The Cheapest Way to Use Expensive Paper
There have been a couple of discussion threads about watercolor paper, and in one I expressed my opinion that especially for beginners good quality 100% cotton paper is so important as you are trying to develop your skills as a beginner. Good cotton paper is so much more cooperative with a beginner's skills. But of course, the concern is the possible waste of good paper as a beginner. So I thought I would share with you the way I have found it more economical to use Arches 140# cold press or rough, which is my preferred paper. I went searching this morning on YouTube and was happy to find someone who breaks her paper down the same way as I do so there is no waste, and watching her will be so much better than my trying to explain. I noticed that there are others' videos who explain breaking their full sheets down, but some of them appear to cut it and I prefer tearing it because you get that lovely deckled edge which is so attractive.
Of course, if you are working outside, you might still prefer the watercolor blocks, which are pre-stretched and handy with their backing boards, but they are so expensive, especially with the Arches blocks. I've used blocks, but mostly I just tape my paper to a piece of gator board or foam core, etc., and take it with me when I go out to paint plein air. So I still can take advantage of the cheaper way to use good more expensive paper.
And another good thing about good 100% 140# cotton paper is that if you don't like what is happening on your paper, turn it over and paint on the other side! Also, did you know that if you use non-staining pigments, it is possible to take your paper to the sink and run water over it and wash off nearly all of the paint, let it dry flat, and use it again. Especially nice if you are practicing and don't intend this to be your masterpiece! But of course, sometimes that's when some of our better paintings appear because we are more relaxed and allow ourselves to be more experimental. At least this works with Arches, but I have not tried it with other brands of paper like Fabriano. Of course, you can use the "tear down" method with other cotton papers as well.
I looked at Jackson's for those of you on the other side of the "pond" and was personally dismayed to find that Jackson's has a better deal on 22x30 sheets of Arches than I can find here in the US! Too bad Jackson's does not ship here with free shipping. 😊
Hope some of you find the video helpful!
In regards to getting supplies from Jackson's, I have found that even with their shipping costs, they can undercut the US prices. I love the variety of products as well, so if I'm patient, I buy items that go on sale and wait a few weeks for delivery. I try to not fret when shipping is delayed for weather or the pre-Christmas rush which affects all shipping worldwide (I just have to think of it as letting paint dry between washes). I have also been pleasantly suprised by their synthetic brushes-I recently bought a "studio" set of three for under ten dollars, thinking I could afford to use them with ink. I tried some small paintings and swatching with them and they behaved well and washed quite clean.