Wanted: Versatile Drawing/Painting Paper

Posted on May 20, 2009 in Uncategorized

I love the look and feel of Stonehenge Cream paper. Carl Titolo introduced us at SVA and I haven’t looked back. It takes charcoal, gel pen, pencil, and ink very well. I used it for the paintings in BIRD and OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR. For my next project, I would like to find a sturdier paper that handles color better… especially skin tones.

I’ve been looking at Arches Cover because it has a similar vellum surface as Stonehenge…not too pressed, but not at all rough.

Ideally I’d like a paper that is:
-cream or off white
-vellum surface
-neutral PH
-weighty (250 gsm and up)

Let me know what works for you, or what doesn’t!

4 Comments

  1. Marc Lornman
    May 20, 2009

    Check out the other papers from the guys who make stonehenge. they have a great drawing paper sampler (two, actually) that let you try a few dozen different papers. legionpaper.com is the site.

    Reply
    • admin
      May 20, 2009

      Will do! Thanks~
      I bought a sheet of 260 Arches HP this evening. It’s a bit slick, but I’ll give it a go.

      Reply
  2. Nicole Tadgell
    May 21, 2009

    I’m using Fabriano Artistico 140lb hot press paper these days – bright white. I prefer the feel of Arches, but I think it stinks like a wet dog. 😉

    Do you draw and paint on the same paper? I’ll draw on anything – the cheaper the better, because I can loosen up more if I’m not afraid of wasting expensive papers. Canson has a decent brand for drawing. I get most of my art supplies from dick blick or ASW. If I want to try a new product, I’ll go to the local art store (nice folks over at CC Lowell!) And sometimes Michael’s or AC Moore has stuff on sale.

    Hope this helps!

    Reply
    • admin
      May 21, 2009

      I do my final drawings in pieces on tracing paper…sometimes regular Pearl brand drawing paper…the stuff that comes in a giant roll. I have one roll attached to the top end of my drawing table so I can always have a big white surface to doodle on.

      The Stonehenge is unsized and has a delicious vellum surface that takes pencil and charcoal well; however, once I stretch it sometimes the skin tones are hard to manipulate, It stains easily and there isn’t much reworking that I can do.

      I bought a sheet of 260lb Arches HP yesterday. Arches Cover is way too textured.

      Reply

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