The 8 Best Arches Watercolour Blocks (2023 reviews)

The arches best watercolor paper is long-lasting, rigid and fits well with your daily usage like a dream. A watercolor block is SO much easier to work with than a single sheet of paper. This is the best paper out there, for watercoloring, on a block. It would work well for Prismacolor wax premiere pencils or Caran Ache Luminance pencils. The hot press is super smooth and feels more like thick ply bristol paper. The texture is wonderful and it feels great and thick.

The paper is brilliant and gives beautiful results. It is easy to draw on with pencils and micron pens. This is a very high quality watercolor block indeed.

Why We Like This:

Best all round paper for watercolor painting
Works great, doesn't have to be taped down to dry flat
Delivers what they promise

Best For Artist: Arches Watercolor Paper

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The arches watercolor paper should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. Cold pressed papers absorb water faster and are slightly textured. It is for those who hate to stretch your watercolor paper. It accepts the paint beautifully and smoothly. The rough texture adds all sorts of possibilities for the application of paint. It's big enough to do some decent sized paintings even when you're not in a studio. The hot pressed papers are smooth and absord water slower. It is very durable and allows for "scrubbing" without lifting the paper.

Why We Like This:

Nice quality paper, heavy keeps shape
Nice watercolor paper for beginners or intermediate watercolor painters
Best paper to use for watercolor

Best For frame: Arches High Quality Paper

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The arches high quality paper's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. Arches paper is thirsty, holds a lot of water, and it takes a lot of brush work without breaking down, or warping. It absorbs the paint nicely and colors bloom perfectly. The pad keeps it from wrinkling as much.

This paper is the best of the best, full stop. It doesn't require taping, doesn't buckle and takes paint better than cheaper paper. When the pencils are activated by water, they bloom nicely and the work becomes a very vivid watercolor. The paper is good quality and glued edges hold well, but still release easily when it's time to take the top sheet off.

Why We Like This:

Blend, bleed, lift pigment easily without piling
You can scrub out errors without disturbing the paper
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For Airplanes: Arches Watercolour Paper

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If you often find yourself confused about convenient and suitable block, this product is your solution. It is easy to use watercolor paper. It is made from long, 100% cotton fibres, allowing it to absorb a lot of water without warping or causing the colours to bleed. It is sized to the core with natural gelatin, so it can be scratched without tearing or linting. It is perfect for airplanes and any brief case too.

This paper works, holds lots of water and does not break down or buckle. It is good for multiple layers. The block is great that you don’t have to do any taping your paper down. It is great for beginners or professional artists, but will spoil beginners fast.

Why We Like This:

Love arches and especially in the block form
Each stack is enclosed in a protective covering
Perfect for novice and professional artists

Best For beginner: Arches Hot Press

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The arches hot press is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features for the price point. This is a fantastic paper for a beginner or a professional. It is made with natural cotton fibers on a cylinder-mold machine. The paper is high quality & you’ll be able to make changes with your non staining watercolors, like re-wetting & blot off areas you don’t like. The top cover sheet needs to be removed to reveal the white paper of the block.

These blocks contain 20 sheets of natural white, acid free, 100% cotton paper, and are glued on all 4 sides. It retains its structure even under moderate scrubbing with the brush much better than cold-pressed. The hot press is very smooth & easier to control than the more textured cold press or rough. This is a wonderful size for quick on-site work.

Why We Like This:

Come in standard sizes like 8x10, 11x14, etc
Good investment for long term

Best WC Paper: Arches Best Paper

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If you often find yourself confused about appropriate and satisfactory block, this product is your end point. If you use smooth paper for your water based paintings....this is the benchmark. This is some of the best watercolor paper in the world, and the " blocks " are the best choice because the paper is pre. It has a smoother tooth than the cold-press. It is not bright white and is more natural white in that it is soft and not stark.

The advantage of the blocks is that you don't have to stretch the paper to avoid the problem of warping or curling that a simple single unstrechted sheet would present. It is glued down to avoid distortion while painting. It is a gift for someone who likes to water color.

Why We Like This:

Smooth and easy to work on
Cotton cylinder mould made with natural gelatin sizing
Delivers what they promise

Best With envelope: Arches Acid Cotton Paper

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate block. The product is exactly that - it's a simple product that hits all the right notes. This is smooth, white, quality paper. The paper soaks up a lot of water and is a joy to draw on. These blocks contain 20 sheets of natural white, acid free, 100percent cotton paper, and are glued on all 4 sides. It will take repeated erasures so don't be afraid to push the envelope.

The paper doesn't leak, it truly shows the colors of the watercolor pencil you're using. It can quickly and in first rate condition. This is an extremely fine quality paper.

Why We Like This:

Delivers what they promise
Good investment for long term

Best For practice: Arches Watercolour Block

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The arches watercolour block is the best desirable product on the market today. This block keeps the paper from buckling. It will support you in your journey toward mastery and joy. It keeps it flat and easy to work. The rough texture adds interest and weight. It is particularly recommended for all the wet techniques.

Why We Like This:

Lot of satisfied buyers
Good investment for long term

The 8 Best Arches Watercolour Blocks (2023 reviews)

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Arches Best Watercolor Paper

Best For Artist: Arches Watercolor Paper

Best For frame: Arches High Quality Paper

Best For Airplanes: Arches Watercolour Paper

Best For beginner: Arches Hot Press

Best WC Paper: Arches Best Paper

Best With envelope: Arches Acid Cotton Paper

Best For practice: Arches Watercolour Block

9 Best Sketchbook Arches Watercolor Papers