I love my Canson XL. I guess the way I paint matches it. I couldn't buy the Bee because I hated the texture. My Arches is too precious, so I use what allows me to paint! Thanks for your interesting comparison and beautiful paintings...
I have Canson XL lurking about somewhere, and I remember quite enjoying it but I'll definitely have to try it again to see if my tastes have changed! Cellulose (also considered wood pulp I think) is just so inferior to cotton, and I sound like such a snob when I say that, haha! But it's true. I have a few new papers to try out, so you might see a similar video from me soon. 😂 I think humidity affects tape, as we had a couple of heavy rain days and the tape I had on my painting peeled off almost entirely overnight! My first impressions from the paintings is 4 was my favourite because of the colour vibrancy. Then you said the same thing, lol. Yep, will need to find the Canson again!
Hi Miranda, do you wet the back of your paper before painting on it?? Can you do that to your Canson XL sheets to see if it makes a difference? Great series of paintings as you complete this WC paper review! 🥰😃👍🏾💜 What about U-Create 140lbs WC paper on Amazon? I find it great to paint on!!
Thanks, Gwen. I only occasionally wet the back of my paper, and I do find that I quite like the results when I do, but I'm often not working on a surface that can take water. It's a great method, though, but I have NOT tried it with my Canson XL paper yet. I haven't heard of the U- Create paper, but I'll look into it.
FUN!! I love doing exercises like this - I think they are SO valuable for many reasons. Not just getting to know your paper, but also practicing executing the same painting. I always find I discover different things in my tests and my actual paintings. It's too bad about that GenCrafts texture.
Interesting test and I enjoyed the paintings. Looking at all the paintings through my screen LOL I liked the painting on the hippy crafter paper the best. Thanks!
Of course I would pick the Hippie Crafter paper. I watched it a 2nd time on the big screen. Fast forwarded so I could see up close. Really do like #1 best. I like how the granulation looks. Since bright colors are not my thing-seems like it would be perfect for me.
im not sur what made the canson so bad ,i did guess that one correct ,i think because ive been painting for so many years i have never struggled with my paints ,im doing watercolor one stroke on 140 lb cardstock,its beautiful ,i took a picture of paintings with paul rubens cotton and cheaper journal watercolor paper they both looked great .i did not even know my tiny 10.00 paul rubens was all cotton,one day ill put up the money for arches and see if there is a difference ,no matter what i have tons of fun on canson xl,
I learned on Canson XL. Absolutely frustrating! I thought I’d never get the hang of watercolor & I was already an accomplished sketch artist! I’m always looking for a good low-budget paper. Thanks! I’ll have to try the Gen Crafts. I do like texture😊
Should be great if you like the texture! Such a bummer about learning on Canson XL and being frustrated. I try to tell my students that, but only some of them try the more expensive paper, sadly.
It was the first paper I bought when I took my first watercolor class at the local community college. I guess because it was available at Michael's or Walmart and it was affordable, lol. Yeesh, I feel lucky that I even continued with watercolor, but when you don't know any better and you're so having fun, then sweet!
I'm super motivated to purchase this watercolor because of your videos. Do you really recommend it and do you like its expansion? I think about removing the black color from it and replacing it with Payne's gray. Do you think it’s a good one, haha? Thank you for the videos using her.
I struggled a lot with wet-on-wet on Canson XL, but I feel the smoother texture is likely the biggest factor (other than its wood pulp material) At my local Walmart, there’s this “Canson Graduate” watercolor paper which is slightly lighter in weight (250 gsm) but it’s way more textured than the XL! It’s even cheaper too so if I pick one up I’ll give an update.
That was informative. I keep in mind for the canson, to try it with ink. It's not too bad with gouache. As for Hippy Crafter paper, I shall have a look to see if it is available in the UK. I hope you have a great time and good weather on your holidays. See you, Miranda.
This is a very helpful analysis. I was given some Artists Loft cellulose watercolor paper - have you tried that one? I wonder where it would place among these brands?
ooohhh i see Bee paper! i must watch! 😍😁
Hahaha, love it. ❤️
Canson XL has come out on the bottom of every test I've ever seen 🙂
No surprise there, right?
I recognized the Canson XL right away! 💩
It's funny, everyone knows Canson XL is terrible, but everyone still has them in their collection.
Oh man #3😣 absolutely save it for the gouache 👍☺️
For sure!
I tried it for gouache and really don’t like it. It doesn’t absorb at all and the gouache just kind of slides around on top.
Good to know!
You did a great job with all of your paintings. But I agree, Canson XL was the worst.
Thanks, Diane!
I love my Canson XL. I guess the way I paint matches it. I couldn't buy the Bee because I hated the texture. My Arches is too precious, so I use what allows me to paint! Thanks for your interesting comparison and beautiful paintings...
I'm glad you love it; many people do. I enjoy it for more dye-based watercolors for sure. Yes, Arches is precious, lol!
I have Canson XL lurking about somewhere, and I remember quite enjoying it but I'll definitely have to try it again to see if my tastes have changed! Cellulose (also considered wood pulp I think) is just so inferior to cotton, and I sound like such a snob when I say that, haha! But it's true. I have a few new papers to try out, so you might see a similar video from me soon. 😂 I think humidity affects tape, as we had a couple of heavy rain days and the tape I had on my painting peeled off almost entirely overnight! My first impressions from the paintings is 4 was my favourite because of the colour vibrancy. Then you said the same thing, lol. Yep, will need to find the Canson again!
Hahaha, paper snob. But hey, we like the cotton paper! 😏
@@MirandaWatsonArt We get spoiled with the good stuff, haha!
My first sketchbook was Canson XL - it hates watercolor! I guessed which was which correctly just going by that.
Hahaha, yep!
Hi Miranda, do you wet the back of your paper before painting on it?? Can you do that to your Canson XL sheets to see if it makes a difference? Great series of paintings as you complete this WC paper review! 🥰😃👍🏾💜 What about U-Create 140lbs WC paper on Amazon? I find it great to paint on!!
Thanks, Gwen. I only occasionally wet the back of my paper, and I do find that I quite like the results when I do, but I'm often not working on a surface that can take water. It's a great method, though, but I have NOT tried it with my Canson XL paper yet. I haven't heard of the U- Create paper, but I'll look into it.
FUN!! I love doing exercises like this - I think they are SO valuable for many reasons. Not just getting to know your paper, but also practicing executing the same painting. I always find I discover different things in my tests and my actual paintings. It's too bad about that GenCrafts texture.
It was fun!
So pleased to see the paints are getting low for some colours. It’s going to lead to really interesting things in the future.
Yes, I'm looking forward to when I have to do paintings with only one or two colors!
Interesting test and I enjoyed the paintings. Looking at all the paintings through my screen LOL I liked the painting on the hippy crafter paper the best. Thanks!
Me, too!
Of course I would pick the Hippie Crafter paper. I watched it a 2nd time on the big screen. Fast forwarded so I could see up close. Really do like #1 best. I like how the granulation looks. Since bright colors are not my thing-seems like it would be perfect for me.
I would also pick the Hippie Crafter paper - is quite pretty. 👌
im not sur what made the canson so bad ,i did guess that one correct ,i think because ive been painting for so many years i have never struggled with my paints ,im doing watercolor one stroke on 140 lb cardstock,its beautiful ,i took a picture of paintings with paul rubens cotton and cheaper journal watercolor paper they both looked great .i did not even know my tiny 10.00 paul rubens was all cotton,one day ill put up the money for arches and see if there is a difference ,no matter what i have tons of fun on canson xl,
Love it. ❤️
I learned on Canson XL. Absolutely frustrating! I thought I’d never get the hang of watercolor & I was already an accomplished sketch artist!
I’m always looking for a good low-budget paper. Thanks! I’ll have to try the Gen Crafts. I do like texture😊
Should be great if you like the texture! Such a bummer about learning on Canson XL and being frustrated. I try to tell my students that, but only some of them try the more expensive paper, sadly.
@@MirandaWatsonArt that is sad! I stress 100% cotton paper also. It is crucial!
It really is!
havent tried the canson XL paper, have never actually seen it before youtube lol
It was the first paper I bought when I took my first watercolor class at the local community college. I guess because it was available at Michael's or Walmart and it was affordable, lol. Yeesh, I feel lucky that I even continued with watercolor, but when you don't know any better and you're so having fun, then sweet!
I'm super motivated to purchase this watercolor because of your videos. Do you really recommend it and do you like its expansion? I think about removing the black color from it and replacing it with Payne's gray. Do you think it’s a good one, haha? Thank you for the videos using her.
I struggled a lot with wet-on-wet on Canson XL, but I feel the smoother texture is likely the biggest factor (other than its wood pulp material) At my local Walmart, there’s this “Canson Graduate” watercolor paper which is slightly lighter in weight (250 gsm) but it’s way more textured than the XL! It’s even cheaper too so if I pick one up I’ll give an update.
Yes, I'd be very curious if the rougher texture makes the paper easier to use. Do let me know!
That was informative. I keep in mind for the canson, to try it with ink. It's not too bad with gouache. As for Hippy Crafter paper, I shall have a look to see if it is available in the UK. I hope you have a great time and good weather on your holidays. See you, Miranda.
Thank you, Valerie. I do like the Canson with ink and the Viviva color sheets.
This is a very helpful analysis. I was given some Artists Loft cellulose watercolor paper - have you tried that one? I wonder where it would place among these brands?
I don't have that one yet, but I am curious about it.