How to FIX Bad Watercolour Paper (30 Days of Watercolour Tips) 

THIS WORKS!!!!! Thank you so much. I am a beginner and got myself some easily available, cheap paper, but the paints doesn't sink/dry like it does in the tutorials. I thought the only way is to buy some expensive paper. But this tip worked wonderfully.

Wow, I'm all over the idea! I like the Strathmore 400 for practice and swatches, but it isn't 100% cotton and performance is erratic. I'm going to try this for sure. It will be perfect for the mini albums I want to make also, using the 100% cotton Arches.

Yep. Turns everyday pulp paper into quality pulp paper. Same principle for grilling using dried wood chips. Hydrate it b4 use.

Thanks got sharing. How will you apply this method to paper in a sketchbook?

Wow cool tip! That's definitely a new knowledge, maybe that's why I don't like other watercolor papers 😮

Also remember there is no such thing as "too much sizing" there is only too much sizing for YOU and the thing you are doing right now. Some people love very very little sizing. Some people cannot work without medium sizing. Some people swear by super hard sizing. Whatever works for you works for you. Hard sizing is not a sign of low quality. But very low quality paper will often use hard sizing to make it more sturdy. And it will still look shit. In cases like that you might be able to get better results by reducing the sizing. But if you like the hard sizing there's nothing wrong with that. Try millford paper from saunders if you want to try a professional paper with very hard sizing.

Do you have any recommendations on brands that normally don’t need to be prepped?

This is such a good explanation! All I’ve ever heard anyone else say is that soaking the paper is only for when you’re going to stretch it to prevent buckling. Since I only paint small, I don’t find buckling to be problematic. But this demonstration of how much better the paper will absorb water and paint…!!! THIS is helpful!!

so this works on wood pulp paper? good to know!!! i have a lot of them laying around!

This happened to me yesterday on a painting I was working on. Got annoyed and decided to use gouache instead 😅

Is this wood pulp paper? Does this make it as good as 100% cotton paper? That would save a small fortune! Lol

This is such a good channel, thank you!

This is so helpful! Also does this work on bigger sheets of paper?

Could you make a full video of these tips when you complete the whole 30 days please 🤍

Watercolor painting is so frustrating, i keep messing it up 😭!! And yet it’s so beautiful it’s so worth learning!!

Could you make a full video of these tips when you complete the whole 30 days please 🤍

Thank you for posting I had no idea it could effect the dried colors so much

I've seen on someone else's video that hot press takes ink real well, but the watercor lays on top. Does this work on hot press? Thank you!

Wow, this is great! Thank you🙌🏻

Please learn the difference between "lays" and "lies."

perfect timing of seeing this post. you saved me a lot I'm near throwing a newly bought sketchbook.

Which are the best watercolor papers that you recommended?

do u have any tips for paper that absorb water too quickly?

WTF HOW DID YOU KNOW? THIS IS EXACTLY MY STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW LOL youtube is crazy

I just wanted to shoutout a huge THANK YOU!! This video literally saved my watercolor journey. I am a new watercolor artist and I was not ready to commit as of yet to buying expensive watercolor paper but I just wasn’t able to achieve results on the student grade paper until I found this video. I scoured RU-vid for the problem I was having and your video was the only one that offered a solution that didn’t involve a switch to cotton paper. I’ve tried a few swatches on some treated paper using your method and it’s night and day different!! Thank you SO much for sharing and helping us all grow in our craft!

Wonderful, thank you!

Does doing this take the place of stretching? or would you still recommend doing that?

My paper is highly absorbent I tried to make a puddle and everything just sucked in then I knew that paper had little holes and water was sinking through

Stupid question, but does this effect lifting/staining?

waow so usefull👍

Thank you for sharing this tip! Would this happen to work on a mixed-media type of paper?

Woah. Game changer. Very nice, thank you!

I learned this in my etching class, it's a life saver!

this is amazingly helpful, thank you!

That's amazing, thank you!

Cool tip! Thank you so much!!

Thanks.It really helped me so much

Can you share the link?

Cool idea! What paper is this?

Thankyou ❤❤

Thank you! 😊

how do you prepare a painting book then?