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Watercolor paper is sold in a wide range of weights. The vary from 90 lb to 300 lb for the heaviest.
Most paper needs to be stretched- this prevents the paper from buckling. The heavier the paper the more it accepts water, so paper above 140 lb does not need to be stretched. Paper can be sold in spiral pads, pads are used for sketching, and you can tear the sheet for the pad to sketch on. Blocks are for outdoors, they are firmly attached and do not need to be stretched.
There are three basic finishes- hot pressed, cold pressed and rough. Hot pressed has the smoothest surface… this surface is the best for drawing in pencil or pen and ink.
There is less of a tooth in hot press paper and some artists like the way the paper responds to this surface. Please remember this paper is not very absorbent and much more difficult for wet, washy techniques. It is a great paper for tight pen and ink work, pencil and pastel.
Not paper, so called because it is not hot pressed, has a medium texture surface and is a hot pressed paper.
Rough paper has a distinctly textured surface. Artists like the way this surface texture responds to paint, the recesses areas will remain white will color sits on the upper texture of surface. The rule of thumb is to avoid rough surfaces until you have some experience under your belt.
Remember the lighter the paper the more you need to stretch it. The most expensive papers are handmade and are really not for the beginner.
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