Papers, Continued
Paper types
(Continued)
CANVAS BOARD: Canvas board is thick illustration board covered with
light canvas and sized with gesso to accept oil and acrylic paints. This board
performs in every way like canvas.
NEWSPRINT: Newsprint paper is a cheap, high pulp content paper ideal for
drawing and sketching. Newsprint discolors rapidly and crumbles as it ages.
Do not choose newsprint for permanent or file drawings and master art.
Newsprint is ideal for thumbnail sketches or warm-up exercises before you
begin drawing.
PASTEL PAPER: Papers for pastel drawings have a coating of marble dust
or pumice to trap pigment. Select surface textures according to your
preference. Very fine pastel papers are called velour canvas. Most pastelists
prefer a pastel colored pastel paper over white to unify the pastel drawing
and intensify the pastel colored pigment.
CHARCOAL PAPER: Charcoal paper is a toothy paper with high
absorbance used for drawings made with charcoal or dry pastels. Charcoal
clings to the paper and smears less than on smoother paper.
WATERCOLOR PAPER: Paper used for watercolor painting has greater
absorbance than papers made for illustration. Choose watercolor paper
carefully. Surface texture shows through a true (transparent) watercolor
medium. Select a paper that is 100% rag and white. The three general
surfaces available in watercolor paper are rough, medium (CP), and smooth
(HP). Different weights are available to suit your preference.
ILLUSTRATION BOARD: Illustration board is a stiff board with a portion
of rag content that increases with the rated quality of board. The surface
texture of illustration board varies. Illustration board is suitable for all media
and medium or high quality boards offer some degree of permanence.
MAT BOARD: Mat board is used to surround images with complimentary
borders and to protect images from fingerprints and contact with other
surfaces. Mat board has some rag content and is available in archival
quality. The surface of mat boards have uniform laid or woven textures.
Use the texture of mat boards creatively when you draw in charcoal or
pastels.
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