know enough to be prejudicial, and stingy, when it comes to cotton paper. Thank you for your hard work, keeping yourself and your painting out there. Larry Misiak, Houston, TX.
I learned watercolor using Strathmore pulp paper and Winsor Newton Cotman paints. I used these for about 2 years and then upgraded to cotton paper and professional level paint. However, I've thrifted quite a bit of artist papers from estate sales, garage sales, etc. I'm on a mission to use all these old papers and have a pad of Strathmore paper and I actually like it for the reasons you stated. I also used my pulp cellulose paper to make Christmas cards this year. I'm on a no buy hold too until in use up what I have. Thank you for all your videos! Bockingford is a nice paper pulp paper too.
Fluid is probably 1 of my faves tbh. I also like the Canson XL for just basic testing of colors and marks. You can make pamphlet style books for your practice before going to your nice paper. Strathmore series 300 is kind of surprising and I prefer this instead of the 400. Fabriano, I struggle tremendously with the hot press but the cold press is a bit more workable. The more I practice the easier the paper is to work with. It’s all about the practice anyway so I might as well use it all up. Loved the tutorial.
Very informative tips, Sarah! I see students struggling with cheaper paper all the time so will direct them to watch this video. I’ve seen this paper in the art store and wondered what it’s like to paint on. Sounds quite similar to the Fabriano FatPad that I use for ink and watercolour sketching which is really a cheaper hotpress version of the expensive Fabriano hotpress. It’s taken me a while to get used to but now I love it (plus it’s coil bound). You could do a whole series of videos showing the difference between the better paper and the cheaper ones and how to adjust techniques to suit each.
AND this is such helpful advice. I have some Canson paper that I basically use to doodle. Now I want to go try some of these techniques. Woo hoo!!!
Hi Sarah. You gave me a new perspective on using my cheap paper. Thank you 🙏
Cellulose paper is good, just for different reasons than cotton. It's two totally different approaches between the two.
Once you walk in with that mindset, you're golden
Sarah - once again you are full of helpful tips and tricks and your paintings are always beautiful, no matter what paper you use. You inspire me every time I watch one of your videos. I appreciate you SO much.
Though it's sketchbook paper, rather than sheets, I love Stillman & Birn Alpha paper. It shows off granulation really well, which I love. And of course, for a cheap cotton paper sketchbook, I love my Khadi. Happy New Year to you, Sarah. Thanks for all the lovely videos you create for us.
I too love the S&B (especially the nova paper for gouache / sketching)
I've recently been playing more with the Alpha and Beta which are quite different and I'm on the fence!
@@SarahBurnsStudio Yes, right after commenting here, I watched your previous video where you discuss Nova & Alpha. I work small, often using Alpha for my comics. I've been playing with agallo paints on Alpha with one of their mop brushes.
Absolutely gorgeous painting. I love your work and down to earth personality.
Thank you for this video. It resonates with me since I have tons of different brands of watercolor paper. One of my favorite cellulose papers is Fluid. In fact I like it much better than the Fluid 100 cotton.
I do wish that I had started on cotton paper only because it is so forgiving and I find it easier to paint on. Certain paper like arches can be an adjustment because it is very dry and absorbs water at a different pace I think. Cellulose paper doesn’t offer as much fluidity of water, or spreading of color, and is much more difficult to correct mistakes. Sure it can be done but I think it comes with experience. But then again I was afraid to ruin my good paper with my amateurish painting. 😊 I wrote this before fully listening to your video, and I agree totally. I guess I repeated a lot of what you said I guess! I loved Bee paper and heard they were going out of business so I bought up 5 rolls. I used it a lot in the studio for tutorials. I will likely not get through it in my lifetime! But it is 25%cotton, a somewhat soft tooth.
Thank you so much for another encouraging tutorial! I really appreciate your work. You have been a part of my journey to get back into painting.
Hahnemühle came out with their 100% cotton watercolour sketchbooks a while back and I got myself one and I have to be honest… I much prefer their cellulose watercolour sketchbooks. I think it’s the texture tbh, the cellulose ones are smoother and as someone who loves hotpress, I much prefer it. And I don’t have any problems with it not being strong enough!
Omg. That is BEAUTIFUL!!! One of my favorites that you have created. Thank you!!!! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!!
Sarah, the landscape you painted in this video is absolutely stunning. 😍Thank you for all the videos you create and share. I have a lot of Canson XL watercolor paper and I've become so used to how it handles with watercolor that I really struggle when I try to use my Arches paper. It's so crazy!! Now I'm trying to learn how to use the 100% cotton paper again. 😄
I use Hahnnemule Britannia...amazing celulose paper, I love it
Sarah I loved this video. I have used fluid paper now two years. I started with fluid paper when I started watercolor. I found it wasn’t bad for cheaper paper. Like you I found I was able to make very moody skies. Also I found it to be really good as well for ink and wash. I been using the 100 percent cotton fluid paper and it works well. I think it’s a good affordable watercolor paper. I hope that Wolfie and you have the best Christmas. You can breathe now Sarah you got your visa and you live a magnificent artist life. Happy painting my friend and god bless ❤
I used Fluid so much when I lived in the US because it's in a lot of art stores and I think it's made there? Anyways, yea it's a great cheap option! Happy Christmas :)
You made that look so easy! It's gorgeous! Happy solstice!
Great class!!! thanks!
thank you for an honest upfront video
Very helpful and inspiring. Love that one you did Thank you
Wow, that is really helpful 👏👏
Thanks for sharing 🙏
Thanks for the encouragement. I have many “practice” pads that sit unused. I just get so frustrated with the results, hard not to blame my lack of skill. As you suggest, perhaps some spontaneity should be embraced.
thank you for such a informativ video - i will try this out !! and a wonderful painting you did there 😍 happy holidays to you and loved ones ❣
Thanks Sarah. You’ve been a wonderful inspiration for my art this year.
Thank you! So beautiful painting! I love it!
I appreciate your candor and relatability. Thank you.
I love the background mountains!!
I adore that size of paper!!!
Thank you so much for this video! I am so inspired to go paint now. I spent quite a lot of money on nice paints and brushes and haven't saved up for nice paper yet, so i just have cellulose paper. I was regretting my decision of what to spend more money on until i saw this video!
Beautiful painting and very helpful information. Thank you
Really beautiful painting thank you for sharing
Absolutely brilliant video. Thank you for using cellulose and help us through it. I am so grateful.
I am currently going through this exact "problem." Used to paint oils hobby-ish, but now need the more non-toxic and less expensive option of watercolors as I once again find time to dabble in hobby art. And until I can overcome the complete opposite thought process from oil to watercolor, I refuse to put a lot of money into papers, because I'd just ruin them. Keeping the whites of the paper is just ....rrrrg! So today I was just sitting down to a page that is already basically ruined and testing whether starting dryer and stronger then adding water to blend on the page, or pre-wet to start with and testing dabbing vs stroking, and also wet on dry, though so far that the least acceptable.
Anyway, thank you for giving us amateurs and stingy beginners some sense that it is worth continuing to give it a bash without feeling like we have to buy the spendy stuff. I also now understand why I can nearly identically copy a tutorial and have it turn out to be not at all as seen on videos.
oh Sarah that painting is just beautiful thank you so much for your videos love them all .hugs Beth
Thank you for explaining the pros and cons of cellulose and cotton papers. I just use what I have. I use Canson XL paper. I love this beautiful painting. I lived many, many years in Colorado. Your mountains make me homesick. Lol. I live in PA. We get 60 days of Sunshine a year. Lol. There is beauty everywhere. Happy Holidays! See you in 2024.
Merci beaucoup, très intéressant comme toujours 😀🙏🏻👏
This is fabulous! Your insight & information is spot on! Love the way you used your brush strokes WITH the paper by turning the paper. Total mind blown with your insight on salt. Will be trying that on my "cellulose" paper this week. Funny, one of my most favorite pieces I've done was done on horrid $5 shop paper that turned out to be more like a cellulose hot press cardstock. Ha! Love your finished piece (as usual) and yes, your styling in this paper comes across much more graphic, very very cool! Thanks and happy holidays!
That was informative, thanks so much!! I have all kinds of paper lying around here. Mostly cheap stuff, so it was nice to hear I don't have to give up on it. My budget is very limited at the moment, so I am often on Ebay and I do get to pick up some really good bargains sometimes on really good paper. A Merry Christmas to you and yours and I look forward to spending time with you in 2024! Take care, and cheers!
I really like your paintings, so colorful! This tutorial is very interisting. 😊
Thank you so much 😀
Ah what a wonderful video! Thanks for showing how the characteristics of cellulose paper can be turned to your advantage. I once was very frustrated trying to do a ‘dramatic’ sky in my cellulose paper sketchbook as it wouldn’t flow the way it would on cotton, but in the end it ended up pretty cool anyway because the visible brushstrokes seemed to add movement. (The only cellulose paper I’ve tried so far has been from Seawhite, their cold press pad and watercolour sketchbook, and I’ve enjoyed both.)
after watching this I’m excited to do more on my cellulose paper with a different mindset. Thanks! Hope you and your loved ones have a great holiday break☺
Excellent video! Thanks. My favorite cellulose paper is Arteza Expert (NOT Arteza Premium). I think Arteza also has a cotton paper they call Expert too, but the difference in price will be the first indication! Arteza Expert is also 2-sided, so very economical and offers good results much like the paper Sarah is using here.
What a beautiful landscpae paintings either on cellulose or cotton paper your watercolor paintings are always stunning
Thanks so much 😊
I have had amazing results with Fluid paper. I love my cotton papers but Fluid is really good.
Honestly so far Stillman and Birn sketchbooks have been the closest to cotton as far as most vibrant color pay off and easy to work with ! Even the thin Alpha paper gets along with me haha. And I have grown to like the Strathmore brown mixed media that comes in pads, I know their other mixed media journals have 100% cotton and I want to try those so much, but the mixed media paper is just a good thick sort of hot press that actually isn’t that bad at all! For when you want to do biiiig loose washes. Plus my main medium is not watercolor so mixed media paper is always a good thing
fantastic video, its so good
great vid, thanks.
I really enjoy using my cheap canson xl watercolour paper. It's affordable and low pressure here in Germany. And the drying time is so ture. Yes, cotton paper is nicer and handles water way better, but I'm just too impatient for it :D
I really like the Fluid brand of paper in their cellulose line. I have a lot fun with it.
thanks for this I don't really like the cheaper paper but I will try this
This was really interesting. That painting you did on the Fluid paper might actually be one of my favorite paintings of yours that I’ve seen. I love the texture (and the dimensions really work for that scene, too.) I follow an artist who actually seeks out wood-based cellulose paper with a hard external sizing, or will even add a supplemental sizing, just so the watercolor doesn’t soak in and the appearance of the brush strokes are retained, although that would drive a traditional watercolor artist crazy. From my own experience a good example of a paper like that would be Fabriano Studio hot press, which to me feels almost like it has a closed surface and really resists water. I recently learned something about cellulose paper when reading about printmaking paper, and you may very well already know this, since I know you were really simplifying your discussion of paper. First (as I did already know) cotton paper is cellulose too. Cotton is actually a much more pure source of cellulose than is wood. I know “cellulose” is always kind of short hand for wood-based cellulose, but they’re both cellulose. The thing that was new to me is the difference between “alpha cellulose” and “high alpha cellulose.” Apparently (and I am totally summarizing and no doubt forgetting detail and this can get very complicated and scientific) high alpha cellulose has longer fibers and is more archival than alpha cellulose. There are wood-based papers made from high alpha cellulose which are stronger and more archival than are other acid-free wood-based paper. So far I have only run into printmaking papers with high alpha cellulose. I don’t think most papers specify and I only found the info on a specialty site comparing printmaking papers (which of course have to withstand the printing process including, at times, a water bath.) I am curious if there are any wood-based watercolor papers with high alpha cellulose.
Well I searched “high alpha cellulose watercolor paper” and as it happens, one of the first results was a listing for Fluid hot press watercolor paper, on the website of Texas Art Supply. It says, “Our High Alpha Cellulose Pulp assures a premium paper for the artists at an affordable price.” I have read that high alpha cellulose has the same longevity as cotton. I had never heard of the Fluid brand until your video.
Thank you! I had indeed read about the different fibers, and am totally fascinated by the science of paper making - it's incredible how varied it is from fiber to fiber, brand to brand, sizing to sizing...I feel like someone could get a PhD in paper 😂
Bockingford paper is described as 100% high alpha cellulose bleached chemical pulp buffered with calcium carbonate, and is acid-free and archival. I use this for my cheaper experimental paper
I love landscape pads like that, I bought a block that size during a Black Friday sale a year ago, but haven’t used it as much as I’d like. The main reason? I struggle with cellulose paper and need to practice more with it, in order to use it to my advantage. I tend to use my cellulose pads for swatches and practice, but I’d like to use the big block for something “nice”. I think your tips will be helpful. I switched to cotton paper very early in my watercolour “days” because it was just so much easier for me to use. However, I am rather hesitant to use some of my Arches paper for playing around.
Great video. How do you avoid the cellulose paper warping as soon as it is wet?
I had some Strathmore WC postcards when I was a beginner, and I didn’t know why I couldn’t get my colors to be strong, even with layering. It was like the paper soaked the pigments into a lower layer. I thought it was my fault the colors were dull. Frustration!
Now that I have experienced how well-sized (cotton) paper yields so much more color intensity, by keeping pigments more on top of the paper, I know that a certain amount of sizing in/on paper works best for me. Result: less frustration and more enjoyment.
Your message in this video is very worthwhile, because it’s good to understand our supplies before spending top dollar on everything. For me, cellulose can work for putting a lot of pigment down in one layer, using little water, and cotton can handle any number of juicy, light or heavy layers if it’s sized well. But every paper is different, so it could be totally different for someone else with a different brand! It’s interesting to read everyone’s comments!
Bockingford 425gsm is great. Plus if anyone can be bothered - stretching cellulose papear makes it behave much better 😊
Hmm interesting, I wonder what the stretching does
I really like Bockingford. Strathmore 400 is also pretty decent.
I rarely use cotton paper but always habe soem Arches for "special things". But I think I should explore the potentientials in the paper more. Because I do feel the limits of cellulose sometimes. My go to right now is the Canson Montval, but I used to use Hanhemuhle when I coukd get it. My goal rhus year is to break out my fabriano cotton sketchbook that I've had stashed away for years. Gotta use those "special" supplies too. Thanks for the video!
thank you
I really enjoyed this video. My son gave me some large pads of cellulose paper , 300gsm, for mother's Day and was wondering if this paper would also be good using gouache with it
Love your wide panorama's. Fabriano do a 25% cotton called "water colour studio" that is quite good and priced somewhere between 100 %cotton paper and wood pulp. Comes in hot press which is nice. Their 100% cotton artistico is still my fav.
There is also paper for watercolor made from Agave, Spanish grass and Bamboo
Wild!
For those looking for cheap 100% cotton paper, you can get a big 10 meter roll of baohong 100% cotton for 40 usd or so
Happy Holidays! 😘🌲☃🎄🎆
I love cotton paper, but I have a wacky love for painting on Midori MD notebook paper and Stillman and Birn Zeta because the paint dries in this very bold graphic way. I usually just work in layers and wait for them to dry and both papers hold up for about 3-4 layers ... but I don't think too much about lifting, blending on the page, scrubbing, etc. Also I avoid large flat washes and embrace cauliflowering
Sounds like a great way to approach it, embrace the "quirks" of the paper
Your instructions were solid. I think cellulose paper can handle tiny small areas of smooth blending, but when you go big just forget about having a large smooth blend... Save yourself the heartache and accept it as a style that comes with using a cellulose paper. Seriously! 😂
Do you find a difference between cotton paper and cellulose paper when using gouache?
Beautiful painting! How do you feel about using cellulose paper for gouache?
It's wonderful, I've shared in the past I use cellulose paper most often with gouache
Sometimes I feel like a fool because I still use cellulose paper after all these years, when everyone and their dog only uses 100% cotton (and it's almost always Arches). I admit there are some things I enjoy doing on cotton paper that could never work on cellulose. But I've also experienced some issues that I've never had with cellulose (specifically on Arches, the tiny white flecks where the paper resists paint). It was quite a shock to see how far my paint spreads wet into wet, sometimes I completely lose my shapes 😅 And when I use colored pencils on top of watercolor, I find that the cotton is too rough on them. It just eats through the tips so I have to sharpen them way more often.
Unless I want to create large areas of uniform color or very even gradients, I prefer cellulose or a 25/75 blend.
Yep, they each have really specific pros and cons. I think it's most important to find what works for our individual process
Enjoyed the video but want to point out that better terminology would be wood pulp vs cotton. Both are mostly cellulose. In fact wood pulp is typically in the 80% to 90% range and cotton linters are usually over 93% cellulose.
I have to ask something Sarah, since you also use gouache. Do you use gouache on cellulose?
I feel that the more opaque ways of painting (like gouache, or even using more of the watercolor paint) can limit the unpredictable way cellulose dry but I'm inexperienced to tell if it does.
The challenge for me using cellulose paper with my watercolor is that it doesn’t glaze well. With cellulose paper the previous layer lifts up when adding the second glaze. It’s very frustrating and you just can’t continue. I’ve had to finish my paintings when only partially finished because I cannot glaze. I do not use cellulose for any of my paintings and I don’t buy it anymore. I use what I have for small projects like Christmas tags and cards etc.
If I painted with gouache I think I could make it work, but I don’t and with watercolor it just is a nightmare.
What weight was this paper? It doesnt appear that it wrinkled at all!
It's 300gsm..It does buckle a tiny bit but can easily be flattened