Baohong Watercolour Paper Deals: Compare Sale Prices & Find the Best Discount UK

If you paint in watercolour, you’ll know the paper matters more than almost anything else. Good paint on cheap paper will dissapoint you every time, while decent paint on good paper can sing. The trouble is that the best paper, 100% cotton, has always been expensive. That’s where Baohong comes in, and it’s been one of the most talked-about watercolour papers of the last few years.

Baohong is made by the Baoding Huarong Paper Factory in Baoding, in China’s Hebei province. The mill was founded in 1992 by Shi Liming, a paper-making craftsman who started out working in a local paper mill at nineteen before setting up his own. Most ordinary watercolour paper is made from wood pulp, while the best is made from cotton, and Shi spent years working out how to make high-quality cotton watercolour paper. He set up a research lab in 2012, produced his first all-cotton batch in 2013, and brought an improved version to market in 2014. Since then the technology has been recognised by the China National Light Industry Council, and Shi has helped to draft China’s national standard for watercolour paper. It’s a genuinely independant story, a single mill that set out to compete with papers that have been made in Europe for centuries.

The Baohong range is built around 100% cotton paper at 300gsm, in the three classic surfaces. Hot pressed is smooth, ideal for fine detail, botanical work and pen and ink. Cold pressed has a medium texture and is the all-rounder most painters reach for. Rough has a heavier texture that’s great for loose landscapes and granulating colours. The top of the range is Masters paper, sometimes sold as Masters Choice by Baohong, which has traditional gelatine sizing in several layers, applied both internally and on the surface. That’s what gives it the lovely way paint sits on the surface and lifts back off when you need it to. There’s also the Artist grade, often sold as blocks gummed on four sides, which keeps the paper flat while you work. Then there’s the Academy range, which is the really interesting one for anyone watching their budget, because unlike most student papers, which are made from cellulose, it’s 100% cotton too. Baohong is available as loose sheets, blocks, pads, sketchbooks and even rolls.

Independent reviewers have been impressed. The well-known art supplies reviewer Parka Blogs found the Artist grade handled washes and wet-in-wet beautifully, with good sizing, vibrant colour and no white speckling, and called the Academy paper highly recommended and really worth the money. The cold pressed surface is fairly textured, so if you like to work with pen and ink, the hot pressed is the better choice.

In sixteen years in the art supplies industry, including nearly a decade running digital marketing at ARTdiscount, I’ve seen how loyal watercolour painters are to their paper. Most stick with one brand for years. So the speed at which Baohong has won people over says a lot. In our community of 36,000 UK artists at Discount Art Supplies, it comes up again and again as the paper people recommend when someone asks for a cheaper alternative to the big names, especially for practice and studies, where you want to use cotton paper without being too concious of the cost of every sheet.

Getting the best deal on Baohong comes down to a few things. First, compare prices before you buy. Baohong is stocked by Jackson’s, Cass Art, Amazon and others, and prices can vary between them, so check our comparison above, which is updated in real time. Second, choose your grade carefully. Masters is the one for finished paintings, while Academy is great value for practice and studies, and still 100% cotton. Third, think about format. Full sheets usually work out cheaper per painting than blocks, as long as you’re happy to cut them down and stretch or tape them. Blocks are more convenient, especially for painting outdoors. And finally, watch for sales. Paper is often included in retailers’ seasonal sales, and Black Friday is a good time to stock up.

A few questions come up regularly. Where is Baohong paper made? It’s made by the Baoding Huarong Paper Factory in Baoding, Hebei province, China. Is Baohong 100% cotton? Yes, Baohong watercolour paper is 100% cotton, including the Academy student range. What is the difference between Baohong Masters and Academy? Masters is the top grade, with traditional gelatine sizing, while Academy is the more affordable student range, although it’s still made from cotton. Is Baohong as good as Arches? Many painters find it a very close match for the price, although every paper behaves slightly differently, so it’s worth trying a pad or sample pack to see how it suits your style. Which Baohong surface should I choose? Hot pressed for detail and ink, cold pressed as an all-rounder and rough for loose, textured work.

Baohong has made 100% cotton watercolour paper affordable for a lot more painters, and that can only be a good thing. Looking for a Baohong sale, discount or discount code? Check the price comparisons above, updated in real time, and you’ll always know you’re getting the best current UK price.