Paper weight - what’s the deal?!
So, what’s the deal with describing paper in gsm or pounds? What does it mean? What type of paper do I need for watercolor or drawing or painting? How do I choose the best?
The “lb/gsm” on the front of your sketchpad is the weight of the paper. The weight of the paper is the most important factor in determining what you can do with your picture and what medium is best used.
For sketching - meaning, pencil or pen application without much erasing - 20 lb. copier paper is fine. Most sketching pads are 30 lb., which gives the paper a bit more heft for layering and some erasing. I recommend these pads for starting your drawing skills.
When I am working on a drawing, I now use 70 lb. paper. I am trying to perfect animals so that I have better results painting animals, and I will learn more about the drawing if I am able to fully erase my mistakes and begin again. I recently bought 9x12 drawing pads for this purpose. They are inexpensive, and erase nicely if I keep my pencil marks light.
In order to use wet media, such as watercolor, you need at least 90 lb. paper. This weight of paper will handle one or two light coats of paint (“washes”) that do not cover the entire paper.
If you want to use more water and watery paint, 140 lb. is the standard. At that weight, the paper will buckle. Many artists tape down or pin down their paper. Watercolor paper goes up to 300 lb. for watercolorists who use a lot of water in their painting, or prefer not to mount their paper.
There are many different papers out there, and the quality of 140 lb. varies. Even with the highest quality papers, it is subjective. Arches is the gold standard in watercolor paper, but not my personal favorite. Canson XL watercolor pads are a great starter pad for beginners to doodle and make marks, and explore their watercolor materials. If you purchase, go big! 9x12 at least. This will keep your brush strokes loose and keep you from feeling cramped on a small sheet.
These Legion Stonehenge Aqua Watercolor Blocks are the watercolor blocks I am currently using. I like the weight of the paper, that it’s in a block (for less buckling as it gets weight), and that it’s smooth enough to use my dip pen afterwards. But I’m still on the market – the granulation is too patterned for my taste.
December 2021 UPDATE: My new favorite! Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. cold press watercolor blocks. The paper is divine. I can move the paint and draw on it easily. Please treat yourself!
I will keep playing and let you know what I find out. In the meantime, I’m happy to think about how much I will learn after using up all of these materials.
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