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An Overview of Waterbased Media
Watercolor is a waterbased media. Waterbased media can include acrylic, gouache, ink, and tempera among others. It is a general description of any medium that uses water as its base. Waterbased media typically uses paper as its substrate (or surface). Papers vary greatly in composition, weight, texture and size. Original watermedia works created on paper require framing with a mat and glazing (glass or plexiglass) to protect its vulnerability to the elements.
About Watercolor Paints
All paints are pigment plus binder (medium) plus solvent. All paints use the same pigments for color. Watercolor uses gum arabic as the binder and water as the solvent. Pigments used for watercolor paints are very finely ground; and each has its own characteristics. Watercolor paints are rated according to their lightfastness, usually receiving a I, II, III, IV, or V; I being excellent and V meaning it is very unstable and will bleach out in a short period of time. There are approximately twenty major manufacturers of artist quality watercolors; from USA, UK, England, Holland, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Japan.
About Watercolor Papers
There are many manufacturers of fine watercolor papers. The preferred manufacturers of artist quality watercolor paper are from England, USA, France, and Italy. Each manufacturer has their special formula, but papers are generally made by making a fine pulp out of linen and cotton rags, then adding sizing and pouring this mixture onto a mold. Most are machine created- in fact very few are hand-made anymore; they are very expensive and hard to find.
Fine watercolor papers all have a manufacturer's mark, which is either embossed or watermarked into the paper and is apparent by touch or holding the sheet up to the light. Papers have two sides- Mold and Felt. the best side to paint on is the Mold side and the manufacturer's mark helps to identify that side.
Fine papers come in standard sizes and weights. The most popular size is Imperial, which is 22"x 30". The weight refers to the thickness or stiffness of the paper. The most popular weights are 140 lb. and 300 lb., and are based on the weight of a ream of paper (500 sheets). All fine watercolor papers are acid-free, meaning that they have been treated to prevent decomposition.
The texture of the paper is another important consideration. The textures are:
 | Rough- very bumpy |
| Cold-Pressed- moderately bumpy |
| Hot-Pressed- Very Smooth |
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