Arches Watercolor Block, Cold Press 10X14

Shipped quick! Good price and the best paper I have found for watercolors.

This is the only paper Ive ever used. My mother owns this exact same product and when she let me use her block to start taking classes, my paper barely warped at all, even when I had it totally wet. This block warps very easily, and the paper stays warped. Doing washes doesnt work well because the paint settles into the 3 big wrinkles I get, even when I dont have the paper very wet. I am hoping that this particular block is just a fluke because as I said, the other one I used did not have this issue. The other possibility is that with her block being quite a bit older that they have changed the overall quality of the paper and its not as well made. Either way Im very disappointed as this is the only brand of paper that my teacher will allow us to use, and I have to tack the paper down very tightly to a board instead of just using the block.

My 8 year old daughter uses this in her art class. The sheets hold up well to the watercolors and have no discoloration. They also hold up to her using a blow dryer on it after class.

This pad was a little smaller than I wanted, but the quality is great.

good paper

Already working on the second sheet, 140 pound cold press is my default, raised on this paper, its like blue jeans.

Recently I began using Derwents Inktense pencils. You activate them with water and they change into the most intense ink colors. I used to work with paint instead of pencils. I had always preferred Arches ROUGH version when I worked in paint. Changing to the Inktense Pencils changed that preference. They do not like the rough version. So I bought one block in the cold press (this one) and another in the hot press. So far, out of the three, this one emerges as the winner. When the pencils are activated by water, they bloom nicely and the work becomes a very vivid watercolor. I had less success with the hot press. The colors do not bloom and run at all. They stay exactly where you put them when you activate them with water. The colors simply become vivid. I like the way watercolor blurs and blooms--all the distinctive markings we associate with watercolor. In sum, this paper is the best choice if you switch to water soluble pencils instead of paint. I never even considered switching from Arches watercolor block to another product. Ive used it for decades and it is the best. I had to switch from paint to pencils because of health problems with mobility (age 68). I am next going to try water soluble oil pastels on the paper. I am expecting this one will also be the winner but I could be wrong. The key thing to remember is that the materials you choose as your paint will affect the paper choice. If you switched painting materials, like I did, there seems little choice but to try all three types, just like I did.

Want to learn watercolor? Buy this paper! Dont waste your money on cheap paper, you will not be able to learn technique on paper that doesnt do what it is supposed to: blend, bleed, lift pigment easily without piling. Arches is by far the best Ive used, it stays workable longer and holds up to layers/passes of water and color better than others.

I mistakenly criticized this product just a few minutes ago regarding buckling which occurred because I removed the first two sheets from the block before painting, pre stretching the second sheet after having trouble with first. However I’m not thrilled about trying to paint on a pile sheets stuck together

Great quality paper for water coloring.