Day 20 Those color comparison or which is the best paper?

I decided to cut them up so you could compare the same colors on the different papers easier. I hope this helps you see them better!! At least that was my intent cutting them up and arranging them by colors instead of a range on one paper.

I did try to maintain the same color intensity on each paper...aka dilute the red the same for all four papers!!  

Conclusions at the end. Thanks for reading!!

The rows in each pic are as follows:

Moleskine 25% cotton

Arches Natural #140 100% cotton hand molded

Kilimanjaro bright white #140 100% cotton hand molded

Strathmore 400 #140 unknown content

All cold pressed papers!!
Moleskine 25% cotton

Arches Natural #140 100% cotton hand molded

Kilimanjaro bright white #140 100% cotton hand molded

Strathmore 400 #140 unknown content

The last three look odd because I made them smaller to match the squares up.

All cold pressed papers!!
Moleskine 25% cotton

Arches Natural #140 100% cotton hand molded

Kilimanjaro bright white #140 100% cotton hand molded

Strathmore 400 #140 unknown content

All cold pressed papers!!
Moleskine 25% cotton

Arches Natural #140 100% cotton hand molded

Kilimanjaro bright white #140 100% cotton hand molded

Strathmore 400 #140 unknown content

 To sum up the paper comparisons I found the Moleskine and Strathmore problematic compared to the 100% cotton hand molded Arches and Kilimanjaro papers.  Sometimes the colors appeared to be almost gouache like floating on top of the Moleskine and Strathmore instead of absorbing into the paper like the Arches and Kilimanjaro did.

As I said before the colors were paler on the Moleskine and the Strathmore compared to the other papers. This was particularly noticeable on the Strathmore but with some colors the Moleskine seemed to repel them like the Strathmore did. 

The only fault that I could find with the Arches is that because it was not bright white the colors were sometimes a little muted.

I have some Fabriano Artistico hot press and some Fabriano cold press as well as cold press watercolor board that I will get out to add to the comparison test!! 

Day TWeLvE!! Paper comparison - Part TwO!

Evidently my friend Tom Needham is right. Some paper is cheap. I did color charts on four types of watercolor paper: Arches, Kilimanjaro, Strathmore 400 and Moleskine watercolor. These are the results.

Watercolor Moleskine 

Colors appears lighter when compared with Arches or Kilimanjaro, paper has an odd slick feel to it, 25% cotton.  Colors lift off it easily. 

I do like the Moleskine because its a convenient size to carry around but I am going to make my own watercolor sketch book using the Kilimanjaro.

140# Arches 

Handmade paper is stiff with a crisp feel, color is off white, 100% cotton.

Great paper, colors dark and bright! Expensive!

140# Cheap Joe's Kilimanjaro
My favorite of the four because of price and the following:

Handmade paper with deckled edge is stiff with a crisp feel, color is white  white, 100% cotton- Colors lift off it easily. Reasonably priced!!

Great paper, colors dark and bright!

                                                
                                                  140# Strathmore 400 
          Paper is slick as if coated with something, color is white white, Content 
                                                    unknown NOT cotton.