I painted a series of mountains. I used different types of paper and thought it was a good exercise in painting a wash. Below you can see the results.
I bought a selection pack of papers from Ken Bromley arts supplies online. This allowed me to try a range of different papers to see if they had an affect on the painting.
I followed this online exercise by Shaheen. They has some useful tutorials, exercises and tips & trick on her website My Art Aspirations.
This post has been updated 2nd September 2025
7th September 2024
This is attempt on painted on WH Smiths watercolour paper
- Paper: WH Smiths Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
I quite like the sky, but struggled with the washes for the mountains. I have an issue of mixing enough paint, but also of keeping the wash smooth. I did not allow the layers to dry between adding the next layer down.
8th September 2024
This is attempt on painted on WH Smiths watercolour paper
- Paper: WH Smiths Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
I allowed the layers for the mountains to dry between painting each mountain range. Still not happy with the smoothness of the washes.
9th September 2024
This is painted on Arches Aquarelle paper
- Paper: Arches Aquarelle
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 100% Cotton
I felt this went better. I think using better quality paper helped make the washes smoother. Especially when you compare it with the next one, painted on the same day. But disappointed with the graduated wash for the sky.
9th September 2024
This is painted on WH Smiths watercolour paper
- Paper: WH Smiths Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
Painted on the same day as the last one. I think this is not as good as the previous. THe washes are not good at all.
15th September 2024
This is painted on Canson Moulin Du Roy watercolour paper
- Paper: Canson Moulin Du Roy
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 100% Cotton
I think this is an improvement. Some of the far washes seem much smoother. I think that this is a combination of using better paper and me having practiced a lot.
26th September 2024
This is painted on Spectrum Artist watercolour paper
- Paper: Spectrum Artist Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 100% Cellulose
I really do not like this one. I think at this stage I can blame the paper. I am coming to the conclusion that paper with more cotton content is much easier to work with.
27th September 2024
This is painted on Ken Bromley Practice watercolour paper
- Paper: Ken Bromley Practice Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 280 gsm (130lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 25% Cotton
Painted with the practice paper. It has some cotton content (and is the paper i used for doing most of my practice paintings now). Some of the washes are Ok. and some could be improved. I also did not allow the paint to dry fully between washes.
6th October 2024
This is painted on Ken Bromley Practice watercolour paper
- Paper: Ken Bromley Practice Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 280 gsm (130lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 25% Cotton
This time I stretched the paper before painting. Not sure it has made much of a difference.
Conclusion
I think I painted better on better paper (i.e. 100% cotton). I also learnt a lot during the process and think that my painting show some progression.
Update
Today (2nd of September 2025), almost a year since I started to paint this series I thought I would have another go at painting the same mountains.
This is painted on Ken Bromley Practice watercolour paper
- Paper: Ken Bromley Practice Watercolour Paper
- Weight: 280 gsm (130lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 25% Cotton
The photograph does not do the painting justice. I used my practice paper and struggled to get a consistent wash across the paper, as can be seen by the streaky nature of the middle mountains.
The second attempt (below) I used different paper.
- Paper: Canson Moulin Du Roy
- Weight: 300 gsm (140lbs)
- Finish: Not / Cold Pressed
- Material: 100% Cotton
I found the Canson paper much more forgiving. I think the paper allows yo more time to more the paint around before it dries. I think the end result is much better than the first attempt today.
I did have a problem adding the second range of mountains. I under estimated how long it was going to take for the paint to dry. Painting the second set of mountains resulted in a wet-on-wet spread (as can be seen on the left hand side).
Do I think I have improved. I would say yes. I am more confident a year on. Also I think using better paper helps. But I still think I have a way to go.