I've been using Strathmore 400 Series watercolor pad for a couple years now and honestly it holds up pretty well. But I'm wondering if I'm limiting myself by not upgrading to something like Arches or Saunders Waterford. Would switching to expensive paper actually make a noticeable difference in how my paintings look, or is it more about personal preference?
The real difference comes down to how much you're pushing your technique - Strathmore 400 Series is decent student-grade paper that handles basic washes fine, but it'll buckle or pill if you're doing heavy lifting like multiple glazes, scrubbing back, or lots of wet-on-wet work. Premium papers like Arches have better sizing and cotton content, so they actually *feel* different under the brush and forgive more aggressive handling. If you're mostly doing straightforward landscapes or simpler pieces, you're probably not gaining much by switching, but the moment you want to layer heavily or work more expressively, you'll notice Strathmore starts fighting you while better paper cooperates.
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