Arches Watercolour Hot Pressed Pad 18x26 100% cotton 300gsm 20s.

The Arches watercolor block, made of 100% high-quality cotton, is a premium paper designed for artists who work with watercolors and other wet mediums like ink, gouache, and acrylic. Known for its close resemblance to traditionally handcrafted paper, it offers superior performance, particularly in its ability to withstand wet techniques due to the even distribution of fibers during the papermaking process. This results in enhanced control for the artist when the paper is wet, limiting deformation.

Key Features:

1. Cylinder Mould Process:
   • The slow rotation of the cylinder during production allows fibers to spread evenly in all directions. This ensures that the paper remains stable and resistant to buckling or tearing when wet, making it particularly suited for wet applications. It can produce paper with deckle edges, which is a signature of high-quality art paper.
2. Gelatin Sizing to the Core:
   • Exclusive to Arches®, the gelatin sizing is applied throughout the paper rather than just on the surface. This unique sizing preserves the transparency and brilliance of colors, prevents paint from soaking too deeply, and allows for multiple layers of washes. This also strengthens the paper against erasing or scratching, making it resilient for various techniques.
3. Versatility and Resilience:
   • The paper is capable of absorbing large amounts of water with minimal deformation, making it ideal for heavy water techniques. Additionally, colors can be easily lifted or erased, both wet and dry, revealing the paper's original brightness.
4. Textured Options:
   • Arches offers three distinct textures: cold pressed (semi-rough), hot pressed (smooth), and rough. These textures cater to different artistic preferences and techniques, providing flexibility for artists based on their medium and style.
5. Grammages:
   • Arches provides a range of paper thicknesses to suit various artistic needs. For extremely wet techniques or large format work, it offers high grammage paper up to 850 gsm, which is rare and valuable for artists working on extra-large projects requiring robust paper that can handle excessive moisture.