Why should beginners choose ARCHES® Aquarelle paper for watercolour?
In watercolour, progress starts with the right paper. This is because the paper used affects how water is absorbed and how colours spread, ultimately influencing the overall quality of your work. A good paper showcases your brushwork, facilitates learning and prevents a lot of frustration. ARCHES® Aquarelle paper is an excellent choice for anyone who’s just getting started, and here’s why:
1. Professional quality
ARCHES® Aquarelle is a 100% cotton paper made on a cylinder mould. This traditional process produces a paper whose quality is close to that of paper made using handmade techniques. This gives it a high level of stability and excellent durability, so beginners benefit from a surface with limited deformation. The paper doesn’t lint and is highly resistant to erasing and scratching. ARCHES® Aquarelle paper invites you to step into the ranks of some of the world’s greatest artists and gain access to centuries-old paper-making expertise.
2. Improved water management
ARCHES® Aquarelle paper is naturally sized both to the core and on the surface (using natural gelatine), ensuring:
- Gradual and even drying,
- Optimal control over water flow and colour,
- Good responsiveness for washes, glazing and reworking.
3. Easy learning
On lower-quality paper, it can be difficult to tell whether a mistake comes from the product or the technique used. ARCHES® Aquarelle paper avoids many of the problems often encountered with inferior paper, including warping, pilling, uneven drying and dull washes. This removes some major obstacles from the very start of the learning process, builds confidence early on and keeps the learner from becoming frustrated – or even giving up on the technique altogether. With ARCHES® Aquarelle, the paper faithfully renders colour and transparency, making it easier to see the true effect of each brushstroke and blend.
4. ARCHES® Aquarelle withstands corrections
ARCHES® Aquarelle stands up to corrections (erasing, adding water, scratching, lifting off colour) without becoming damaged; this is ideal for learners, who need to experiment freely.
5. Other criteria to be taken into account
Texture
ARCHES® offers several textures (cold pressed, hot pressed and rough), so that everyone can try them out and find the one that best suits their personal style.
- Cold pressed: Cold-pressed paper is lightly textured and is particularly well suited to beginners. It’s a good compromise between absorption, versatility and control over detail.
- Rough: Rough paper is highly textured. It produces expressive effects but is more difficult to master when starting out.
- Hot pressed: Hot-pressed paper is very smooth. It’s ideal for detail but the management of water and pigments requires some experience.
Products
Beginners are advised to start painting on smaller surfaces, which feel less daunting and are more convenient to carry around.
- ARCHES® Aquarelle travel journals: Easy to transport and perfect for experimenting and progressing.
- ARCHES® Aquarelle pads glued on one side: Provide sheets of the same size that are ready to use.
- ARCHES® Aquarelle blocks glued on four sides: Prevent the paper from warping when applying large washes or working with the “wet-on-wet” technique.
- Correspondence Box: Includes a small block glued on four sides that contains 10 ARCHES® Aquarelle sheets in postcard format that are all ready to paint and send, along with beautiful envelopes made from Velin d’ARCHES® Text Wove. You can surprise your loved ones by sending them your creations by post!
- ARCHES® Aquarelle sheets: Maximum flexibility, greater freedom of movement. They’re watermarked and have deckle edges that give your first masterpieces a distinctive artistic touch.
For many workshops, it’s considered THE go-to watercolour paper. Its reliability, strength, versatility and colour blending have won over countless watercolour artists.
Start small and don’t hesitate to invest – even for just a few sheets – in high-quality paper like ARCHES® Aquarelle. Although it may cost a little more, starting with high-quality paper lets you improve more quickly, gain confidence, and avoid the frustration that comes from using an inferior surface. It’s a real advantage for discovering watercolour under the best possible conditions.
Set yourself up for success, leave all your paper worries behind, watch the magic happen – and give free rein to your creativity!