Reddit reviews Arches Watercolor Paper Pad, 140 pound, Hot Press, 10"x14" (1795098)
We found 1 Reddit comments about Arches Watercolor Paper Pad, 140 pound, Hot Press, 10"x14" (1795098). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
The hot press finish is primarily used for portraits. Discreet and reserved, it focuses attention on the subject of the work, emphasizing the drawingAll Arches papers are cylinder mould made as they have been for over a century. With long fibers, this thick, stable sheet is beautiful, durable, and resillient.Each sheet of Arches Watercolour is tub-sized in a bath of pure natural gelatin and then air dried to add additional strength and durabilityThe best quality control. Our paper undergoes sophisticated testing and monitoring, with every sheet individually inspected to assure the finest qualityContains one pad with 12 sheets, 300 GSM
What paper are you using? Arches is great and will hold up to a lot of water/working. You'll also get really nice washes on arches as its a coton paper. If thats out of your price range try strathmore 500, (I really want to emphasize getting the 500 range as the 400, and below are really not good enough for finished pieces. I even practice on 500). Strathmore 500 8x10 is on sale on Amazon right now. Bought some for myself the other day lol https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WFUH2U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pvySBbNSNXYKD
Arches is also on sale on amazon right now. Their hot press is really good if you like a flatter less textured paper. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AML73Y2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OsySBbST1ZSWK
I'd lighten your first wash even more. Apply the wash to the surface without working it into the paper. Just let the water sit on top. It will soak in as it dries. It Also looks like the later washes were either applied while the first was still a bit wet, or you tried to blend them in. In that picture of the fox you showed before, the technique was definitely wet on dry. You can use a hair drier on low to speed up the drying process, because getting that first layer really dry is esential to replicating that look.
And I think those little fourishes on the linework of the fox really gives that fox its character.
If this is a gift, or going to be framed, make sure you leave room at the edges for matting. Half inch or more. You can use masking tape to get clean edges, thats what I do. Taping it to the table or flat surface will also help keep it from warping while you paint. Water will really ripple it, especially if its cheap paper. If you get arches it may be a pad which means the pages are glued together on all 4 sides, so you wont have to tape it to the table if you keep it on the pad while you paint.
Don't get discouraged. Watercolor has a steep learning curve and this shows a lot of progress from your last one!
Edit: also make sure you're using soft brushes intended for watercolor. They will help you keep from tearing up your paper.