100% Cotton Watercolour Pad
A3 (297 x 420mm) · 300gsm · 15 sheets · Cold Pressed
Same size, other surfaces: Hot Pressed · Rough
Same surface, other sizes: A5 · A4
Need more sheets? The 50 sheet A3 Cold Pressed Pad.
Love a long view? The 100% Cotton Marine Landscape Pad 450 x 150mm.
Prefer a spiral pad? The 100% Cotton Watercolour Spiral Pad A3+.
Making cards? Our 100% Cotton Watercolour Postcards A6.

Ready to stop painting small? The Art Spectrum A3 Cold Pressed Cotton Watercolour Pad gives you 15 big sheets of 100% cotton, 300gsm, with the medium texture that makes washes glow and still keeps a crisp edge where you need one.

A3 (297 x 420mm) is double the area of A4. That changes how you paint. You reach for bigger brushes, move your whole arm and let the water do more of the work. It is also a popular size for framing, art shows and competitions.

★ Art Shed Staff Tip
Swap your brushes up a size or two when you move to A3. A large round or a mop brush laying generous washes will look fresher than a small brush working over the same area again and again.
Perfect For
Framed originalsArt showsBig skiesWet in wetSeascapes

Built for Bigger Washes

Fibre
100% Cotton
Cotton holds a large volume of water evenly, so big washes dry without patches.
Surface
Cold Pressed (Medium)
A versatile tooth that catches granulation and handles soft and hard edges.
Weight
300gsm
Supports wet work across a large sheet, especially when taped down.
Origin
Italian Mill, Made in Melbourne
Developed with the Magnani mill in Italy, made into pads in Melbourne by Art Spectrum.

Large wet in wet painting is where paper quality is most obvious. On wood pulp paper, a big sky dries in blotches and cauliflower blooms. Cotton keeps the water moving evenly, so colours mingle softly across the sheet. This paper is also double sized, plant based inside and synthetic on the surface, which slows absorption enough to give you working time.

Art Spectrum's cotton paper is cylinder mould made, acid free and museum grade, with no optical brighteners. That makes it a sound choice for originals you plan to frame, sell or enter into a show. If you paint at A3 often, look for the 50 sheet cold pressed pad in our watercolour paper range.

Why A3 Cold Pressed Is Worth the Jump

  • Bigger paintings look more confident. Large brushes and loose washes read as skill, not hesitation.
  • Exhibition friendly. A3 suits standard frames, competitions and gallery hanging.
  • Room for atmosphere. Skies, seas and gradients need space to breathe.
  • Archival quality. Acid free cotton paper made to last for collectors.

Painting Big Without the Stress

Prepare before you wet the sheet. Mix big puddles of each colour, set out your largest brushes and tape the paper to a board. Tilt the board slightly so washes flow downwards, and keep a damp sponge nearby for soaking up drips at the bottom edge.

For skies, wet the area with clean water, drop in colour from the top and let it run. Do not touch it again until it is completely dry. Larger brushes from our watercolour brushes make this far easier.

Questions About the Art Spectrum A3 Cold Pressed Cotton Watercolour Pad

Is A3 a good size for framing and art shows?

Yes. A3 is one of the most common sizes for framed watercolours, and many art shows and competitions set their entry sizes around it. Ready made A3 frames and mats are easy to find.

Do I need to stretch A3 cold pressed paper?

Not always. For light to medium washes, taping all four edges to a board is enough. For very wet techniques, some artists soak and stretch the sheet first, then tape it down while damp so it dries drum tight.

Is cold pressed paper good for wet in wet painting?

Yes. Cotton cold pressed holds water evenly, giving soft blends and fewer unwanted blooms. Work quickly while the paper is still glistening, and let it dry fully before adding detail.

Is Art Spectrum cotton paper archival enough to sell my work?

Yes. It is acid free, museum grade archival and contains no optical brighteners, so it will not yellow or fade the way acidic or brightened papers can. That is what collectors and galleries look for.

Is A3 too big for a beginner?

Not at all, though it pays to start with simple subjects such as skies, seas or abstract washes. Working bigger encourages looser, more confident brushwork, which is a great habit to learn early.

Why choose cotton paper over cellulose paper?

Cellulose, or wood pulp, paper absorbs unevenly and roughs up when reworked. Cotton paper takes water evenly, survives lifting and scrubbing, and gives cleaner, brighter colour. It shows most on larger sheets.

Where can I buy A3 Art Spectrum watercolour paper in Australia?

Art Shed Online is an authorised Australian Art Spectrum stockist and ships A3 pads safely and fast across Australia. You can also see the range in person at our Moorabbin store in Melbourne.

(AS666216)

SKU AS666216
Barcode # 9323926046091
Brand Art Spectrum
Shipping Weight 0.5000kg
Shipping Width 0.050m
Shipping Height 0.400m
Shipping Length 0.300m
Shipping Cubic 0.006000000m3

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