We are a small team of watercolor artists and art supply reviewers based in Amsterdam. Between us, we have over 15 years of combined experience painting with watercolors — loosely en plein air along the canals, tightly for botanical illustration, and every style in between.
Why we started this site
We got tired of reading "best watercolor paper" articles written by people who clearly never held a brush. The typical article lists whatever products have the highest affiliate commission, pastes in the specs from the manufacturer's website, and calls it a review. That is not a review. That is a product listing with a star rating on top.
We wanted something different: honest opinions from people who actually paint. So we built it ourselves.
How we test
We buy every single product we review. Nobody sends us free paper in exchange for a good write-up. If a $40 sheet of Arches outperforms a $8 Strathmore pad, we say that. If the Strathmore holds up better than expected, we say that too.
Every paper and sketchbook goes through the same six-test process:
Flat wash — We lay down an even wash across the full width of the paper to check for streaking, color pooling, and how evenly pigment distributes.
Wet-on-wet — We apply a second wet wash into the first while still damp to test how the paper handles soft blends and whether the surface breaks down under heavy water.
Glazing — We build up six or more transparent layers to test how well the paper holds detail without the surface lifting or muddying.
Lifting — After the paint is fully dry, we attempt to lift pigment with a damp brush. This tests surface durability and how forgiving the paper is for corrections.
Scrubbing — We scrub aggressively with a stiff brush to see how much punishment the surface can take without pilling or tearing.
Dry brush — We drag a barely loaded brush across the surface to test how the texture catches pigment and creates texture.
We use the same pigments for every test — Daniel Smith Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna — and the same round brush. The only variable is the paper. Testing happens across multiple sessions, at different humidity levels, to make sure our results hold up.
Our editorial policy
We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links. This costs you nothing extra — Amazon pays us a percentage of the sale price at no additional charge to you. This is how the site stays free.
Affiliate commissions have zero influence on our ratings. Our number one pick and our number eight pick earn us the same commission percentage. If a product scores poorly on our tests, it scores poorly on the page. Full stop. You can read more on our editorial policy page.
Who we are
Sarah van den Berg leads our testing and writes the majority of our reviews. She has been painting watercolors for 11 years, with a focus on urban sketching and botanical subjects. She trained at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam.
Lotte Dijkstra handles product research, specs verification, and keeps our comparison data current. She paints primarily en plein air landscapes and has tested more watercolor papers than she can count.
We are not affiliated with any paper brand, supplier, or art materials company. We have no business relationship with Arches, Fabriano, Hahnemühle, or any other manufacturer whose products appear on this site.