Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

Over the past twenty years, I have used the cold-press and hot-press papers for both fine art and commercial illustration purposes. Unlike the majority of fine watercolor papers, Lanaquarelle is milled with soft surface sizing. This causes the paper to absorb watercolors more easily and makes it an excellent paper for line and wash techniques -- i.e., for strong, clear lines and flat, bright color.

Of course, soft paper surfaces are easily abraded, which requires the artist to be especially careful with the use of masks. Unsized or lightly-sized print papers have similar qualities. However, Lanaquarelle's internal sizing limits the absorption that normally dulls the brilliance of watercolors on print papers.

The technical demands for watercolor paper are too broad to be met by any one paper maker. In the category of soft surface sizing, Lanaquarelle is the best paper and very well-priced.

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

I have been using 300 lb. cold press exclusively, but will no longer use it due to a reoccurring quality problem with the sizing. I do highly detailed water colors, so I get a lot of time invested before the painting begins and the surprise problems become apparent. By then, I am too deep into it to start over, and the paper problems severely restrict several painting processes.

If I have erased any light pencil layout line with a soft gum eraser, that area will show lighter after a wash. The lightest possible erasing will also lift previously applied, dry paint. Therefore, no use of an eraser is possible at any point. And if you don't know this ahead of time, and erase anything, the effect on the following painting will be inevitable.

Masking tape applied with the lightest possible pressure will still lift the surface of dry paper when it is removed. If the tape is placed over a previously painted area (dry paint), it will lift the paint as it lifts the paper surface, leaving a white snow effect in the previously painted area. It is impossible to correct that. So masking tape is out of the question when applied to any previously painted area.

Masking fluid is also out of the question because when you roll it off to remove it, the paper surface rolls right off with it. I also had some of this paper that left a field of spots after a wash. The spots resulted from the paint penetrating deeper. It was spots roughly ¼" across, and about ¼" between them. I assume this was caused by the sizing being applied in the spotty pattern.

Earlier, I had good luck with this paper and resolved to use it exclusively. Now I resolve to never use it. The only way to possibly use it would be to test it ahead of time for these problems. And you would have to make sure to test part of the specific sheet that you intend to make the final painting on.

Comments about Lanaquarelle Watercolor Blocks:

I've used Arches, Fabriano, and Lanaquarelle. Lanaquarelle is my favorite. I use the 9x12 hotpress for watercolor crayon. I use a fair amount of water and have yet to see any problems with the glue breaking. With Fabriano, the glue broke quickly on most of the blocks (maybe three of five). I like the slighty cream color of these. It's not extra-white, but it's certainly not too cream, either. I rub on the paper a moderate amount and don't see much pilling. The block itself is quite solid and nice to work on. The glue is clear (not black like Arches, so no visible border when I remove the sheets). I use a palette knife to remove the sheets and have no trouble.

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

Although this is classified as a watercolor paper, I use it for oil pastel and acrylic supports.

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

I won't paint on anything else!

Comments about Lanaquarelle Watercolor Blocks:

A little tricky to figure out how to separate sheets, at first!!
I wanted watercolor paper in which I could use w/printer...it feeds through the machine without getting jammed and it prints beautifully...not like traditional watercolor paper that has too much surface texture...great item!

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

This is the best watercolor paper I've used and I've tried many. I prefer this to Arches. The texture is perfect and holds the watercolor nicely. I use the blocks and they are very easy to separate. I use W&N paints and whiteness of this paper really makes the colors pop.

Dick Blick offers this paper at a good price, much lower than I've seen in any art store. I highly recommend this.

Comments about Lanaquarelle Watercolor Blocks:

Lanaqurelle cold pressed paper is much smoother and whiter than Arches cold pressed. When doing washes it doesn't tend to create blooms and watermarks as easily as other papers. This is a very positive difference from other papers. It is excellent for painting details because of the smoother surface. Lifting is really easy...much more so than other brands. However painting over previously scrubbed or lifted passages will not work at all. Overall this is a very friendly, forgiving paper and would be the best choice for painters who like to work in detail.

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

Wonderful paper! I ink, wcolor and use acrylic. Great deal in bulk!

Comments about Lanaquerelle Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper:

This paper is the brightest white that I have come across. It handles washes brilliantly. I recommend it to all fellow painters.