Arteza Gouache & Watercolour Paper Reviewed & Tested, How Did They Perform?

[@azalea1404]

You really have a nice soothing voice - and you are indeed an amazing artist. And I totally agree: Arteza's products are good value for money - decent prices - but it's annoying they don't sell their paints, markers, or coloured pencils open stock.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thank you Anna, that's very kind of you to say, I hope one day Arteza start selling open stock.

[@teresa6775]

LOL I missed this promo by ONE day smh. Oh well. Thank you for doing this!! I never know which products to buy/try.

[@FabledFrame]

Cheers Smoothie; a great review with helpful knowledge. I'm adding these to my list of art materials i want.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Thanks Dom, you're welcome,

[@edwill62]

Arteza seems to have nice products.....I have their colored pencils

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

I agree Ed, I have no complaints, They seem very usable products,

[@marfred87]

What paper is yoir favourite for 1. Watercolour 2. Graphite 3. Coloured pencil and is there a paper which can handle all of it very well?

[@izakpolman6280]

I did think of buying arteza from Amazon until I found them cellulose instead of cotton, I bought Saunders Waterford spiral pad instead. One thing I want to ask -- do you think arteza is better than Bockingford? Thanks for your very detailed information.

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Hi Izak, if you had asked me that question a year ago, I would have said no Arteza isn't as good as Bockingford, but in the last year or so, Bockingford has changed, I have had issues with the quality, it seems to buckle more than it used to and I've had problems with the sizing dissolving, I don't know if I had a few bad batches or not, but other people have had the same experience as me, The Arteza paper is a very good paper for general use and mixed media, due to the smoother texture it will work well for adding layers of coloured pencil or pastel on top of watercolours, its a very different style of paper compared with Bockingford.

[@izakpolman6280]

@@smoothie77drawingpainting thanks a lot 👍

[@teresa6775]

As my art supply budget keeps getting blown AGAIN...I just got this set based on your review. So far, I LOVE them. Hard to get used to how strong they are though. Trying to tone down a dark color by adding white....you're better off adding just a pin head amount of the dark to a large amount of white. Question...since these dry on the flat side, could you spray it with a lacquer or enamel to shine it up and would also give it some light fastness or would that turn yellow over time ????

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

I gave up budgeting for art supplies, I couldn't stick to it no matter how hard I tried lol, Regarding your question, I haven't ever used a spray over watercolour or gouache, I like the flat look, I know there is a spray for watercolour, don't know if it shines or not, can't remember the name of it either, sorry I can't be more helpful.

[@teresa6775]

@@smoothie77drawingpainting After investigating further, I found many people use a variety of products. Mod Podge and Dorland's wax seem to be the favorites. Both safe for watercolor and gouache. I know you prefer to leave it as is, but thought I'd let you know what I have found.

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

I think I can attest to the quality of the arteza products, I have been thinking of them myself. I happen to know for example that Thierry Duval a very well known realistic landscape wztercolour artist has also been demonstrating the arteza watercolours, not necessarily for his landscape commissions but for private private projects both landscape and floral subjects and he endorses them as quality watercolours. I think for someone ordinary they would be a good choice of affordable paints

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

Well you’ve convinced me

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Well if they are good enough for Thierry, they are good enough for me :) I think they are a good choice for gouache, the paper is superb too, I'm glad I convinced you:)

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

smoothie77 certsinly the pearlescent ones would interest me, you can buy those as a set on their own, anyway I’ve earmarked them as a possible near future purchase 😂

[@Lorens-art]

smoothie what brush are you using??

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

Pentel aqua brush

[@quantum5091]

Have you tried the pencils?

[@smoothie77drawingpainting]

No not yet....

[@christopher6886]

Unfortunately, Arteza doesn't respond to questions regarding ingredients from slaughtered animals. Animals don't need to suffer so we can express ourselves, please support vegan products.