Beware Strathmore heavyweight paper now has a new texture

As a half-French person, it pains me to say this, but if you're buying Strathmore watercolour paper, you're best off getting the ones that are made completely in the USA and not in France. I know, I know, it's very unpatriotic of me, especially these days when we need to be careful about what we buy from the USA, but hear me out.

On the front of the watercolour sketchbook, the belly band says it is: "Made in the USA with materials from France". You'd think this wouldn't make a difference, but somehow this has caused a change to the texture on the reverse of the paper. It now has a grid-like pattern embossed through it, which is really noticeable when you're using fluid acrylics or watercolour, as the paint pools in the divots.

The USA/France paper (the new way they're making the paper): (left) the texture on the front of the paper like normal, (right) the grid-like texture on the back.

Strathmore paper made solely in the USA without French materials has a different texture on the reverse side which means you can paint on either the front or the back of the paper easily, without too much difference.

Strathmore 500 Series paper made in the USA only. (left) front of the sheet, (right) back of the sheet. As you can see from these images, although the back has less noticeable texture through it, it isn't in a grid-like pattern, so is still usable.

This isn't a huge problem once you're aware of the situation, because you know what to look out for, and you just make sure you paint on the correct side of the paper. However, the way the paper is bound in the hard- and softback books means that an unsuspecting user might use every side of the paper the same, or just use the right-hand side pages, without realising there is a clear front and back side of the paper.

If you're using thicker paint, then perhaps the grid-like pattern won't matter to you, but if you're after smooth cold-press paper, make sure you check you're using the right side! And for those who actually like that grid-like texture... well... you're now in luck!