Understanding Paper Weights (GSM): Choosing the Right Paper for Painting, Watercolor, Mixed Media and More When shopping for paper for your art journal, watercolor paintings, or mixed media projects, you've probably come across a number followed by the letters GSM. But what does it mean, and why is it so important? What Does GSM Mean? GSM (grams per square meter) refers to the weight of the paper. In general, the higher the number, the thicker and more durable the paper. However, heavier doesn't always mean better. The best choice depends on the techniques and materials you work with. 120–180 gsm: Ideal for Sketching and Dry Media Papers in this range are suitable for: • Pencil and charcoal drawing • Colored pencils • Light layering • Dry media techniques They can handle light ink work, but they are not designed for heavy water applications. 200–250 gsm: The Sweet Spot for Mixed Media This range is a favorite among artists because it offers versatility and durability. Perfect for: • Light acrylic layers • Inks • Stamping • Markers • Pastels • Collage • Mixed media techniques If you enjoy combining different materials in one piece, this weight range offers great flexibility. 300 gsm: The Watercolor Favorite For watercolor artists, 300 gsm is considered the standard. It provides: • Better resistance to moisture • Less buckling and warping • Support for multiple layers • Excellent performance with wet-on-wet techniques It is also ideal for gouache, inks, and more demanding mixed media applications. 400 gsm and Above: For Heavy Techniques Extra-heavy papers are recommended for projects involving: • Multiple washes • Heavy water applications • Scrubbing and lifting techniques • Watercolor combined with acrylics • Experimental mixed media work These papers usually require little or no stretching and remain stable throughout the painting process. Weight Isn't Everything Besides GSM, other factors affect the performance of paper: • Paper composition (cotton or cellulose) • Surface texture (hot pressed, cold pressed, rough) • Absorbency • Resistance to repeated layers Two papers may both be 300 gsm, but a 100% cotton paper will behave very differently from a cellulose paper. Which Paper Weight Should You Choose? As a simple guide: • 120–180 gsm: sketching and dry media. • 200–250 gsm: versatile mixed media applications. • 300 gsm: watercolor, gouache, and wet techniques. • 400 gsm+: demanding projects with multiple layers. The best paper is the one that supports your creative process. Experiment with different weights and textures to discover what works best for your favorite techniques. In our next article, we'll explore the differences between cellulose papers and 100% cotton papers, and how each affects watercolor and mixed media results. 🎨 Πόσο σημαντικό είναι τελικά το βάρος του χαρτιού; 120 gsm, 200 gsm, 300 gsm… Τι σημαίνουν όλοι αυτοί οι αριθμοί και ποιο χαρτί είναι κατάλληλο για ακουαρέλα, μελάνια, mixed media ή σχέδιο; Στο νέο άρθρο του blog του Scrapsnpieces.gr συγκεντρώσαμε όλα όσα χρειάζεται να γνωρίζετε για τα gsm των χαρτιών, ώστε να επιλέγετε το κατάλληλο υπόστρωμα για κάθε δημιουργία. ✨ Ένας σύντομος και πρακτικός οδηγός για καλλιτέχνες, δημιουργούς και όσους αγαπούν να πειραματίζονται με χρώματα και υλικά! #ScrapsNPieces #Watercolor #MixedMedia #ArtJournal #PaperLovers #Painting #ArtistSupplies 🎨 GSM… δύο γράμματα που μπορούν να κάνουν μεγάλη διαφορά στο αποτέλεσμα των έργων σας! 📖 Στο νέο άρθρο του blog μας ανακαλύπτουμε: ✨ Τι σημαίνει gsm ✨ Ποιο βάρος χαρτιού ταιριάζει σε κάθε τεχνική ✨ Πότε να επιλέξετε 200, 300 ή ακόμα και 400 gsm ✨ Γιατί το «βαρύτερο» δεν σημαίνει πάντα και «καλύτερο» Είτε αγαπάτε την ακουαρέλα, τα μελάνια, το mixed media ή απλά σας αρέσει να πειραματίζεστε, αυτός ο οδηγός είναι για εσάς! 🔗 Link στο bio #scrapsnpieces #watercolorpaper #mixedmediaart #artistsupplies #artjournal #watercolorartist #paperlove #creativejourney #paintinginspiration