A proper heavyweight watercolour pad at an accessible price — 300gsm paper in a wire-bound format that opens completely flat and gives genuinely capable watercolour paper for wet techniques of all kinds. The Clairefontaine Aquapad Wirebound is made by one of France's most respected paper manufacturers, a company that has been producing fine paper since 1863 and controls every stage of its own production — and it shows in the consistency and reliability of the paper.
The paper is 100% cellulose, naturally white, and acid-free with excellent archival properties. At 300gsm it is the standard professional watercolour weight — heavy enough to resist buckling under repeated wet washes without pre-stretching, and with the wet strength to be worked and reworked without the surface breaking down. The double sizing — internal and external — is what gives the paper its characteristic behaviour: paint sits cleanly on the surface, colours retain their transparency and vibrancy, and the paper accepts lifting and reworking without tearing or pilling.
The surface is medium-fine grain — cold pressed in character, with enough texture to give watercolour washes something to grip and create natural variation in the mark, but fine enough for controlled detail work and smooth gradations. One side has more noticeable texture for expressive brushwork; the reverse is almost smooth, giving flexibility in technique across the same sheet.
The wire-o binding opens completely flat, giving full, unobstructed access to the working surface — particularly useful for panoramic compositions or reference sketching alongside a working piece. Sheets are micro-perforated for clean, easy removal once a painting is finished.
We stock two sizes — A5+ (16 x 21cm, 25 sheets) and A4+ (21 x 29.7cm, 25 sheets). The A5+ is the most portable option, compact enough for location painting while offering more working space than a standard pocket pad. The A4+ gives a full, generous working area suited to more ambitious pieces and studio use.
Paper weight: 300gsm Sheets: 25 per pad Sizes: A5+ (16 x 21cm) and A4+ (21 x 29.7cm) Surface: Medium-fine grain, cold pressed character Composition: 100% cellulose, double-sized Binding: Wire-o, opens flat, micro-perforated sheets Made by: Clairefontaine, France
Is 300gsm paper heavy enough to use without pre-stretching? Yes — 300gsm is the standard professional watercolour paper weight and is heavy enough to resist significant buckling under repeated wet washes without pre-stretching or taping down. For very heavy or sustained wet-into-wet technique some slight movement may occur, but for most watercolour work 300gsm paper can be used straight from the pad.
Which size should I choose? The A5+ is the more portable option — ideal for location painting, travel, and sketchbook-style working. The A4+ gives a larger, more generous working area suited to more developed pieces and studio use. Both contain 25 sheets of identical paper.
Can sheets be removed cleanly from the pad? Yes — the sheets are micro-perforated along the wire binding, allowing clean, straight removal once a painting is complete.
What media are the Aquapad sizes suitable for? Both are primarily designed for watercolour and gouache, but also suitable for ink, light acrylic washes, and mixed media work. The double sizing and 300gsm weight give them good resistance to a broad range of wet techniques.
Are the A5+ and A4+ suitable for beginners? Yes — both sizes are specifically positioned as accessible, good-value watercolour pads for beginners and students who want proper 300gsm paper without the cost of a premium cotton paper. The consistent surface and reliable wet strength make them a forgiving and practical choice for learning watercolour technique.
