In this post & accompanying video, I’m painting the same painting on two different watercolor papers to explore the difference between hot press and rough watercolor paper surfaces - and I’m excited to share them with you!

Click on the image below to play the video:

I painted two similar sketches so I could easily do a side-by-side comparison. I typically use cold press paper because it’s a nice “middle-of-the-road” paper (and most commonly used). So this was a fun way to compare the other two types of watercolor paper.

Hot Press Paper

Hot Press paper is the smoothest surface of the 3 types of watercolor paper finishes. It is particularly good for paintings with detailed subjects. It also allows for easily sketching with a pencil or pen-like I did for these paintings. 

After painting on Hot Press paper, I noticed that this paper produces more vibrant colors, it creates an interesting illustrated, marker-like look and is great for ink lines because of the smooth texture.

Rough Paper

Rough Paper has the most textured surface compared with Hot Press. I noticed it is easier to achieve 'dry-brush' textured effects, it also has a longer drying time than Hot Press and gives you more time to work on the painting. And lastly, it’s easier to achieve smooth washes.

After painting on both Hot Press and Rough Papers, I personally think that the textured papers (Cold Press and Rough) are easier to work with and would definitely continue to recommend Cold Press to anyone just starting out with watercolors. (I’ll probably continue to use Cold Press most frequently when painting!) 

But as with all art and supplies, it comes down to personal preference!

If you happen to be just starting and are looking for some help with supplies, you might find the following links helpful:

• The Ultimate Guide to Watercolor Papers for Beginners

• Download my FREE Beginner’s Supply Guide Here 

Supplies used in this post:

• Legion Stonehenge Aqua Hot Press 7x10 Block

• Winsor & Newton Rough Watercolor Paper 140lb/300 gsm - 7x10 Block

• Prismacolor Turquoise Pencil B

• Platinum Carbon Desk Fountain Pen 

• Tombow Mono Plastic Eraser (Pack of 3)

• Synthetic Sable Hair Round Tip Travel Brush (comes in a set of 3 round brushes size 4, 8, 12)

• My 24 color palette

I hope this post helped demonstrate the difference between Hot Press and Rough watercolor paper. 

Have you given different watercolor paper surfaces a try? Comment below and let me know which one YOU prefer!

As always, thank you for reading,
Susan