Let's test - Baohong Cotton Cold Press Watercolor Papers

In the quest for cotton watercolor papers at a reasonable price we have some nice paper options by Baohong.
Today I'll compare the "Masters Choice" branded packet of Baohong cold press paper and the large block of Baohong Academy cold press paper.
Both these papers are solid options for watercolor painters with some nice - and differing - characteristics. Both also share a common flaw of simple math. (spoiler: the quest for quality and price is never truly over.)
Let's see how these papers perform different tasks we commonly ask of our watercolor paper, what they get right and what they miss.
23:55 : recap of Academy, Masters Choice, Baohong Cold Press Papers in General
Get it on Amazon, get it at Jerry's, get it at Blick, no affiliates here, no partners, no free things for me.
BUT - If you like what I'm about, then get yourself a swatch chart or mixing grid:
www.etsy.com/shop/denadraws

[@jennyjanesbeauty8216]

Thankyou for taking the time to do this video. Really really appreciate it. Extremely helpful xx

[@genigee]

Thank you. Have both know what to expect now

[@rebeccalyons1327]

This is the best comparison of all that I’ve watched.

[@nicoletheknightowl7560]

This was a great review\comparision! It is concise and informative and actually shows the papers and paint in action serously great job and thank you!!!❤

[@dena-ann-adams]

thanks much, glad it was helpful!

[@appleknocker56]

After using cellulose paper (not easy) then get this kind & did notice on wet on wet (leaves a dull look) as you showed! Now have 12 sheets of Arches “cold press” but can use the Baohong for practice. Ty for these videos as enjoy doing wet on wet so will be interesting to see how the Arches as never used it!

[@dena-ann-adams]

This will be stellar for practice, either academy or artist. I also really like stonehenge by legion as a "good practice" paper - if something wonderful happens it's cotton and archival, but it tapes poorly and won't be your favorite thing on earth and still is under 5 bucks an imperial sheet.

[@paigeme886]

Thank you so incredibly much! This must be one of the best watercolour paper reviews and comparisons I have seen! Thank you. New subscriber now 😊

[@ohsfer11820]

Thank you so much! Since I'm a beginner I bought a lot and I mean a lot of watercolor paper thatbare inexpensive..I ended up loving Baohong and I can't wait to try the Artist grade once I get better. This review helps a lot. Thank you

[@dkstamberose]

Lifting is super important for me, now I can be confident about choosing master's choice! This was helpful, thank you!

[@dena-ann-adams]

So glad it was helpful, thanks so much for commenting!

[@elainebrown160]

I use Baohong blocks a lot and I never have a problem getting the pages off. Maybe I’m just lucky.

[@dena-ann-adams]

It's a complaint I've heard, I think it's really well made and I've had issues with other non-Baohong ones coming apart if I fling water around. Slow and steady and I like the leaf thing.

[@susanharwood3821]

thank you so much for your review. I found your review of the Academy paper to be spot on with my findings, I have been considering buying the masters but you have now given me more choices to think about. I am a big lover of fabriano so may go that way.

[@ficheye00]

Totally comprehensive. Keep it up!

[@Saahrish]

This was super helpful. Thank you so much!

[@dena-ann-adams]

You're so welcome, happy painting!

[@earthrooster1969]

The master's seem to overall give more dramatic results! Thanks so much for the many comparisons on both papers!

[@dena-ann-adams]

Glad it was helpful!

[@diannaa5631]

Very well done and explained. I only use the front of my paper.i also only use cotton.i Sell my work .Baohong artists is a favorite of mine.

[@dena-ann-adams]

I've been going through papers lately and yes, it's really fabulous. I like Academy too, just as much for other reasons.

[@scottbarham8455]

excellent smart ... well spoken !

[@Brembelia]

I use Baohong. I found this information to be useful and helpful. Thank you. I would like a video that reviews your swatching (I swatch everything from Dr. Ph. Martin's to Shinhan,) materials as well as going over other offerings in your shop. 😊😊😊

[@dena-ann-adams]

So sweet of you to request that! Sadly my sheets are between printings right now, but if there's something you'd like to see me swatch out I'd love to hear it, I can make it work.

[@js8703]

New subscriber! Thankyou for this fantastic review video. It's really well done and greatly appreciated. I love your yt channel. Keep up the great work!

[@dena-ann-adams]

Thank you so much for watching and joining! So appreciated.

[@docsally]

Thanks so much, it really helps !!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@dena-ann-adams]

you're so welcome, thank you!

[@tonialu8681]

Thank you, very informative

[@dena-ann-adams]

You are welcome!

[@ninner196]

Thank you for checking out this paper. I had noticed Master’s choice being offered by art chains in the US but because they didn’t say Baohong I wasn’t sure. I have been wanting to try this paper for years. Some say that the professional grade stays wet longer and it makes me wonder if there is a bit of ox gall in the sizing. I was planning to put the Masters choice through some rigorous testing. I use Holbein masking fluid and on Arches and Saunders I can leave it for months. It’s not that one would want to but sometimes things come up with health that prevent what I used to do. I was interested in the hot press for florals and that is where ox gall is usually used if at all. I know that many do fine with ordering through Amazon but I order sheets or the larger blocks. I was under the impression that on the professional grade that the back side was just a bit closer to hp but had the same sizing and capabilities. I really appreciate the time and effort and expense involved that you did to examine these papers because quite honestly when well known artist’s names get involved with any paint, product, paper or brushes it causes a chain reaction that really is called commercialism. I don’t jump up too quickly to think that I need so much anymore. I likewise have been happy with what I have used for years but I do develop ideas dealing with multi media. Again thank you kindly from another fellow artist.😊

[@dawnborchert772]

I use these blocks i love them❤

[@dena-ann-adams]

I do too, and I have to say in the months since this test, these are the least falling-apart blocks I've ever used when I do full soaking atmospherics.

[@dawnborchert772]

@@dena-ann-adams I found them watching Kristy Rice when I was watching a paper review I've been using them since. Good price and quality for me.

[@WingedJedi]

This was really informative. I'm not particularly good at controlling the amount of water in my brush and I do a lot of the things that you called "bad behavior", so I'm really grateful that you included this in your tests. Also, a bit random, but your sound quality is great! I struggle with this a bit for my own videos. What kind of mic do you use? Thank you for the detailed review!

[@dena-ann-adams]

It's more "human behavior" than bad behavior. :) I'm one of the few people who likes pulp paper for practice because if you can get it to work there you can get it to work anywhere! My mic is an SM7B and a focusrite box, which isn't really entry level, but definitely is why things sound clean. For 150 and under upgrades to sound I'd look into a Tascam lav mic and the dolby iphone app can do a lot of one-touch cleanup if you don't want to get into audition and audacity deeply. A cheap lav, an iphone, and that app might be a great lightweight setup.

[@WingedJedi]

@@dena-ann-adams Sorry for the late reply! I really appreciate that you took the time to reply in-depth, in particular about your mic. It prompted me to look into a new one within my budget, and I'm pleased with the sound quality of my new mic. Thank you!

[@luisAntonio-wi9rq]

Baohong is not cheap anymore!

[@tavenchristensen3157]

Hmmm BAOHONG Masters choice has been a hidden gem. I have found that the pigments (after dried) are ALWAYS brighter than the Academy choice. - I don’t know what happened with your tests. Perhaps it was your choice of hues? - Or perhaps Baohong has changed something in their paper, that we’re not aware of. - Interesting though! THANKYOU 🫶

[@dena-ann-adams]

I agree that the artists grade has brighter color than Academy, though both take a slow layering nicely.

[@1mulekicker]

Which aspect has to be met to qualify as archival paper? Not that it matters but for what it's worth it would seem to be more costly as an added feature.

[@dena-ann-adams]

100 percent cotton papers generally all will meet that standard, if stored in an acid free method (buffered boards, acid free glassine etc) and if using lightfast materials. Cellulose acid free papers and buffered cellulose backers can be really stable too - it's choosing lightfast materials and investing in that more expensive storage option where things tend to weaken for most of us if archival stability is a goal. Personally, I prefer budget cotton to excellent cellulose (like Bockingford) for its working qualities, given a choice.

[@karehhartig7287]

Thank you so much for sharing all of this very important information 😊 wonderful exploration. 🦊🍄🫒🍄🫒

[@dena-ann-adams]

So nice of you, thank you much!

[@marjo-riittareinikainen9740]

Is Baohong Master’s watercolour paper same or different than Baohong Artist’s watercolour paper? I have just lately ordered from Temu the Artist’s one and the Academy one. Thank you for the video! Greetings from Finland!

[@beckyuhler4257]

I have wondered the same thing! I’ve searched and looked for the answer to this, and think it’s interesting/mysterious that the answer cannot be found! Does anyone know?? Does Baohong offer three different levels of paper (academy, artists, and masters choice), or are their “masters choice” and “artist” papers one and the same?

[@dena-ann-adams]

@@beckyuhler4257 sorry for the super late reply to this good question! I have no official answer but I've bought both and it really seems to me that they're the same thing, though other people insist they're not - Artists Baohong appears to be Masters Choice and both show identical watermarks.

[@Oozaru85]

As a German I find it so funny when people call Arches "Arsh". "Arsch" means a*s in German, lol. Btw, which one would you recommend for illustrations and portraits? I'm using hot pressed for that and been using the Academy so far. Do you think the artist grade would perform better?

[@dena-ann-adams]

That's hilarious, and keeps it down to earth lol. I haven't noticed a lot of difference between HP academy and HP pro, and to be honest I don't love either of them, they both have a kind of "drag" on the brush if that makes any sense, and I don't notice much more quality to the Pro HP paper. If you can get a hold of it, the "New York Central" HP is my favorite if it's still low priced for you on Amazon, if it's not a bargain, I wouldn't bother, but if it is, you may like it too.

[@Oozaru85]

@@dena-ann-adams I see. Thanks for the fast reply.

[@huskytail]

Baohong exists in a pad of artist paper, which looks different from the "Artist choice".

[@dena-ann-adams]

Thank you for watching! Yes, the packaging is totally different, but I've got both. There might be a subtle difference in the paper, but I couldn't tell much. They are definitely as good as each other in terms of quality and it's nice paper overall.

[@huskytail]

@@dena-ann-adams yes, I actually think the Artist choice might have a little bit smaller grain. At least that's what I could see from videos, we don't have it in Europe (I believe). Very interesting to see it so well tested

[@beckyuhler4257]

Do you know whether the sizing is the same on Baohong Artist’s paper versus Master’s choice? Are they both internally and externally sized, and is the type of sizing the same?

[@mariajosegarciabarroso1006]

Hola. Una. Pena. Una verdadera lástima. Que solo me puedo guiar. Por los comentarios al traducir; pero no me entero de ningún tutorial imposible traducción al Espańol 😢😢😢😢😢

[@mariajosegarciabarroso1006]

Cual es el de. Artista? Cual el de estudiante. De esta prueba? Imposible de saber 😫😫😫

[@dena-ann-adams]

La Calidad es la misma mas o menos, "Artist" tiene textura "Academy" es casi como "hot press", lo siento para mi gramatica 😬 Acadmy es en el bloque en esto video, Artist es la pequeña hoja

[@luisAntonio-wi9rq]

Baohong is not cheap anymore!

[@dena-ann-adams]

I know, the world has caught on. I'm enjoying the NY Central hot press a lot, but outside the US it may not be a bargain either.