Winsor & Newton 6663255 Classic Watercolor Paper Postcard Pad, Cold Pressed 140lb, 4"x6", White

I was excited to try out this watercolor pad. I take a lot of Skillshare classes, and I like to use larger paper, and I prefer to keep my work in a book rather than using individual sheets. I like that I have a reference to easily refer back to. I thought this pad would be perfect! And, since it's W&N, a brand I know is well-established in the watercolor community, I figured this pad would be one big win. Unfortunately, I struggled with this paper. I would say I am an advanced beginner in watercoloring, so I am no expert. However, I've experimented with enough watercolor paper (from low budget to Arches) to know good paper from bad. This paper does not take water well at all - something watercolor paper should definitely do. I don't know how to explain it, but it almost seems like there is a coating on the paper that causes the paint to bead and sit on top of the paper. I am going to insert some photos for reference. The last two pictures show the difference between this paper (top pic) and a piece of the more bargain brand Canson XL. You would think the W&N paper would take the paint better, but this is not the case. If you work and work at it, you can make it work. But watercolor painting should not be that hard. The more watery the paint mix, the more difficult it is to coax the paper into accepting it. I found what I had to do was lay down a wash of color then go back in with a dry brush and mop up what beaded up on top (which was most of it). Then I'd have to repeat that at least 1-2 times more to get any sort of color to stay on the paper. If I wanted a deeper hue, I'd have to repeat it multiple times. I also noticed that the paint was prone to drying with hard edges despite my best efforts to prevent them.I gave this paper the benefit of the doubt for a long time. At first I thought it was maybe my inexperience. That possibly there was something wrong with how I was applying the paint. I experimented with different brushes and paints. I persevered and eventually filled the entire book, but it was a struggle until the very end. I was using quality brushes and quality paints - Sennelier, Daniel Smith, QOR, Mission Gold, and even Winsor & Newton's own Cotman and Professional lines. NO PAINT worked well with this paper. Always ready to give any company the benefit of the doubt, I thought perhaps I had gotten a defective pad. However, after doing some research and reading some of the reviews here, I think this line of paper is definitely flawed.I love W&N paints! The small palette of Cotmans (W&N's student grade line) I purchased when I first started watercoloring are still some of my favorite paints despite now having a decent variety of higher grade paints. I love their watercolor brush markers as well. As far as their paper, though, if this pad is any indication, then I will be steering clear of that. It's too bad because I love the 9x12 format with the top spiral binding, but I'm moving on.

Wow! I’m very impressed with this WN watercolor pad! I only tried two sheets, but I can tell I like the paper very much! I imagine the loose, full size, sheets must be even better quality... Anyway, this paper is almost like painting on canvas.:) I think it performs close to a WC cotton rag! As a bonus, sheets are perforated. If I was going to paint something with lots of water, I’d remove the paper and secure it to a support board (coroplast) to prevent cockling. This paper has a very nice texture and a velvety soft feel, but it’s sturdy enough for editing/lifting color. It may also perform like a rough surface paper. So I think painting a seaside, for example, may give beautiful results - the small areas of white paper that remained uncovered will appear like sparkles/highlights... Color looks and stays beautiful and bright. To me this is one of the best WC papers out there! (Now, please, keep the price affordable and within reason, okay!:)) I also appreciate that it arrived fast, well-packaged and in perfectly new condition. Thanks!

i have been trying out many papers this last couple of years and got this one accidentally instead of the cotton paper. i have to say between fluid100, art n fly and even the ever popular arches i LOVE this paper. it holds well with loads of water, can be scrubbed, feels like cotton, takes masking well... even the price was acceptable. i noted this particular one is no longer available but i think they just updated the cover.

This stuff is wonderful. I never realized how much of a difference paper can make when using watercolors. The blue one is cheaper paper, the red one is the WN paper. The red one is sooo much more crisp and not muddy like the blue. If you feel like your watercoloring is missing something, try this paper!

Ordered it recently and didn’t notice that it’s not cotton. 100% cellulose. But actually I was surprised by the quality of paper and how it’s easy to work on it. Of course you feel the difference, but it’s ok for sketchesz and even from dry painting you can erase the paint (watercolor) with the clean wet brush

Beautiful paper! So impressed with the quality. I love it. I acatually haven’t used it yet, but it appears to be the best quality paper I have bought so far. Can’t wait to use it. My father used to work at a printing company and I love well-made paper.

I have been using Arches but I saw a video that recommended Winsor and Newton. I’m happy I ordered this. I like it just as much as Arches and I feel the quality is the same. I’m not a professional watercolor painter, but I have been painting a long time. The price is great for a block of beautiful 100% cotton paper.

This is a nice quality watercolor paper.

I'm a massive fan of the Winsor and Newton Cotman watercolour postcards (blue packaging), but as I've been unable to find them again, I'm led to believe they have been discontinued in favour of these. The paper's just okay. It bows, it's really rough, and doesn't absorb the water well at all. Quite disappointed as the old version was the same price and much, much better quality. Will use them up but likely won't buy again.

I have always bought this pad from Windsor and Newton and I have to say since they changed from the blue front cover the quality is not as good the paper is more grainy not as smooth. Happy with the prompt dispatch by the seller though I have bought before and will buy again thanks

Good quality watercolour paper.

Lovey quality watercolour paper

Not keen on the perforations