Paper
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PAPER FOR PAINTING?
No matter how good your skills are, and what techniques you know, but an ill-chosen ground can prevent you from realizing every idea you were going to draw. It is worth saying that there is no “bad” or “good” paper. It all depends on the intentions and style of the artist. For example, it makes no sense to buy absorbent rag paper if the technique involves multiple corrections (scrapings). Thus, you just ruin the surface by scratching it.
The paper itself can be factory-made and hand-made. Also, each one has its surface quality:
- smooth;
- semi-smooth;
- rough;
Watercolor Paper
If watercolor paints simply cannot do without water, then a paper can suffer greatly from such a “friendship” of paints and moisture. For instance, a ground can warp, tear. Therefore, when buying watercolor paints, you must choose the right paper.
Besides, there are 2 types, which are distinguished according to the mode of production.
- Hot press watercolor paper. This type of paper is the smoothest since the wet sheet is dried using a heated press.
- Cold press watercolor paper. The structure is of medium or large grain. Also, it is rougher, which ensures good adhesion of the ink to the surface.
Oil Painting Paper
The structure of such paper is very dense while the texture resembles a canvas. In such a way, the paper does not absorb the excess paint. Paper for oil paints is not subjected to oxidization, which means it remains clear for many years. Thanks to high-quality materials, such a paper is in no way inferior in quality and usability to a traditional canvas. Also, such paper can stretch after wetting, which avoids the spreading of paint. Besides, the artist can use both soft and hard paintbrushes when working with paper for oil paints, which makes the painting process even more exciting.
Paper for Acrylic Paint
Acrylic is one of the most convenient materials to work with. It dries quickly, forming a coating resistant to water and ultraviolet rays.
Before working with acrylic on canvases, it is better to learn painting techniques using special paper for acrylic paint.
It is subjected to processing the aim of which is to create a paper with the properties of canvases for acrylic paint. It has an internal and external sizing, which promotes the absorption of paints (the paint does not pass through and remains on the paper surface without leaving stains). The absence of acid provides long-term storage. The texture of the paper is similar to the linen canvas.
Paper for Gouache
It, as well as the other ones, has own characteristics:
- rough surface: this is the main condition so that the paper absorbs the substance better and does not crack after drying.
- thickness must be enough to be sure that the paint is not visible on the back side. Also, it will retain its shape and original color;
- dense texture: this is an important indicator that determines how evenly the paint was applied. Moreover, the clarity of the lines and the saturation of the shades also depend on the quality of the paper.
Paper for Pencil Drawing
Here are three main features of such a paper.
- Density. Usually, artists determine a comfortable density that is no less than 80lb. However, the more, the better.
- Quality of erasing. Removing lines with an eraser should occur naturally so that the paper does not roll and wrinkle.
- Paper grain. Thanks to such a feature the drawing will look more voluminous. However, one recommends small grain paper for black and white and color pictures.
Paper for Markers
The composition and processing method directly affects the properties of paper and its texture. To make life easier for artists and illustrators, special material was created for drawing with alcohol felt-tip pens and markers in general. The paper is thin, but thick, with a special impregnation preventing the flow of ink. Besides, it makes the use of markers more economic. Moreover, thanks to the smooth surface, a tip of a marker glides perfectly and makes smooth gradients.
Sketchbooks
Typically, a sketchbook is a small notebook that is always convenient to carry with. Besides, it is a small album where the artist sketches ideas, makes the necessary notes. Frankly speaking, it is so popular with people nowadays. And you can buy a sketchbook and make various sketches, put stickers, design each page in a certain style, etc. They also come in many forms, designs, depending on the type of paint. Let us look, for instance, at the watercolor sketchbook. The paper has the qualities conformed to the watercolor paint, subsequently.
Canvas for Painting
There are many types of art canvas; therefore, knowing the characteristics of the material, you can easily find the one you need.
As a rule, they could be made of such materials as:
- synthetic;
- natural;
- combined fibers;
The choice primarily depends on what paints are applied to the painting canvas. For example, linen canvas is suitable for oil painting. To sum it up, each type of paint corresponds to certain types of art canvases.
