The 7 Best Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Papers (2023 reviews)

We consider a strathmore 400 series watercolor paper to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Strathmore Cotton Paper READ REVIEW

Best For Really responsive Paper: Buy: Strathmore Series Paper READ REVIEW

Best For portrait: Buy: Strathmore Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For colored pencil: Buy: Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For school projects: Buy: Strathmore economical lb Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best With gouache: Buy: Strathmore Series Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For poster Paint: Buy: Strathmore Acid Free Paper READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Strathmore Cotton Paper

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The strathmore cotton paper is long-lasting, rigid and fits well with your regular usage like a dream. The soft cover of this Strathmore Mixed Media series is as wonderful as it's hardcover series and it's signatures are as finely and securely sewn as the hard cover. It's cold pressed with slight tooth on one side and smoother on the other side. The paper is thick and very smooth for pen&ink and watercolor. Unlike some of the other Stratemore journals, this is ALL thick watercolor paper.

The cover is flexible and coated with something to protect the paper. It is great for adding white highlights. The benefit of the softcover makes it more pliable for a travel pack. It's 100% cotton, acid free.

• Excellent even for moderate watercolor use
• Performs beautifully with a broad range of writing instruments, including fountain pens
• Good investment for long term

Best For Really responsive Paper: Strathmore Series Paper

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Compared with other products by Strathmore, the strathmore series paper has a convenient design. It feels thinner than their 300 series watercolor paper. It is good, heavy, 140 lb, cotton watercolor paper. It is 100% cotton, acid free, and archival. The paper withstands multiple layers of wax from pencil, holds up to erasures, and of course watercolor applications. It is convenient to carry with you for painting away from home.

The cover is fairly soft and flexible but that makes it perfect to just open up flat so you can use every inch of the paper to paint on, just use some clips to hold it in place and flat. It is perfect for small art projects.

• Great size and works well with water colors
• Great for plein air or travel kits
• Excellent quality, with secured binding & a ribbon
• Works great with marker, gouache, and color pencils

Best For portrait: Strathmore Watercolor Paper

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The strathmore watercolor paper has killer features for the price point. If you feel ready to tackle something big, this is a good option. It is great for watercolor paper that is wood pulp and not cotton. It cuts well with a sharp blade. It has two deckle edges and has an artist quality textured surface. It is highly resistant to rub-up while wet and its surface has a bite to take washes, scrubbings or dry brush. It can be done with enough folding and an edge to hold the paint well. There is also a very slight amount of bleed that takes place.

This is very nice heavy duty paper for watercolor painting, it has a nice texture and holds the paint well. It is good for watercolor, but the texture presents a few obstacles for calligraphy.

• For watercolor, pen and ink and colored pencil drawings
• Does not stand up to scrubbing/lifting
• Delivers what they promise

Best For colored pencil: Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Paper

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The strathmore 400 series watercolor paper is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features in its price range. These are convenient, ready cut sheets of 140 lb. The Ready Cut Watercolor sheets are lignin and acid free, archival, and are made from 100% cotton fiber. It comes in European sizes rather than standard american frame sizes.

• Standard sizes fit frames and 100 cotton
• Holds a large amount of water
• Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For school projects: Strathmore economical lb Watercolor 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 paper. The product is exactly that - it's a simple product that hits all the right notes. This economical 140 lb watercolor paper features a cold press surface that accepts a variety of techniques, including wet on wet, pencil or charcoal overlay, and sgrafitto. It is perfect for school projects. It is perfect for practice and perfecting techniques, yet is acid free to help preserve permanent work. It is easy to pass out to the kids.

• Very good quality for watercolor painters who are just beginning or practicing
• Good brand reputation

Best With gouache: Strathmore Series Watercolor Paper

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The strathmore series watercolor paper is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily purpose. This felt finished paper has a strong cold press surface which allows lifting and scraping applications and is ideal for mastering watercolor techniques. It is used for acrylic, oil, airbrush, mixed media/collage, drawing, oil pastel, pen and ink, and marker.

• Delivers what they promise
• New and hot release

Best For poster Paint: Strathmore Acid Free Paper

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The strathmore acid free paper should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. This lightweight, student grade watercolor paper has a cold press surface and is good for water. It is ideal for students to work on.

• Acid free paper to help preserve your best work for a lifetime
• 90 lb paper is ideal for students to work on
• Delivers what they promise