100% Cotton Watercolour Pad
A5 (148 x 210mm) · 300gsm · 15 sheets · Rough
Same size, other surfaces: Hot Pressed · Cold Pressed
Same surface, other sizes: A4 · A3
Love a long view? The 100% Cotton Marine Landscape Pad 450 x 150mm.

Some paper just wants to be painted loose. The Art Spectrum A5 Rough Cotton Watercolour Pad has a bold, pebbly texture that breaks up every brushstroke into sparkle, so even a quick five minute sketch looks lively.

Fifteen sheets of 300gsm, 100% cotton in A5 (148 x 210mm). Small enough for a travel kit and quick enough to fill in one sitting, with all the character rough paper is loved for.

★ Art Shed Staff Tip
Hold your brush almost flat and skim it quickly across a dry sheet. The paint catches only the tops of the texture and leaves tiny white flecks. It is the quickest way to paint sunlight on water, and rough paper does it for you.
Perfect For
Loose sketchesTravel paintingTrees and foliageWater sparkleExpressive studies

Texture You Can Feel

Fibre
100% Cotton
A strong cotton sheet that keeps its texture even under wet, heavy washes.
Surface
Rough
The deepest texture in the range. Brushstrokes break up and pigment settles into the hollows.
Weight
300gsm
Stiff and stable for a small sheet, ideal on your knee or a park bench.
Whiteness
Natural White · No OBAs
Made without optical brighteners for a clean, honest white that does not shift over time.

Rough paper suits people who like a painting to feel alive rather than perfect. The texture does half the work. Wash a sky and the pigment pools into the valleys, giving a soft speckle. Drag a semi dry brush and you get instant foliage. At A5 it is a brilliant way to loosen up between more careful pieces.

The paper was developed by Art Spectrum with the Magnani paper mill in Italy, and it is cylinder mould made, acid free and double sized. The pads themselves are made in Melbourne.

Why Rough Paper Belongs in Your Bag

  • Fast results. Texture adds interest automatically, perfect for quick studies.
  • Hides the hesitation. Broken edges look intentional, which is great for confidence.
  • Travel sized. A5 fits a small bag with a pocket palette.
  • Proper cotton. Even sketches get archival, acid free paper.

How to Use a Rough Surface

Let texture lead. Load the brush, paint with fewer strokes than usual and resist smoothing things out. For trees, dab the side of a round brush. For rocks and bark, drag a nearly dry brush. Save fine details for a few final marks with a rigger.

Granulating colours love this paper. Try a few from our watercolour paints range, then compare the effect with smoother sheets from our watercolour paper range.

Questions About the Art Spectrum A5 Rough Cotton Watercolour Pad

What is rough watercolour paper good for?

Rough paper is best for expressive, textured work: landscapes, trees, rocks, water and loose florals. Its heavy tooth breaks up brushstrokes and shows off granulating pigments. It is less suited to fine detail and pen work.

Is rough paper good for quick sketches?

Yes. The texture makes quick sketches look finished with very little effort. A few confident strokes on rough paper often look better than careful blending on a smooth sheet.

What is granulation in watercolour?

Granulation is the speckled effect some pigments create as particles settle into the paper texture. Colours such as ultramarine and many earth pigments granulate strongly, and rough paper makes the effect much more visible.

Can I paint detail on rough paper?

Some detail, yes. Use a fine brush with a good point and less water. Very fine lines and pen work will break up on the texture, so if detail is your focus, try the hot pressed pad instead.

Is the paper bright white?

It is a natural white made without optical brightening agents. That means it will not look artificially blue white, and the colour stays stable rather than fading as brighteners do.

What is dry brush technique?

Dry brush means using a brush with little water so paint catches only the raised parts of the paper. On rough paper it creates broken texture for grass, bark, stone and the glitter of light on water.

Where can I buy Art Spectrum rough watercolour paper in Australia?

Art Shed Online is an authorised Australian stockist of Art Spectrum, shipping fast Australia wide. Order the A5, A4 or A3 rough pads online or call in to our Moorabbin store in Melbourne.

(AS666217)

SKU AS666217
Barcode # 9323926046107
Brand Art Spectrum
Shipping Weight 0.2500kg
Shipping Width 0.210m
Shipping Height 0.010m
Shipping Length 0.150m
Shipping Cubic 0.000315000m3

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