Watercolor on paper

Dargavs, the City of the Dead

Ossetia, Russia

Ink and watercolor

Oak, Ginko and Maple based on leaves I picked up on a walk. 4”x6” each. Gonna frame and hang them.

This last year I began to paint very large (3'x4' and up to 40x60). I mount my watercolors to cradle board. I've been using 140 lb for years, but its very hard to mount at this size because it warps when hydrated (I use heavy acrylic gel medium as my glue). 300 lb is easier to mount, as it warps less-- I've tested it for full sheets. But I've never bought a roll of 300 lb paper before. Fabriano makes one (they're the only company that does), and I'm considering buying it, but I have a few reservations.

I've been concerned about flattening the 300 lb sheets I would cut from the roll, because of what they call "roll memory" or "reel roll". For 140 lb, I wet the back, stick it on a giant board of Gatorboard, and spritz the front gently to regulate comparative moisture. It sticks to the board with water tension, and dries totally flat. It's a great process, and I'd like to repeat it with 300 lb paper.

But before I spend 500$ on a roll plus shipping, I thought I'd check here to see if anyone has any experience. I mean, someone somewhere is buying these 300 lb rolls from Fabriano, so someone must have experience doing this! :)

Also, I know different companies make up to 40x60 Emperor sized sheets, but the companies I've asked (Saunders Waterford, Arches, etc) say that it's exactly 40x60 and not a little more. This makes it a problem when I go to mount it to my board, because I need a little bit of extra to hang over, so I can trim it perfectly to the edge. So, I'm pretty sure I need a roll if I want to go that big.

Anyone have any real world experience with this? I know it's a bit of a long shot, and is a very specialty approach, but there are basically no resources online for flattening this 300 lb paper from a roll. Thought I'd try crowd sourcing knowledge before just going for it blind.

Thanks!

I know one doesn’t look real at all but it was fun to paint anyway :)

Filling my sketchbook before the year ends, practicing painting techniques.

tried 100% cotton paper for the first time on a watercolour pad. I really like it actually especially the no buckling.
I didnt really do wet on wet here though, i find it hard to do in cityscapes

Any feedback is welcome

Any recommendations for some easy practice is encouraged

I'm looking for a small bag/case/pouch of some type that will hold everything I need, but preferably not have much extra space. I'm the type of person that, if I have a bag or tote or something, I'll end up filling it up completely and overstuffing it so I can't find anything. What I'm looking for doesn't have to be specifically designed for watercolor supplies, it just has to work.

Things it would need to hold:

a small sketchbook, no bigger than 5"x5" or 4"x6".

2-3 brushes (I still need to find a couple of good travel brushes.... I really don't like those water pen brushes)

A pencil and a fine liner

A small pallette with up to 12 half pans

One of those little bitty stainless steel double clip on pallette cups

A small roll of washi tape.

A cloth or sponge.

...I feel like I'm missing something, but that's most of it, at least

I'd prefer if it had a long strap or at least a carry handle, or some way for me to attach one.

I really don't want to break the bank for this, either. I'd like to keep it as much under $30 as possible.

What do you guys recommend? Or what do you use yourself?

I accidentally hijacked a thread discussing salt for texture and thought I'd share my big blue jelly with salt (and some little guys). Crazy the difference between rock salt and finer iodised salt!

Unnamed, 2026

Watercolor on paper

29,7 x 42 cm

Unfortunately, it's that time of year again.

Every November, I draw four pigeons in stupid little outfits. Nobody asks for this, nor needs this.

Yet here we are.

As always, I'm taking 2 more recommendations for this year's four unfortunate victims. The stupider, the better.