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Cellulose-based vs. 100% cotton Watercolor Paper: What’s the Best Choice for the Artists?

Choosing the right watercolor paper can completely change how your art turns out. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned painter, understanding the difference between cellulose watercolor paper and 100% cotton watercolor paper will help you make the best decision for your painting style, technique, and budget.

What Is the Difference Between Cellulose and Cotton Watercolor Paper?

• Cellulose paper is made from wood pulp (cellulose fibers). It’s commonly used in student-grade watercolor paper and is known for being more affordable.
• 100% cotton paper, also known as rag paper, is made entirely from cotton fibers. This type is preferred by professional artists for its superior performance and durability.

Absorbency and Paint Behavior

Cotton watercolor paper is highly absorbent, allowing smooth, even washes and more time to work wet-on-wet. It’s ideal for techniques like wet-on-wet blending, lifting pigment or layering and glazing.

Cellulose watercolor paper, on the other hand, absorbs less water. Paint tends to sit more on the surface, which can lead to faster drying time, less control over gradients and higher chance of hard edges and blooms.

Durability and Surface Strength

When it comes to strength, cotton paper wins, because it holds up well to scrubbing, masking, and multiple layers and it doesn’t pill or tear easily, even when reworking. Cellulose paper is more delicate: it may pill or warp with heavy washes. It also works best for lighter techniques and quick studies.

Archival Quality and Longevity

If you care about archival quality, cotton is the way to go, because 100% cotton paper is usually acid-free and archival, meaning it won’t yellow or deteriorate over time. Cellulose paper can break down unless it’s treated to be acid-free. It’s fine for temporary work or practice, but not ideal for long-term preservation.

Price Comparison

Cotton watercolor paper is more expensive, but many artists consider it worth the investment for its performance. Cellulose paper is budget-friendly, making it great for beginners, sketchbooks, practice sessions.

Pros and Cons of Each Type

Which Watercolor Paper Should You Use?

Use cotton watercolor paper if:

• You're creating finished pieces or commissions
• You want professional-level quality and performance
• You use advanced watercolor techniques like layering and lifting

Use cellulose watercolor paper if:

• You’re just starting out with watercolors
• You’re practicing, sketching, or experimenting
• You want to save money on materials

Both cellulose and 100% cotton watercolor papers have their place in your art practice. Many artists keep both on hand—cellulose for warm-ups and cotton for masterpieces. Whichever you choose, the most important thing is to keep painting. Your paper is a tool, and learning how it behaves will help you grow as an artist.

What Is Bristol Paper? Features, Advantages, Disadvantages & Why It's Called "Bristol"

If you’ve browsed an art supply store or a designer’s sketchbook, chances are you’ve seen or used Bristol paper – a smooth, heavyweight favorite among illustrators, inkers, and graphic designers.

But what exactly is Bristol paper? Why is it named "Bristol"? And when should you reach for it instead of watercolor or sketch paper?

What Is Bristol Paper?

Bristol paper is a high-quality, heavyweight paper made by gluing two or more sheets of paper together to form a stiff, durable surface. It has a very smooth or lightly textured finish and is most often used for detailed drawings, clean lines, and media that benefit from a non-absorbent surface.

It typically comes in two textures:

• Smooth – great for pen and ink, markers, airbrush
• Vellum – better for pencil, charcoal, and light dry media

Why Is It Called "Bristol"?

The name “Bristol” dates back to the 18th century in Bristol, England, where paper mills would glue together multiple sheets of paper to create a stronger, smoother surface for printmaking and illustration. The technique – and the name – caught on, and “Bristol board” became the term for this extra-durable, glued paper product.

Key Features of Bristol Paper

• Surface: Rigid, smooth or vellum
• Color: Bright white, ideal for clean, crisp contrast
• Media compatibility: Great for ink, pencil, graphite, markers, technical pens, and even light watercolor
• Presentation: Often used for finished artwork, comic art, fashion design, and architecture

When to Use Bristol Paper

• Pen and ink drawings
• Calligraphy and lettering
• Marker art and design work
• Tight pencil renderings
• Comic and manga illustration

If you work with ink, markers, or pencils and want a clean, durable surface for your finished artwork, Bristol paper is a top choice. Its smooth texture give artists flexibility for a wide range of styles, and its bright white tone makes your work shine. Just keep in mind: it’s not the best for heavy water-based techniques, so pair it with the right media, and you’ll love how it elevates your art.

Why Paper Weight Matters: The Artist and Designer’s Guide to Getting It Right

Whether you’re sketching, painting, printing, or designing, one paper decision can make or break your project: paper weight. It might sound like a technical detail, but trust us - it’s one of the most important things to understand when working with paper.

In this post, we’ll demystify paper weight, explain how it’s measured, and help you choose the right weight for your art or creative work.

What Does “Paper Weight” Mean, Exactly?

Paper weight refers to the thickness and density of the paper. It affects how the paper feels, how it handles media like ink or paint, how durable it is, and whether it’ll curl, bleed, or tear.

There are two main systems for measuring paper weight:

1. Grams per square meter (gsm) – International standard

This system is much more straightforward. It tells you the weight of one square meter of paper.

• 90 gsm = thin, like printer paper
• 300 gsm = heavy, like watercolor paper

2. Pounds (lb) – Common in the U.S.

This system is based on the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper in its untrimmed size. For example:

• 80 lb drawing paper is lighter than
• 140 lb watercolor paper

Why Does Paper Weight Matter?

The weight of your paper affects how media behaves (like watercolors soaking in or ink bleeding), how easily it tears or buckles, how it holds up during framing or mailing or how well it feeds through printers or presses. Choosing the right weight means fewer surprises and better results.

Paper Weight by Medium: What to Choose

Tips for Choosing the Right Paper Weight

✅ Match the media – Always choose a weight that can support your technique.

✅ Test first – If you’re unsure, try a few sample sheets with your tools before committing.

✅ Don’t rely on feel alone – Two papers with the same gsm might feel different depending on texture and composition (cotton vs wood pulp).

✅ Consider if you’ll add water – Anything involving water (paint, ink wash) needs heavier paper to prevent wrinkling.

Choosing the right paper weight is very important to your creative process. Whether you’re drawing with pencil or laying down washes of watercolor, understanding paper weight helps you avoid frustration – and makes your work look its best. Next time you’re shopping for paper, check the weight label before anything else. It might seem like a small thing, but it can have a big impact on your final piece.