If you love dabbling in watercolor and also prefer the richness the acrylic but somehow are not satisfied with both, then you must opt for gouache. Also referred to as opaque watercolor, gouache paint offers you the best of the two paints.
Gouache has an acrylic matter effect and can be conveniently used on a wide range of supports. It is easy to manage and requires just a little water to display its richness.
You don’t have to invest in tons of specialized supplies to use it despite its uniqueness. However, you do need to be careful while choosing the surface on which you would be using it.
So what’s the best paper for gouache paint? The best paper for gouache paint needs a thickness of at least 200gsm (grams per square meter). Finer grained, non-oily paper that is somewhat soft in texture is also ideal. For a quick measure, any watercolor paper will work well for gouache paint.
So let’s look at what how to choose the best paper for your gouache paint needs.
How To Choose The Best Paper For Gouache Paint
Gouache paint is quite versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces including Bristol board, thick drawing paper, illustration board, and watercolor paper. But it doesn’t give the best outcome when painted on a canvas.
Any paper that has been designed for watercolors is considered appropriate for gouache paint. You need to use a paper of a minimum of 200 grams per square meter (gsm) while using this paint.
You need to select a fine grain paper that is smooth enough to hold the paint well. Satin finish papers are ideal for designs that require meticulous work. You can use a coarse texture paper for rough grain effects.
Using hot press papers of 300gsm works well with this paint. You can choose to purchase the same weight paper pads if you are not looking to purchase individual sheets. You can also use different printmaking and drawing papers if you are not mixing too much water with your paint.
Gouache paint can quickly adapt to any non-oily surface such as plywood, wood, cardboard. It promises endless variation when used on hand-crafted papers.
Whatever you choose, you need to make sure to select professional quality paper. You can consider experimenting on small pieces to decide which paper would better suit your handling and style.
Best Papers For Gouache
If you need a little help in shortlisting a good quality paper for gouache painting, then you can go through the papers reviewed by us. We conducted thorough research in identifying the suitable papers available for working with gouache paint.
| Rank | Brand | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canson XL Series Watercolor Pad | Takes multiple washes, acid-free, textured |
| 2. | Arteza Watercolor Pad | Thick, fine detail or multiple washes |
| 3. | Canson Artist Series Montvale Water Color Paper Pad | Good for wet media, durable, mold-made |
1. Canson XL Series Watercolor Pad
Canson XL watercolor pads feature a cold press, textured paper that can be used for creating a variety of beautiful techniques.
You can use it for a variety of projects, as it is ideal for use with watercolor, acrylic, markers, gouache, charcoal, and pastels. The pad consists of 30 sheets of 300 gsm – which is especially ideal for gouache painting.
The papers in the pad are acid-free and can withstand repeated washes. So, the paper won’t buckle much under washes and its color-lifting ability is great. This paper pad is of premium quality and should give you plenty of bang for your buck.
The paper is heavy and can take a lot of paint media without any wrinkling. Canson pads are available in other sizes, too, so you can choose one to fit your preferences.
Key Features
- Cold press textured paper
- Ideal for use with pastel, charcoal, gouache, watercolor, acrylic, marker and ink
- Paper is acid-free
- Natural texture and white color
Pros
- Also available in other dimensions
- Ideal for creating a variety of techniques
- Can withstand repeated washes
- Surface is durable
- Colors do not fade
Cons
- Paper tends to disintegrate with extremely wet applications
2. Arteza Watercolor Pad
This Arteza watercolor pad is like a dream come true for many artists. This set of three pads comprises of 30 sheets each of 300gsm. The paper is cold-pressed, acid-free, and suitable for use with wet, dry, and mixed media.
If you are an artist, you may have noticed that many watercolor sketchbooks offer just 12 sheets. However, this Arteza combo gives you a total of 90 sheets in all so that you can play with different effects and techniques to your heart’s content.
You get premium, thicker, and heavier paper when you choose this sketchbook from Arteza. It can take multiple washes without bleeding or warping. It has just the right texture and is neither too rough nor too smooth.
Arteza painting paper features a cold-pressed surface and is slightly textured which makes it suitable for fine detailing and multiple washes. Are you concerned that your artwork may fade or deteriorate over time? With the Arteza drawing pad, you can shed your worries aside.
Each drawing pad is 100% acid-free which implies that the colors will stay vibrant and rich for a long time. Its 300gsm weight makes it suitable for gouache painting.
The best thing is that the product has been backed with a satisfaction guarantee by the makers. If you have any issues, you can request a free replacement. Isn’t that a good deal?
Key Features
- Set of three pads offering 90 sheets in total
- Cold-pressed 300gsm sheets
- Slight texturing makes it suitable for fine detailing and multiple washes
- 100% acid-free
- Colors do not fade and remain vibrant and rich for a long time
Pros
- Ideal for use with wet, dry and mixed media
- Thicker and heavier paper
- Can withstand multiple washes without warping or bleeding
- Backed with a satisfaction guarantee by the makers
- Easy-to-tear pages
Cons
- Buckle slightly with light wash
3. Canson Artist Series Montvale Water Color Paper Pad
This sleekly designed Montvale pads consist of heavyweight, cold press watercolor papers. The paper has been mold made and works beautifully with several wet media. The surface can withstand repeated washes, erasing, and scraping as well.
These pads consist of micro-perforated sheets. What is best about this product is that it features an innovative removable half-sheet with tips and techniques that can either be used as a bookmark or can be reinserted into the pad.
With each pad, you will receive 20 sheets of 300gsm paper. The sheets are acid-free so that your precious creations wouldn’t fade over time.
The thickness of the sheets is ideal for gouache painting and has a slightly warm tone. The texture is great and absorbs the paint really well. The sheet isn’t sensitive to adhesives and the tape comes off really well each time.
Key Features
- Sleek, newly designed Montvale pads
- Heavyweight, cold press paper
- Each pad comprises of 20 sheets of 300gsm
- Made in France
- Mold made paper
Pros
- Works well with wet media
- Can withstand erasing, repeated washes and scraping
- Contain micro-perforated true size sheets
- Innovative removable half-sheet which features tips and techniques
Cons
- Not suitable for use with watercolor as the surface of the paper is fairly smooth and water just sits on the surface
In Summary
Gouache painting is an incredible technique. It offers you the best of both watercolor and acrylic painting. If you have a thing for painting unique designs, textures, and experimenting with different paint media, then you will certainly love trying gouache paints.
The major challenge is choosing a suitable painting surface. We have reviewed the best paper for use with gouache paint. Pick the best one for your painting project after comparing the various options available.
Related Questions
What Are These Sheets Made Of?
Most of these sheets are made from 100 percent cotton and can withstand a lot of soaking and scrubbing. Some are made from a mixture of cellulose. You can check the manufacturer’s label to check what has been used in making a sheet.
Are These Sheets Good For Oil Pastels?
Yes, these sheets would give good results with oil pastels. The quality of the paper is really high and the colors will appear truly rich and beautiful.
Can You Lift the Paint From The Sheets While It Is Wet?
Yes, it is possible to lift the paint if you are using watercolors. It is possible to make washes with this paper. You can lift while it is still wet with a sponge, tissue, or dry brush. The papers that we have reviewed are quite sturdy and can withstand multiple washes, so you should have no trouble.
Can These Sheets Be Printed On Both Laser And Inkjet Printers?
Some of them work well with printers. You can use it if your printer has a read feed so it doesn’t have to wrap around in a roller. If your printer requires the paper to make a tight bend, then these sheets wouldn’t work and they will get stuck in between the process.
What Is The Difference Between A Pad And A Block?
Watercolor pads usually come glued together or bounded with a spiral wire. Some kind of binder is always there. In a block, the sheets are attached on all sides with glue.
Generally, you paint on the top sheet of the block and then remove it with a palette knife after you have painted the top surface. Some artists find it quite convenient to work with a block instead of a pad and they don’t have to attach any tape for the edges.
Up Next: 5 Best Paper Cutters For Bookbinding
