Scholar Watercolour Cold Press Papers, Medium Texture, 300gsm, 5 Sheets, A3

A balanced, medium-grain cold press sheet in a large A3 size, the classic all-rounder texture most watercolourists reach for first.

• 300gsm woodfree cellulose paper, sturdy enough to stay flat under wet washes
• Medium-texture cold press surface, a step gentler than the heavy-texture cold press sheet in this range
• 5 loose sheets per pack, A3 size
• Acid free and pH neutral
• Suited to watercolour, gouache, acrylic and mixed media work

Cold press is the middle ground of watercolour paper textures: enough grain to hold washes and create some natural texture, but not so much that fine detail becomes difficult. That balance is why it is usually recommended as a starting texture before artists branch out to smoother hot press or rougher torchon sheets. At A3, there is enough room to work a full landscape, portrait study or layered still life in one sitting.

The moderate tooth here means you can move between broad wash areas and finer detail work on the same sheet without switching paper, which is part of why medium-texture cold press is so often recommended to beginners as their first watercolour paper. It also plays well with pencil underdrawing, since the surface has just enough grip to hold a light guideline without shredding an eraser.

Five sheets makes this a practical size for trying the medium-texture finish on a larger format, or for topping up a stash when you already know it suits your painting style and simply need more of your usual working paper close at hand for the next session.