Arches Water Colour Block, 300 lb / 640GSM, Cold Pressed, 9" x 12"

I first thought it was black paper and was super disappointed. but after a little examination I see it is white paper. I was trying to be positive and thought maybe I can try black paper. Started looking up videos on watercolor painting with black paper. No need. Lol. I’m so happy. I wrote the seller who is probably laughing at my Archie’s naïveté. This arrived quickly and I’m excited to use this high quality paper! Thank you. I will ask to amend my seller feedback.

Best paper ever for your watercolors

I truly love to paint on Arches 300 lb block! I just wish it came in 5x7 as well. Quality is A+

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.

Love love love this paper. It has to be a staple for every watercolor artist. It is truly a dream to work with. This paper can take several layers of color. I am so pleased with the results.

Working from a block is so much easier than taping a paper.

Arches 300 lb watercolor paper is the absolute best. The block form is great because it keeps your watercolor stretched while working on it and doesn’t warp. It arrived a couple days after my order. Very pleased

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.

Es un excelente papel, en mi caso cumple las funciones a la perfección. no se arruga, absorbe el agua muy bien, estoy contentísimo.

Gr8 price and definitely worth it for the artist painter.

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.

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MUY BIEN AMAZON ENTREGO MUY RAPIDO Y EL MATERIAL ES DE EXCELENTE CALIDAD