Is there a correct side of watercolor paper you are supposed to paint on? And if there is, is one side actually better than the other?
With pads and blocks it is pretty obvious – the manufacturer wants you painting on the sheet that is facing up. Sheets are trickier. So I went and looked into it, and here is what I found: on a sheet of watercolor paper, the manufacturer stamps their logo into a corner to mark the front. If you can read the logo, you are looking at the side they intend you to paint on.
Then I got curious. What actually happens if you paint on the back? So I laid a small swatch of color down on both sides and compared them.
There were differences. Subtle ones, but real. And honestly, the back side is the one I have come to prefer. Let me show you what I saw, why the two sides are different in the first place, and how to decide which one suits your painting.
The Correct Side of Watercolor Paper
When talking about pads and blocks of watercolor paper – the answer is pretty obvious that manufacturers prefer you use the sheet of the page that is pointed up – also known as the “front” side. But what about when it comes to sheets of watercolor paper? Is there a correct side and if so how do you know?
Well, after some research I found that when purchasing sheets of watercolor paper the manufacturer will stamp their logo usually onto the corner of the sheet to signify that this is the “front” side you are supposed to paint on. Basically – if you can read the logo – that is the correct side – or the side the manufacturer designates as the side which you are supposed to paint on.
Is There a Difference?
That got me wondering – if there is a “correct/front” side to watercolor paper – what would happen if you painted on the opposite or “back” side. Is there a difference and if so what is it?
And yes, to answer the question I keep seeing – you absolutely can paint on both sides of a sheet. That is exactly how I ran this comparison: I laid down a small swatch of color on both sides and began to see subtle differences.
- First – the paint lay on the “back” side slightly smoother than the “front” side
- Second – dry time seemed to last a bit longer on the “back” side compared to the “front” side
- Third – the “back” side seemed to show more blossoms and blooms when compared to the “front” side.
- The Biggest Difference however was the smooth “tooth” or texture of the “back” side compared to the “front” side.
Why is there a Difference?
So why is there a difference between the two sides? Without getting into too much detail – it mainly comes down to how the paper is processed. One side is usually squeezed against a wire mesh while the other is pressed against felt. As the paper is processed – it typically retains the slight pattern or groove of the wire mesh on the front side and remains smooth or flat on the felt side or back side. Thus creating the two distinct sides – some painters describe this simply as the rough side versus the smooth side.
Which Side is Better?
It’s really up to the artist. Personally – I preferred painting on the smoother or “back” side of the watercolor paper since my paintings tend to have a good amount of fine details. I also like to work with Mixed Media elements such as pencils, pens, and inks – which work easier on smoother surfaces. So – if you like the smoothness of hot press paper but the absorption of cold press – flipping your cold press over onto the back side is kind of a happy medium. You get the absorption of cold press paper but a smoother texture similar to hot press.
And if hot press versus cold press is new to you, start here – I break down what actually separates them: What’s The Difference Between Cold Press and Hot Press Watercolor Paper?
But ultimately the choice is up to you! So take a chance and try it out for yourself! Also, keep in mind that different brands have varying degrees of texture. I used Arches and Fabriano cold press 300lb paper as examples for this post – but other brands can have different results. So explore and have fun during the process!