Limitations of Cheap Watercolor Paper

My wonderful husband stuck a cheap watercolor set in my stocking this year. More for a travel kit than for any serious work but it made me realize how easy working with the right supplies can make your job, especially in watercolors. Inexpensive paper has no real absorbancy and your colors dont flow like they should so the style of painting has to reflect that. These few paintings were done in a direct painting style as this paper did not accept washes or glazes well. So here are a few of my attempts, hope you enjoy.