The 9 Best 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Papers (2023 reviews)

The arches 140 lb hot press watercolor paper is capable of outshining several other paper featured in this list in overall features. It is best fine detail with this smooth paper. It's good sturdy paper, has a nice smooth surface, and should work well for thin lines and tiny details. The paint sets to the paper well. It is made with natural cotton fibers on a cylinder-mold machine. It is also very easy to sketch on.

This item is "hot press" which means it is smooth. It allows for some great blending. The paper stands up to a lot of water. They are packaged well, and handled quickly.

Why We Like This:

Great flat surface paper, due to the hot press
Very good for certain watercolor paintings such as flowers or other botanicals
Water flows nicely for watercolor paint

Best For portrait: Speedball 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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If you often find yourself scrambling for convenient and suitable paper, speedball 140 lb hot press watercolor paper is your end point. Stonehenge by Legion (green cover) is a classic quality watercolor paper that conforms to the ISO 9607 standards of permanence, 100% cotton rag and gelatin-sized. It works well for water color painting. It allows lifting of color to add to that it is used for colored pencil. It is thick and has the perfect texture not too rough and not too smooth.

It is the finest quality watercolor paper that conforms to the ISO 9607 standards of permanence, 100% cotton rag and gelatin-sized. It can be used by amateurs and pros alike. The paint moves so well and the flow is absolutely lovely.

Why We Like This:

High quality paper that holds up very well to several
New and hot release

Best For children: Paul Rubens 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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Best part: paul rubens 140 lb hot press watercolor paper costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. If you are looking for a portable watercolor travel journal and plan on using lots of scrubbing, scraping, taping, and masking techniques, it can take a beating. It comes with an artist quality 100 cotton hot pressed watercolor journal. It’s made of 100% cotton rag for dry or wet painting, can be used for watercolor paint, gouache paint, acrylics, pencils, etc.

Each sheet of this watercolor paper features a double sided texture, so it offers you up to 40 pages to use. It’s also a thread-stitched notebook which makes it possible to remove the middle thread and use it as a larger page, so you can do the wide range painting and panorama on it. The classic book cover can protect the works on the inner page. It’s convenient to take this watercolor journal with you wherever you go.

Why We Like This:

Suitable for detailed work and smooth washes
Available in two sizes, dual-sided paper design
New and hot release

Best With Acrylic Paint: Fabriano 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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If you're doing a serious drawing, that you plan on selling, their Artistico 100% cotton, Hot Press paper is the best paper in the world. It does work well with many die cutting machines like big shot series. It is super smooth and the paper is a nice weight for watercolor use. The smooth surface doesn't take a lot of'scrubbing' so if you are new to watercolor, a student who is rough on paper, or a child just learning, this will not take a 'beating' like cold press.

It is difficult to handle gradients on this paper, however the paper is of excellent quality and illustrations that are done with thin layers look great. The Hot Press paper is smooth, so it behaves very differently from cold press, which has a lot of texture.

Why We Like This:

Handles water colors, chalk, pencil, charcoal very well
Good value for water media or graphite
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For Artist: Legion Paper 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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Legion Paper offers a variety of paper for personal choice and yet maintaining quality in all the variants. The white artist tapes from both proart and art alternatives work well, as long as you remove the tape slowly and with care. It really holds details very well. The hot pressed watercolor paper is white, no other colors. It is a block, which means it is glued together on all four sides to help prevent paper buckling when adding watercolour paints.

It is suitable for ink, watercolor, gouache and airbrush, but also enough tooth for colored pencils. The quality is superb, 100% Cotton, and has a lovely texture. The colors are so beautiful on this too.

Why We Like This:

A fantastic paper for any watercolor artist
Great quality and the best priced hot pressed paper out there
Minimal warping, absorbs paint well, great texture
Colors hold their vibrancy fairly well, even when working with many layers

Best For colored pencil Drawing: Stonehenge Aqua 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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Hot press papers are generally quite smooth when compared with the more textured cold press variety. This block is glued along two long edges to hold each sheet flat while painting. Just the feel of this paper will tell you how wonderful this paper is. It measures 7 by 10 inches and includes 15 sheets. It is perfect for colored pencil drawing. The hot press is so smooth and paint moves and blends so easily. This is a smooth paper.

Why We Like This:

Perfect size for folding in half and fitting in a standard greeting card envelope
Performing, cost effective paper for watercolorists
Takes pencil, ink and ink washes very well with a very nice surface finish
Beautiful block of paper in a cream color, smooth service

Best For Professional: Bockingford 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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St. Cuthberts Mill strives to provide artists everywhere with high-quality paper on which to lay their greatest ideas. It is made from pure raw ingredients and natural woolen felts provide a unique surface texture for exceptional results. It is acid-free and gelatin sized for superior surface stability, this paper will ensure your artwork lives on for centuries as the paper won’t discolor over time.

It is great with wet on wet, paper buckled. It is great for watercolors in a 5by 7 measurement. It is made with 100% cotton and textured with natural woolen felts, this durable, mold-made paper is available in 2 ethereal shades engineered to complement and enhance the vibrancy of any color you lay on the paper.

Acid-free and gelatin sized for superior surface stability, this paper will ensure your artwork lives on for centuries as the paper won’t discolor over time.

Why We Like This:

Very forgiving watercolour paper, delight to paint on
Available in 5 sizes and 2 remarkable finishes
Lifting is easier than with arches

Best For Acrylic: new York Central 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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The new york central 140 lb hot press watercolor paper's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. This is a very nice quality paper, and actually higher than most. It can withstand a multitude of techniques, including wet color blending, paper scratching, and scrubbing. All four sides of the New York central watercolor blocks are glued to prevent the top sheet from curling and buckling as you paint. It has a balanced grain that softens as a unit when wet. It is held on all 4 sides which you can release once it's dry.

The rigid backing board supports the paper and makes plein air painting simple. It will serve you well and is reasonably priced for the quality you are getting.

Why We Like This:

High quality, slightly too much sizing on paper
Good investment for long term

Best Premium: Saunders Waterford 140 lb Hot Press Watercolor Paper

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This is an amazing watercolor paper. It includes 20 sheets of 140lb hot press paper that is traditionally produced on a cylinder mould machine in england. It is also buffered with calcium carbonate to help protect work from discoloration caused by acids in the air. This paper is made using 100 percent cotton that is suited to archival standards. This is great for beginners.

Why We Like This: