There’s a reason why professional artists, illustrators, and even historical masters have relied on arches watercolour paper for centuries. It all comes down to quality and craftsmanship.
🤍 100% cotton – Unlike cellulose-based papers, arches is made entirely from cotton fibres, giving it superior absorbency and durability.
🎨 Traditional mould-made texture – This creates a beautifully consistent surface that holds pigment well and allows for crisp, controlled brushstrokes.
💦 Superior water handling – It absorbs water evenly, preventing blooms, buckling, and over-saturation.
🧱 Strength & durability – Even with heavy washes, scrubbing, and lifting techniques, arches holds up without pilling or tearing.
🕰 Archival quality – It’s acid-free and made to last, meaning your artwork won’t yellow or degrade over time.
If you’ve struggled with watercolour behaving unpredictably, your paper might be the culprit. Cheaper papers often absorb water unevenly, causing streaky washes, weak colour, or unwanted blooms.
🤍 better layering – Because arches holds water well, you can build up layers without disturbing the previous ones.
🖌 smoother blending – Pigments settle beautifully on the paper, allowing for soft, seamless gradients.
💡 brighter colours – 100% cotton means less water sinking straight into the paper, keeping pigments vibrant and rich.
💦 less buckling – Even with heavy washes, arches stays flat or easily reshapes when dried.
Not every painting needs top-tier paper, but if you want the best results, arches is worth it. Here’s when to invest in high-quality paper vs. when you can get away with something cheaper.
🤍 use arches when…
✔ You’re working on a final piece or something you plan to sell.
✔ You need multiple layers, glazing, or detailed brushwork.
✔ You want your colours to look their best.
✔ You need a durable surface for lifting or scrubbing.
✔ You want your artwork to last for years without degrading.
💸 use budget paper when…
✔ You’re sketching, practising techniques, or colour swatching.
✔ You’re working on quick studies that don’t require multiple layers.
✔ You’re experimenting and don’t want to waste expensive paper.
💡 takeaway: If you’re serious about watercolour, it’s worth keeping arches on hand for your best work—but it’s totally fine to use cheaper paper for quick sketches!
Many professional watercolourists won’t use anything else, and for good reason.
🤍 consistency – With arches, you always know how the paper will respond—no surprises.
🤍 less frustration – No more fighting with warping, streaks, or dull colours.
🤍 higher-quality results – Your work looks crisper, richer, and more professional.
🤍 it can actually save money – Because arches allows for corrections, layering, and vibrant colour, you waste less paint and fewer sheets trying to fix mistakes.
arches is easiest (& I’ve found, cheapest) to buy on amazon – here are some links!
Hot pressed (smooth), 300gsm
🤍 A5 pad
🤍 A4 pad
🤍 A3 pad
🤍 9×12′ block
Cold pressed (rough), 300gsm
🤍 A5 pad
🤍 A4 pad
🤍 A3 pad
🤍 12×16′ block
not all “high-end” papers are created equal. Some brands try to market themselves as premium, but they don’t have the same durability or performance as arches. If you’re shopping around, keep an eye out for these key features:
🤞🏽 100% cotton – This is non-negotiable for professional-quality paper.
☝🏽 acid-free & archival – If you want your work to last, it needs to be free from acidic materials.
☝🏽 mould-made vs. machine-made – Mould-made papers like arches have a stronger, more durable surface.
💡 takeaway: If you’re serious about watercolour, always check the specs before investing in a high-end paper!
If you’re new to using professional watercolour paper, give arches a try and see the difference for yourself! Here’s how to get the most out of it:
🖌 pre-stretch your paper – If you’re using a lot of water, pre-stretching helps prevent buckling.
🎨 experiment with layering – Take advantage of how well arches handles multiple washes.
📚 test different textures – Hot press, cold press, and rough all behave differently—find what works best for your style.
💸 use budget paper for practice – Save your arches sheets for final pieces and use cheaper alternatives for quick sketches.
If you’re in the mood to keep reading, check out my article on choosing the right watercolour brushes. If that doesn’t interest you, you can browse through all my articles for more artsy goodness 😌✨🌻
☼ Bower, P. (2018). Understanding paper quality in fine art. Oxford University Press.
☼ Smith, R. (2015). Mastering watercolors: A practical guide. HarperCollins.
☼ Tate, J. (2010). The history of watercolour techniques. London: Tate Publishing.
☼ What makes arches different from regular watercolour paper?
☼ Is arches watercolour paper worth the price? or are there cheaper alternatives?
☼ How does 100% cotton paper improve watercolour painting?
☼ When should I use arches vs. when can I use cheaper paper?
☼ Why do professional artists swear by arches?
☼ Why is watercolour paper so expensive?
☼ Is professional watercolour paper worth the investment?
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hi, i’m sarah, an australian artist head-over-heels for watercolour & creative practice- it truely is good for your soul.
& this ↑, is my girl alys.
i am completely self-taught in all the mediums i use & i am here to share everything i know with you!
i write about all things creativity, watercolour, gouache, hand-made ceramics, collecting art, & my own artistic process. I have degrees in human psychology & veterinary medicine- so you might find some sporadic related facts in my writing.
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