Paper

Art paper is chosen for fiber, grammage, surface, sizing and the amount of water or friction the technique creates.

Smooth, fine-grained or pronounced texture

Smooth paper supports technical pen, marker and fine pencil work. More tooth holds pastel, charcoal and multiple layers of colored pencil. For watercolor, gouache and wet mixed media, weight and wet strength are important; cotton behaves differently than cellulose but is not necessary for every project.

Test absorption and deformation

Make a small test with the same paint, ink and amount of water as in the final work. Check bleeding lines, bleed-through, buckling and recovery after drying. Stretch or tape the paper when required by the chosen method and store loose sheets flat, dry and protected from light, dirt and handling marks.

Also explore Paper & Surfaces · Painting Board · Drawing & Calligraphy for compatible materials and the next step in your project.