Paper Weight

 

 

Another factor to consider is the weight of the paper.  A heavier-weight paper can handle more layers, water, and techniques than lighter-weight paper.  The weight of the paper is not determined by the individual sheet but is determined by a ream of 500 sheets weighed together at the factory.  

 

 

Paper Sizing

You should also check that the paper is correctly sized (prepared for the art medium) for the medium that you are working in, and find out if it is internally, externally, or internally and externally sized. Paper is sized, and canvas and board are prepared with gesso.  Though people do sometimes gesso paper to work in heavier mediums, we recommend that the artist works with paper that is correctly sized for their project.  This means you do not need to gesso it if you use the correct paper labeled for the medium you choose.

With sizing added, watercolors will sit on the top surface of the paper. Sized paper is usually tougher and stronger, as well. In the papermaking process, sizing can be applied directly to the pulp. This is called internal sizing, and most hand papermakers use a chemical called ‘alkyl ketene dimer’, which protects and coats each fiber. Sizing can also be applied externally (also called surface or tub sizing) after the paper has been formed, pressed, and dried. Gelatin, wheat starch, and egg whites are more common external sizing options.  

Paper Selections

To go into further detail about mediums, let's consider the type of paper you would use with each medium.  This is one of the most important factors you should consider when choosing paper.  Manufacturers produce paper to work successfully with different mediums to ensure the longevity of your work.  Choosing paper by their recommendations is always best.  Below you will find a list of paper types that we manufacture, and the mediums we recommend that you can use with them.  We included some artists that you might want to research that used the paper, or mediums with similar paper.

Newsprint Paper

This paper is typically only used as a support for those learning to sketch or artists wanting to sketch out their ideas. It is not typically acid-free and tends to yellow over time. Mediums that work best on this paper are markers, graphite, charcoal, carbon, drawing chalks, monochrome chalk, and oil pencils.  Monochromes are pencils with the sanguine, sepia, and white colors you see in many of the old masters' works like Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, and Pontormo.  They of course were using better and heavier paper. 

Sketch Paper

Sketching paper is a lighter version of Drawing paper.  It is typically used for practicing drawing, experimenting with dry media, and quick studies to use for finished drawings on heavier, better-quality paper.  Many artists use this type of paper in sketchbooks that they keep for reference in future compositions.  Mediums that work best on sketching paper are colored pencils, graphite, charcoal drawing chalks, monochrome chalks, and oil pencils.  It is believed that many of Van Gogh’s drawings were on sketch and drawing paper.  He used graphite and light ink with a reed pen. 

Drawing Paper

Drawing paper is a heavier, and better-quality paper than sketching paper.  It is commonly used for sketching and finished work.  The ideal mediums used with drawing paper are graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, soft pastel, oil pastel, markers and pen and ink.  Rembrandt executed many drawings with pen and brown ink that are incredible to study. 

Charcoal Paper

Artwork by Paul Knight on Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal Paper 

Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal paper has a history going back over 100 years.  It is 100% cotton with a unique laid finish.  It allows the artist to gain precise shading control, and works best with charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, pastels, and graphite.  Some artists in the past had even used light washes of ink, watercolor, and gouache, though this paper is very lightweight and would not accept much water.  Many papers made in the past that were like this laid paper would be called woven paper.  Ingres was well known to do fine drawings on woven paper that reflected this surface texture and grain.   Another well know draftsman from the past that you might want to study would be Giovanni Paolo Panini (nothing to do with the sandwich).  His depictions of old-world architecture from Italy are astounding. 

Pastel Paper

Artwork by Susan Lyon on Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Paper

Pastel paper has a unique pebbled surface on one side, with the other side being somewhat smoother.  As indicated by the name, pastel paper is best with pastels, charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, and colored pencils (most colored pencil artists use the smoother side of the paper).  Some artists even use light washes of watercolor for underpainting. Some well known artists that worked on this paper were Mary Cassatt, and her dear friend Edgar Degas.  Mary Cassatt was known to love using blue-toned pastel paper for much of her work.

Mixed Media Paper

This paper is a new surface in the world of paper.  Manufacturers are determined to make a paper that can withstand many media techniques commonly used by artists today.  The surface was produced to have qualities like watercolor, but with a vellum drawing surface.  The ideal mediums are graphite, colored pencil, markers, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pen & ink, charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, pastels, gel pens, fine liners, calligraphy inks, and the list goes on.  There are many masters of today that love to use this paper. 

Toned Drawing Paper

Artwork by Justin Maas on Strathmore 400 Series Toned Tan Paper

Strathmore Toned Paper comes in three mid-range shades: Tan, Gray, and Blue. Starting your artwork using mid-range colored paper allows for unique sketching & drawing possibilities by providing the middle value that would otherwise need to be rendered by the artist.  A wider range of values from light to dark can be used, and the middle tone makes it easier for the artist to deliberately place shadows and highlights. Keeping the value of the paper as one of the values in the drawing not only saves time but allows the artist to use graphite or other dark media to push darker values and white pencils or other light media to add highlights, making sketches and drawings pop. Our Toned papers are 100% recycled, contain 30% post-consumer fiber, and also contain kraft and bark fiber inclusions which adds visual interest.

Marker Paper

Strathmore 400 Series Marker paper has an ultra-smooth surface and is heavyweight for use with markers.  The surface aids in blending and keeps the markers from feathering and bleeding.  Though this paper is made for markers, one can use graphite to lightly draw the composition on the paper. Some artists also use light strokes of colored pencils as well but be forewarned, pencil marks do not erase well once drawn over with marker. This is also a new paper that many modern artists have adapted to using.  Much of the comic art industry uses this paper for their work.  

Bristol Paper

Artwork by @daphnesgallery on Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Smooth Paper

This is a common and versatile paper used in much of the art and design industry and in colleges.  Bristol refers to papers in which two or more sheets are pasted together to form 2-ply, 3-ply, etc. sheets to achieve stiffness, and strength and to form a sheet with two identical usable felt or top sides. There are two different types of surfaces for Bristol paper, smooth (plate), and vellum (has some tooth). Smooth Bristol is ideal for pen and ink, airbrush, and detailed work with colored pencils or graphite. Vellum surface is ideal for graphite, charcoal, airbrush, pastel, crayon, colored pencils, and pen and ink. 

Layout Bond Paper

Artwork by Alex Marshall on Strathmore 400 Series Layout Bond Paper

This is a semi-opaque paper that is typically used by designers, calligraphers, and many artists in the comic art community.  The paper responds well to graphite, colored pencils, chalk, monochrome pencils, and charcoal.  It is usually used for finished designer compositions or rough drawings.  Many artists like it as lightweight drawing paper, and some may use it as tracing paper.

Oil Painting Paper

Oil painting paper is a linen-textured paper that is sized correctly to accept oil as a medium without gesso.  The sizing keeps the oil from seeping into the back side of the paper.  We suggest mounting the finished work to a board before framing.  Artists may use graphite, charcoal, oil, and oil mediums on this paper as needed.

Canvas Paper

Artwork by Patti Mollica on Strathmore 300 Series Black Canvas Paper

This is a canvas textured paper sized correctly to accept acrylic and oil on paper without gesso.  This is a great paper to use while practicing painting techniques.  Many schools use this paper for teaching purposes.  The mediums that can be used on this paper are graphite, colored pencil, oils, acrylic, and painting mediums.

Acrylic Paper

A heavyweight fine linen textured paper that is sized correctly to accept Acrylic.  Mediums that can be used with this paper are graphite, acrylic and acrylic mediums. 

Watercolor Paper

One of the largest categories of paper with many different surface textures and weights. Typically, watercolor paper can be found in 90 lb, 140 lb, and 300 lb for weight, with the higher number being stiffer.  It is best to stretch the 90 lb and 140lb paper to another surface to keep the paper from buckling while painting, however, the 300 lb paper does not need stretching. This paper also comes in three surface textures – Hot Press, Cold Press, and Rough.  Hot Press paper is very smooth, Cold press has some pebbling/surface texture, and Rough has a very pronounced pebbling/surface texture.  Mediums recommended are graphite, watercolor, gouache, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, liquid acrylics, drawing chalks, and monochromes.  John Singer Sargent was a very well know artist that painted watercolor on watercolor paper. 

Printmaking Paper

This heavy-weight paper is sized correctly to take a tremendous amount of printing ink.  It is a very versatile paper that artists use in different printing and drawing techniques like relief, aquatint, lithography, woodblock, intaglio, and fine drawing. The mediums that can be used are oil-based inks, water-based inks, printing mediums, watercolor, gouache, graphite, drawing chalks, monochromes, and acrylic.  Albert Durer was a wonderful printmaker in the 16th century.  Google some of his woodblock and engraving pieces if you want to see a great master of the medium. 

Palette Paper

Photo by Megan Kelley

This is a poly-coated paper to be used as a disposable paint-mixing palette. Typically, artists use it for acrylic and oil, however, one could use it for watercolor and gouache.  The idea is that the artist uses this for their session, disposes of the sheet, then uses the next sheet in the pad for the next session. It frees the artist from having to clean their palette.

Tracing Paper

Artwork by Caitlin Geels

A very lightweight transparent paper used for tracing images and transferring the image to another paper.  It is good for sketching, preliminary drawing, and overlaying images. It accepts graphite, marker, and ink. 

Vellum Paper

This is a translucent paper with many different uses for fine art and craft projects.  It can be used to protect artwork, used with cards and letters to add decorative elements, and used as a tracing paper.  It accepts pastels, chalk, colored pencils, graphite, and markers.  Vellum has an interesting history in that in the past it was manufactured using calfskin.  Of course, it is not manufactured that way anymore.  This was the paper used for the content in The Book of Kells, and Degas was known to draw some of his pastel works on Vellum. 

So, there you have it in a nutshell; many of the papers that Strathmore manufactures and proper mediums to use with each type.  We hope you found some useful information within, and some fun tips and facts. Have a very creative day! 

Information provided by Strathmore Artist Paper.