Only if you want to be condemned to ETERNAL DAMNATION. I jest. Although, I do recommend professional/artist grade over student, as the quality is generally better. Student grade has more 'filler', so you get more of the good stuff (pigment) with artist-grade, meaning less layers, more punchy colours. It comes with a price though, which is why I emphasise colour mixing - so you can buy less but better stuff!

You can do whatever you want, sweet cheeks! Hot pressed is fine - it's just a lot smoother than cold pressed, so it depends what and how you like painting. If you like really detailed paintings, hot pressed could be perfect for you. If you like splashing water around and doing heaps of layers, cold press will tolerate it a lot more as the textured finish = more surface area. Try both if you can and see what you like! Rough is another paper texture option but I rarely see people use it.

Gouache is like watercolour's older, bolder sister. It's a lot more opaque cos it's made with chalk. White watercolour has the tendency to go MIA and really struggles to cover up other layers. So if you're looking to add a highlight on really dark layers, gouache tends to perform better. Depends though, I make my own paint and can control how much pigment goes in, so my white (Snow) does a great job ;)

If bad, why work so good? Some traditionalists don't believe in using white - they reckon you should be punished for wanting to enjoy creativity, and make your life 10x harder by using masking fluid. In all seriousness, it's personal preference. If you wanna use it, use it. If you'd rather try your hand at masking fluid and 'use the white of the paper' try that too! There's no such thing as the art police, just know that if you use white gouache (or Dr PH Martin's or gel pens or whatever), that technically makes your work mixed media. Only really an issue if you want to enter into a competition/gallery or something.

Cos I'm a painter, duh ;)

I use painter's tape to tape down the edges of my paintings! I tend to use lighter paper (185gsm) for everyday paintings, cos paper gets more $$ the thicccccer she is. So the thinner stuff has the tendency to buckle and warp and go all bendy after a few layers. Tape helps prevent this.

You can also buy paper in blocks where the sides are glued down, this also prevents warping. It's just even more $$.

You can also 'stretch' your watercolour paper (process of saturating the paper, taping or stapling it super tight to a board, then waiting for it to air dry) - but honestly I can never be bothered. But just like an electric move on a water Pokemon, it's very effective.

You caaaan... just be careful. Heat guns tend to be ~hotter~ with ~less blow~. Whereas hair dryers can blast a lot of air at varying temps. If you have a super duper wet on wet layer, a hair dryer may push paint and water where you didn't want it. So you can, but be careful. A heat gun works faster and more effectively in my opinion.

Nature's lightpad baby, the window! You can hold your sketch and watercolour paper up against the window if you get enough natural light in your home.

Alternatively:

• DIY a lightpad with a tupperware container and a bright light under (ipad/phone screens with a white background can work)
• Grid method of tracing - not ideal though, lots of pencil ends up on your paper
• Transfer/graphite paper