The 6 Best cream Watercolor Papers (2023 reviews)

This paper is perfect for arts and crafts. It is a 290 gsm watercolor paper but it does not have much of a texture compared to fine art watercolor paper. It will handle acrylic paints and it is all loose in shrink wrap. The scrap leftovers can be used for making book markers or as test samples to see how your paint will look when mixing your own colors, testing out some new paint or some kind of watercolor idea or technique.

This paper does not allow the movement of the pigment in the pens and pencils, but you remain with hard lines. You will love the sturdiness of this paper, as well as its texture in general. It is a must have for your watercolor painting fun. It is great for kids crafts and basic water coloring.

Why We Like This:

Good for swatching, scrap paper, and throw away studies
Great for teaching lessons and for practice
New and hot release

Best For Water coloring: Strathmore Watercolor Paper

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This paper is great for watercolors. It's easy to remove, and you can just trim the frills off, rather than risk tearing your paper. The colors blend beautifully on it while still being able to maintain sharp edges without bleeding like some. The spiral helps work while not having to tear out a page.

The best quality art paper for anything including, pastels, watercolors, sketch drawings, and charcoal + paint drawings if you're carful enough. The paper quickly peels, dissolves and sort of unravel when it gets wetter on cheaper brands. It is easy to use and high quality for a beginner that's dabbling in watercoloring. This paper is fine for the beginner who has no experience.

Why We Like This:

Paint dries fairly quickly, and paper does not tear or peel
Very thick and heavy so it doesn't crinkle with a lot of water
Stacks up pretty well against the heavier watercolor boards for wear/tear/re-working/re-wetting
Works well for projects but also use as backing for other dry mediums also

Best For any kid: Strathmore cream Watercolor Paper

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The paper is great, nice thick water color paper. It's nice and thick with light texture on one side. The paper quickly peels, dissolves and sort of unravel when it gets wetter on cheaper brands. The paper is strong and easy to draw and paint. The colors blend beautifully on it while still being able to maintain sharp edges without bleeding like some.

This spiral bound pad is easy to flip over or tear out a new page to use. It's easy to remove, and you can just trim the frills off, rather than risk tearing your paper. It is great way to try all of the different patterns.

Why We Like This:

Works well for projects but also use as backing for other dry mediums also
Good quality for beginners on water color painting
Wonderful paper, stands up to watercolors beautifully and oil pastels
Great paper, very thick and sturdy

Best For Media: Amazon basics cream Watercolor Paper

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This paper is good quality for amateur painters. It features a heavy chipboard backing and fold-over cardstock cover. Though they share these qualities, the papers are quite different in texture. It works well with water color pencils, also used with alcohol inks, also used with stencils and pastes.

This paper is probably excellent for kids trying water color, as using normal paper with watercolors can be an unholy mess. It’s also like hot press so very smooth. It is good weight of paper at 300 gsm. It is ideal for media such as watercolor, acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, and more.

Why We Like This:

High quality watercolor pad for artists, students, anyone who wants to paint
Great quality for both water color and acrylic
Awesome for saving toddler art work
Very thick and the colors do not leak through to the other side

Best For recording ideas: Lear Village cream Watercolor Paper

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This paper is its own kind of siren song, luring the artist in with its faint pearl sheen, variegated texture, and old-world charm. It provides 100% pure cotton handmade paper suitable for all dry and wet mediums. Even without the antique effect, this paper is thick, lovely, deckle-edged, and PERFECT for watercolor, whether it's the more budget-friendly varieties or higher-end products such as Daniel Smith and Schminke. It is made from 100% egyptian cotton & can be used as classic scroll paper or invitation paper as well.

This paper is very thick. It is perfect for recording ideas, anecdotes, lessons learned, and daily events of fond memories. The paper also works well with ink.

Why We Like This:

Ph neutral so your work will last for centuries
Most noticeably diffusion and flow of watercolors
Made from virgin egyptian cotton the color is off-white and made by leather village

Best With gouache: Arteza cream Watercolor Paper

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The few toned paper options online are mixed media-focused, and there are no real watercolor papers, and they still don't contain the whole range of colors. Arteza makes really nice watercolor sheets, and these are no exception. It offers 5 shades of tinted paper including white, cream, white, light gray, gray, and black.

The white paper is pretty standard, and the black sheet holds up wonderfully for a Pearlescent watercolor painting. Adding a colored background to your work helps to add atmosphere to your paintings, as well as give them extra depth and dimension. It is used for mixed media also.

This paper is perfect for beginners or anyone. It is great on the darker shades of paper.

Why We Like This: