Arches Watercolor Block 10x14-inch Natural White 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper - 10 Sheets of Arches 300 lb Watercolor Paper Cold Press - Watercolor Paper Block for Gouache Ink Acrylic and More

If you are learning to do watercolor, do not skimp on your materials! I was ready to give up watercolor until I was gifted some good quality paint, brushes and paper. I LOVE watercolor now and cannot get enough of it! Arches is expensive, but it is a quality product that works WITH you and not AGAINST you. I use my cheaper paper to experiment with and then do my finished piece on the Arches.

I've used cheap cellulose watercolor paper and 100% cotton paper makes such a huge difference in performance! But even among the 100% watercolor papers, arches is the best in my tests so far. I've used Paul Rueben's, Bee Paper, Stonehenge, and Windsor and Newton 100% cotton watercolor papers. Windsor and Newton and Stonehenge came the closest to Arches in performance, but Arches still out performed them, imho. The other watercolor papers all did well enough with allowing for multiple layers, handling lots of water, and holding up to scraping or lifting.But, where arches paper really shines, in my opinion, is that it does so much better than the others with layering. When I use arches, I never worry about previous pigments lifting off the page when I add a new layer. If I really need to lift a previous layer, I can of course repeatedly use a wet brush and dab at the paint until it comes away. But it takes some effort. And I like that because I don't have to worry about my work on previous layers coming undone every time I add a new wash. I'm not saying the other papers act as poorly as cellulose paper in this regard. They don't. But I do find I have to be a little more careful with the other papers. Pigments seem to fasten to arches paper more securely somehow.All that being said, I wouldn't let this review discourage you from trying other 100% cotton papers. Paper preferences are very subjective and some of the less expensive cotton papers are still quite nice. Bee paper, for instance, is my go-to journaling and practice paper and I like it very much. I just like arches that little bit more. I've yet to find a 100% cotton paper that outperforms arches.

The best water color paper out there according to the two art teachers and one art student I asked. A third of the price that I could find it at a store and that’s what it’s a teacher discount. Was a gift, but the teenage art student cried when they got it, so it must be good. May take awhile to get it, so order ahead!!

i'm a printer and work with paper all the time. i'm new to painting but i know quality. this is it. the best paper money can buy. i've spent loads of money on other paper (including from ARCHES) and nothing comes close to this.its very toothy, meaning slightly textured, but highly absorbent. fast drying, too, which could be a downside but this is so easy to reactivate it's not really a problem. 95% buckle free! having it on the block is a dream, i will never tape down a piece of paper to masonite ever again if i can help it.for pencil work it isn't so great, but literally anything else mixed media—paint, charcoal, india ink, whatever—this hasn't been beat. keep a look out for sales, got my first one for about forty bones, but honestly this is good at any price.

First time trying 300 lb watercolor paper - really like the way this paper reacts to paint and water. It is a nice weight and color. Although it is a bit difficult to remove paper from the block each time - and- I chose to remove it before painting so I would not tear a finished product (in case.) I will purchase this paper again.

First time using this paper and I am a new consumer for life! This paper is great. So thick, and I love the texture. Stays flat when you are painting with it. I am new to water color. I am self taught and love the process but was ready to give it up with the other papers I was using. Now I’m ready to try their other papers too.

This paper is the best of the best I’ve found. Saturation is great—I can put watercolors down and lift them up again to lighten an area a little later without losing paper quality. It takes even some scrubbing with a stiffer brush nicely! Dries evenly. Holds the colors brilliantly. I LOVE the glued edges. No buckling!!

I like having a block so I don’t have to tape all the edges to a board. If you are doing heavy washes, the paper will still buckle some, but not anymore than a taped paper

Lovely paper for watercolour. Expensive, but cheaper stuff doesn’t hold a candle to it.

Colours are so much clearer and brighter, less mud when darkening. Working wet in wet, the first sheet detached itself too easily from the block. Very very good. Very expensive.

Love Arches, possibly the best paper that I have used for watercolour painting. Trying several types as I am still learning at an art class.

This is a great heavyweight watercolour block in a good size for working en plein air. You can't beat Arches watercolour paper.

Please disregard previous review- the wrapping was black but the paper is indeed white!