If you’ve ever stood in front of a shelf (or scrolled online) staring at watercolour paper, you’ve probably seen two big names: Arches and Saunders Waterford. They’re both gorgeous. They’re both 100% cotton. They’re both expensive.
But they’re not the same.
I’ve used both for years, and here’s the real difference – no fluff, no copy-paste specs.
First, the short version
-
Arches feels tough. Like, scrubbing-with-a-brush tough. If you make mistakes (who doesn't?), it forgives you.
-
Saunders Waterford feels buttery. Washes glide. Colours look almost too bright, in a good way.
Neither is "better." It's all about how you paint.
Let’s talk about the feel
When you touch Arches, it’s slightly firm. Some people say it has a faint "chalky" texture – not in a bad way. Paint sits on top for a moment before soaking in. That gives you time to push it around, lift colour, or even scratch back to white paper.
Saunders Waterford, on the other hand, is softer under the brush. Think velvet instead of denim. Washes sink in a little faster, but they dry incredibly even. No weird puddles or streaks.
Who should buy Arches?
Honestly? The reworker.
You know who you are. You paint a stroke, hate it, lift it. You tape off edges, use masking fluid, scrubbing, layer ten times. Arches handles all that abuse. It’s the paper equivalent of a cast iron pan – built to last.
Also great if you like a warm, natural white (not blindingly bright).
Who should buy Saunders Waterford?
The flow-lover.
If you pour water and pigment and just let it do its thing, this paper sings. Wet‑in‑wet blooms look magical. The white is noticeably brighter – your yellows and turquoises will pop like crazy.
Just don't scrub too hard. It can pill if you really go to town with an eraser.
What about the surface textures?
Both come in the usual three:
-
Rough – chunky texture, great for granulating paints
-
Cold pressed (Not) – the everyday choice for most people
-
Hot pressed – smooth like paper for pens and tiny details
One small thing I've noticed: Saunders Waterford's "Not" is a touch smoother than Arches' "Not". And Arches Rough is really rough – almost like canvas.
Okay, so which one do I buy?
If you only paint loose landscapes or florals? Try Saunders Waterford first. You'll love the glow.
If you do detailed work, or you're scared of ruining expensive paper? Go Arches. It's safer.
Or just buy a few loose sheets of each from our collection and see what clicks. That's what most of us do anyway.
Happy painting (and scrubbing and flowing). 🎨
P.S. Both are made in Europe – Arches from France, Saunders Waterford from the UK. So, you can also just pick based on which flag you like more. No judgement here.
