You might think that all watercolor paper is the same, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The right watercolor paper can make or break a painting, so it’s worth taking a closer look at all the options out there.
Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite watercolor papers and why they’re so special.
Our Editor’s Best Mixed Media Paper Reviews
- EXPLORE YOUR WILD SIDE – Embrace worry-free creativity on these resilient 160gsm sheets! Unleash your imagination confidently, exploring dry and wet media like, vibrant paints and bold colored pencils. Rest easy knowing that color bleeding onto the next page is a concern of the past. This acid-free paper keeps your artwork safe from fading and damage, ensuring it stays vibrant and beautiful for many years to come. Dive into your masterpiece without limitations!
- HEAVYWEIGHT & TEXTURED – Unlock artistic possibilities with textured paper that smooth paper can't match. The unique surface gracefully absorbs paint and preserves pigments without warping, allowing you to effortlessly build up multiple layers for unparalleled depth. Take advantage of the paper’s randomized detail for captivating patterns, highlights, and complexity.
- PERFECT FOR STUDENTS – Unleash your creativity in art class by easily transitioning between sketching, drawing, painting, calligraphy, illustration, comics, and concept art. This all-in-one pad is your gateway to a world of diverse artistic styles and techniques, offering boundless opportunities to express your imagination with ease and flair. And get creative outside of class! Use it for art journaling and collage projects to capture and celebrate your favorite memories. It's your canvas to express yourself and remember the best moments in a fun and artistic way!
- SAFE FOR PAINT & PENCIL – Mixed media paper is designed to accommodate a variety of art materials, such as colored pencils, solvent-based markers, charcoal, brush pens, ink pens, watercolor paints, pastels, fineliners and gouache. Fun note: professional illustrators prefer the versatility of mixed media paper and agree the choice of paper can make or break the result. Choose wisely!
- LET YOUR CREATIVITY TAKE FLIGHT! Since 1557, the artisans of Canson in the South of France have supported the imaginations of artists everywhere. Since its release, art students have loved XL Series pads for their durability, variety of sizes, and consistent quality across different types of paper. You can trust Canson XL Series for sketch, drawing, watercolor, bristol, mixed media, acrylic paper and more!
- DURABLE: Spiral bound with heavy chipboard back for drawing support.
- CONVENIENT: Conveniently sized 8.5" x 11" journal is the same size as a standard notebook, making it easy to take anywhere.
- VERSATILE: Ideal art paper for sketching, drawing, or painting. Acid-free and recyclable.
- HIGH QUALITY: Backed by our Prang Promise to replace any product that fails to meet your expectations.
- TRUSTED BRAND: Prang is part of the Dixon Ticonderoga family of products which includes Ticonderoga, Dixon, Pacon, Tru-Ray, UCreate, Fadeless, Classroom Keepers, Bordette, Creativity Street, Spectra, Strathmore, Canson, Daler-Rowney, Lyra, Das, and more.
- Acid-free design is perfect for scrapbooking and archival use
- Sized perfectly for architectural sketches and designs
- Can be used with a multitude of art supplies; making it perfect for both beginner and expert artists
- Great choice for all types of media
- Heavyweight sulphite paper with natural color and medium tooth surface
- Excellent for pencil, colored pencils and charcoal
- 500-sheet pack of 9-inch by 12-inch white paper
- Acid-free and recyclable
- Quality Material: The heavyweight sketchbook is made of recyclable, high-quality 98 lb/160 gsm mixed media materials. Sufficient thickness can prevent ink from bleeding through the pages. Each sheet is acid-none, which ultimately prevents the colors from deteriorating or fading. Besides, the hard cardboard made cover and bottom can protect your artistic drawings and sketches. It is not easy to get damaged.
- Tough & Convenient Ring Binding Design: Our sketch book is attached using a sturdy ring binding, which can protect the paper when turning pages. Meanwhile, the drawing pad is flexible, can be rotated 360 degrees to maximize the sketching, drawing, and writing space.
- Wide Application: Our drawing, writing, and painting art paper is perfect for a range of different mixed media, including pencil, pen, charcoal, crayons, sketching sticks and gel pen. Can be used as sketch pad, sketchbook, drawing pad, memo pad, art book, etc.
- Available in size of 9 x 12 inches, each sketch pad with 60 sheets, this bulk set of sketchbooks are suitable for all your needs! A sketching pad can be tucked into a bag or backpack, perfect for branding your imagination and documenting your ideas anytime, anywhere.
- Great Present & Satisfaction Service: Our mixed media sketchbook 9x12 for drawing would be an present for professional artists, art students, graffiti enthusiasts, and more. Please check the package content upon receiving the product. If you have any questions about the product, our customer service is suitablefor you to resolve.
- Heavyweight Paper: Each sheet is 140 LB/300 GSM,Magecubiku Mixed Media Paper offering a sturdy surface that stands up to multiple layers of media without warping or bleeding;
- Convenient Size: Measuring 9 x 12 inches, these sheets are perfect for both detailed work and larger compositions;
- Dual-Sided Texture: The front side features a medium rough texture that preserves the smudge effect of pigments, while the back side has a fine texture, ideal for various types of paintings;
- Highly Absorbent Cotton: Made from premium, highly absorbent cotton, this paper is perfect for soaking up water-based media like watercolor and gouache, ensuring vibrant and lasting color;
- Versatile Applications: Suitable for watercolor,acrylic painting, gouache, markers, painting, drawing, and sketching, making it an essential tool for any mixed media artist;
- Micro-perforated wire bound sheets
- Best used for mixed media sketches, practice of techniques and quick studies
- Medium weight paper in sketchbook formats
- Great for watercolor, gouache, acrylic, graphite, pen & ink, colored pencil, marker, pastel, collage
- Made in the USA
- Explore Your Wild Side | You can't do much to damage these 200gsm sheets - create confidently with dry and wet media
- Perfect for Students | Use for urban sketching, art journaling, comics, illustrations and concept art
- Easily Remove Sheets | No need to worry about mistakes ripping out perforated pages thanks to the glue binding. Simply pull out the page!
- Pencil, Ink & Watercolor | Use with colored pencils, solvent-based markers, charcoal, brush pens, ink pens, watercolor paints and pastels
- CANSON — Let your creativity take flight! Since 1557, our artisans in the South of France have supported the imaginations of artists everywhere.
- Nice for Wet and Dry Media: mixed media paper is acid free and heavyweight, each sheet has a thickness of 98lb/160gsm, great for both wet and dry media, like markers, acrylic, pencils, pens and else.
- Mixed Media Paper with Double-Sided Hardcover: the covers are sturdy and hard enough to prevent the paper from being damaged, provide a strong surface for you to lean on while you are sketching.
- 60 Sheets Mixed Media Sketchbook: art book measures 9 x 12 inches, each sketchpad with 60 pages, the smooth paper can withstand the repeated reworking and erasing, perfect for amateurs, professionals, and students.
- Top Spiral Bound Mixed Media Pad: works well with a variety of mediums, the ring binder is easy to use without bending the pages, top spiral bound design makes it easy for you to draw either right or left handed.
- Micro-perforated Paper: the sheets are microperforated on the top edge so that the sheets can be removed easily without the risk of them breaking, ideal for mixed media painting, sketching, writing & drawing.
- Ideal for watercolor, gouache, acrylic, graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, marker, and collage
- Glue bound pads feature flip-over covers for sheets that stay in the pad yet tear out cleanly
- Pad measures 11 x 14 inches
- 15 sheets per pad
Best Mixed Media Paper Buying Guide
Before choosing the best mixed media paper you should consider following options:
1. Art Paper: Art paper is one of the most widely used types of paper in the world. This is because of its high opacity and smooth finish.
It is available in different weights, colors, and textures. This is the most preferred type of paper for watercolor and ink drawing.
2. Drawing Paper: Drawing paper is usually a smooth and bright white or off-white paper. It is used by artists for sketches and drawing cartoons.
It is available in different weights, finishes, and sizes. This type of paper offers a lot of freedom while sketching because they are not very absorbent.
3. Bristol Paper: Also known as bristol board, is a heavyweight paper with a smooth surface. It is one of the most popular types of paper used by cartoonists.
Bristol is available in different sizes, thickness, and finishes. This is the perfect type of paper for ink drawing and watercolor wash.
4. Hot-Press Watercolor Paper: Hot-press watercolor paper is a very absorbent type of paper. It is perfect for watercolor painting because it offers a rich texture.
It is available in different sizes, finishes, and thickness. This type of paper is suitable for both rough and detailed works.
5. Rough Watercolor Paper: This type of paper offers one of the roughest textures among all the other watercolor papers.
It is perfect for a watercolor wash because it allows maximum ink flow. This is the best type of paper for a rough and bold painting.
6. Bristol Vellum: Also known as tracing paper, is a translucent paper that is perfect for tracing and sketching.
It is available in different sizes, thickness, and finish. This type of paper is perfect for ink drawing, watercolor wash, and sketching.
7. Cartridge Paper: Cartridge paper is a translucent paper with a smooth texture. It is perfect for watercolor, ink drawing, and acrylic painting.
Cartridge paper is available in different finishes, sizes, and thickness. This is the best paper for beginners and professionals alike.
8. Drawing Board: Drawing board is a type of paper that offers little resistance while sketching.
It is perfect for pencil and charcoal drawing. Drawing boards are available in different finishes, sizes, and thickness.
9. Bristol Smooth: Although this type of paper seems similar to the plain bristol paper, it is different in many ways.
It has a smooth finish and a high ink absorption rate. This makes it perfect for ink drawing and watercolor wash.
10. Watercolor Block: Watercolor blocks are available in different sizes, thickness, and finishes. It is perfect for watercolor painting because it offers a rough texture.
It is great for creating a watercolor wash that absorbs a lot of ink. This makes them perfect for both rough and detailed works.
11. White Marker Paper: White marker paper is a smooth and bright white paper that is perfect for pencil, ink, and marker drawing.
It is available in different thickness, finishes, and sizes. This is the most preferred type of paper for writing and sketching.
12. Art Paper Stocks: Art paper stocks are a smooth white paper with a high ink absorption rate.
They are perfect for drawing and sketching because they offer a smooth surface and high ink absorption. Art paper stocks are available in different finishes and thickness.
13. Art Paper Blank: Art paper
What else you should know about mixed media paper
What is mixed media paper?
Mixed media paper is a type of paper that can be used for a variety of mediums. It is usually a heavier weight paper that can handle being wet or dry.
What are the benefits of mixed media paper?
Mixed media paper can be used for a variety of purposes, including drawing, painting, and mixed media art. It is usually made from a blend of different types of paper, such as watercolor paper, Bristol board, and drawing paper. Mixed media paper typically has a textured surface that can be useful for creating interesting effects in your artwork.
What are the different types of mixed media paper?
The different types of mixed media paper are watercolor paper, acrylic paper, oil paper, and pastel paper.
How do you use mixed media paper?
There is no one way to use mixed media paper, as it can be used for a variety of purposes. Some people use it for scrapbooking, collages, or other art projects, while others use it for writing or drawing. Mixed media paper can be found in a variety of colors, textures, and weights, so it can be used for a variety of purposes.
What are some tips for working with mixed media paper?
Some tips for working with mixed media paper are to use a variety of mediums to create interesting textures, to experiment with different techniques, and to have fun!
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best mixed media paper. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best mixed media paper will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.