RE: New Watercolor Paints And Brushes Send Me To Heaven.
You're welcome. Good for you! You'll find the Handbook indispensable and a wealth of information. Jerry's Artarama is an excellent source of quality art materials for reasonable prices, plus they have sales quite often and free shipping over a certain amount. I've been wanting to try Arches hot press myself but just haven't yet. I've stuck with cold press and rough in bright white for many years now. You can't go wrong with Arches, but stay away from the blocks...they buckle with all the edges sealed. Why they still make blocks I haven't a clue. Watercolor paper needs to expand and contract otherwise you get pools of water. I simply clip my paper to a sheet of 1/4" masonite with drawing board clips, and move them around as needed. As you mentioned, 300# doesn't have to be stretched, but neither does 140#. Not really. Especially using 1/2 sheets (15"x22") or 1/4 sheets (11"x15"). I've done full sheet watercolors on 140# without stretching and it does buckle when wet but dries more or less flat.
See I knew you would be a good friend @chessmonster! I will try 140lb without stretching it, I will be Christmas shopping for the grandkids and slip a few things into the shopping basket for me...you should try the big sheets of 300lb, I cut them to fit my project if need be. I really don't cut them, I fold the paper and wet the fold and rip, leaving a feather edge, it looks so pretty that way...if you like detail, the hot press is to die for!
That's just it, I guess...I'm not much for detail...I like a more painterly, loose look to my work. But still, really cool effects are possible on smooth paper and I'm really, really, really going to get a sheet sometime. I promise. 😎
Strathmore is an "OK" brand, IMHO, but can't hold a candle to Arches. To me, Arches paper is a work of art in itself. I'm spoiled rotten having used it for so many years. LOL