The most common base for drawing, painting or other artistic practices is paper. Reputedly invented in China in the first AD, paper was originally made from hemp. The manufacturing process of paper then evolved to use cotton and linen, tree bark and fibres from plants from the 13th century onwards.
Anatomy of paper
1. Composition
Artist's paper is made by pressing moist fibres together, generally cellulose pulp from wood or cotton or linen. The paper is then dried and sized for use. Artists require paper made from long, acid-free fibres that interlock well, creating more strength.
Making paper
Quality paper for artists can be made by hand, made by mould or made by machine. Handmade paper has an irregular surface and rough edges.
Mould-made paper is strong and has two rough edges from the mould machine it was produced in.
Machine-made paper has more uniformity of the spreading of fibres, resulting in less strength.
When artist’s paper is being made, gelatin or starch is added to size the paper, which provides a surface suitable for artistic practice that doesn’t absorb so much of the material put on it.
2. Finish
Fine paper comes in three surface finishes: rough, cold-pressed or hot-pressed. This finish occurs after the paper is dried.
The term tooth can also be used to describe the roughness of the finish of artist's paper. Pressing the paper creates a smoother surface, or less tooth. Different applications suit different paper finishes.
3. Paper weight
Paper is measured in weight of pounds or grams per square metre (gsm). The lightest paper weight is around 10-35gsm for tissue paper and it increases in weight from here. Heavier paper (around 300gsm) should be used for practices such as watercolour art as the weight will prevent the paper buckling.
Types of Paper
• Watercolour paper
Watercolour paper is specially made by cotton or rag and then sized to prevent colours bleeding once applied. The paper is white to create brightness and facilitate transparency in the paint.
Micador makes a watercolour pad that is cold pressed and 190gsm, suitable for all watercolour applications.
Roymac’s range includes premium Rains Watercolour Paper for artists. This paper is acid free and made in France from 100% cotton fibre. At 300gsm, this cold pressed, felt-marked surface paper is designed to be used with Roymac Rains Watercolours.
• Drawing paper
Smoother, more pressed paper is suitable for rendering fine detail when drawing, however using a paper with more tooth will hold onto the medium better.
Micador’s Drawing Paper pads are suitable for most media, including pencil and pastel artwork. The pads are 80gsm and acid free and are suitable for both professionals and students.
Roymac’s Life Pad is ideal for life drawing, with its 135gsm, acid free natural white paper. The paper has excellent surface grain for drawing and shading.
• Tracing paper
Tracing paper is translucent and is used to transfer templates, illustrations or images by lying it over the top of the design and drawing onto the tracing paper. It is made of cellulose fibre which is translucent, but gives the appearance of white.
Micador Tracing Paper is pH neutral, acid and chlorine free, 100% recyclable and ideal for all tracing techniques. It has superior translucency and flatness and it is oil repelling.
• Painting paper
To achieve greater detail in your painting, you would want a smooth, hot pressed surface, however granulation appears on a cold pressed, rougher surface.
Micador’s Painting Paper is 110gsm, so it is thick enough to hold paint and its A3 size means it’s big enough too. The paper is acid free and provides beautiful effects when painted on.
• Corrugated paper
Corrugated paper is great for craft activities; cutting, sticking, colouring and more. It is available as a fluted, single layer of flexible corrugated paper that comes in many different colours. Corrugated paper is good because it’s durable but also lightweight.
Micador now makes a range of Create It Corrugated Boards in bright, metallic or fluoro colours, perfect for anything crafty.