Lettering - paper edition
Does everyone else buy all the paper pads and notebooks because there is nothing more intriguing than all the things you are going to fill them with but then get so overwhelmed with making beautiful art to put in them that they sit blank for ages? I have started buying 2 when I can so one can stay new and full of opportunity and the other I can use and it’s ok when I don’t love everything because I have a back-up that is still full of possibilities.
Here is what I buy and how I use it (listed by brands):
Canson
Mixed Media - Honestly, the pad I take everywhere is a Mixed Media Canson. They make a 5.5 x 8.5 inch size that is easy to grab and go. Because it is a mixed media paper, it holds up well with multiple times erasing and even a little marker or waterbrush. I use this for everything from drawing to final pieces sometimes.
Marker - It’s more expensive than some brands of drawing, sketching or watercolor papers. It is smooth and bright and heavy enough to prevent most bleed through. The smoothness saves your expensive marker tips and keeps the point for much longer than a paper with texture. The brightness of this paper really shows colors beautifully and for a piece I am going to post or give away, this is great.
Bristol - Slightly heavier than the Marker paper, it is still really smooth and bright and the weight is good for markers and I have been using this more and more lately. It is also my favorite paper for my colored pencils. I press really hard and love to use a blender pencil and this paper holds up really well.
Watercolor - This is my go-to everyday for everything paper! You can find this everywhere including for under $6.00 at Walmart. Most often I cut sheets into 5 x7 inch pieces and 90% of my lettering is on this paper. I will do a simple quote with a Tombow dual brush pen and then use a water brush to blend it all together and this paper will hold up great. If I do my lettering with a Tombow Fudenosuke, I can add a simple watercolor wash or details over the lettering and not worry about the paper getting warped or wrinkled.
A few of my pieces using Canson Papers:
Strathmore
Drawing - Interestingly, I use this mostly for pointed pen practice. I like the weight and it has only a slight texture. I can use a guide sheet under a piece of this paper with a light pad and can still see the lines enough to not have to draw lines on every practice sheet. It is inexpensive and I can get it at Michaels.
Bristol - The same price usually as the Canson Bristol Pad, I really just pick whichever is on sale at Michaels. Still thick, smooth and quality paper for my markers and colored pencils.
Watercolor - This is very similar (usually slightly more expensive) to the Canson watercolor paper. The great thing is how many varieties it comes in. I often order the 50 pack of their watercolor cards that come with envelopes. They have postcard pads and also small pads that travel easily or they even have really nice travel journals with the watercolor paper.
Toned - I have not worked too much with the different toned papers but have used the grey and tan toned pads with colored pencils and gel pens. It gives me a different look for some of my work that keeps things interesting. I should really get in the habit of using it more often.
Arches
Watercolor - I have only recently started using this paper as it is expensive but in this case you really get what you pay for. The quality shines through and I have found some of my pieces look substantially better when using this over some bargain paper. In my opinion it makes things easier and watercolor works more like I want it to. I find masking fluid and tape work great and peel off easier (although I don’t have the science behind why, it is just something that I noticed). A unique thing is that you can get the pages on a block which means all of the pages are sort of glued together and held flat. You can paint right on the block and remove carefully later with a knife.
A few of my pieces using Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor paper:
Rhodia - These are a little more expensive then most practice paper but they come with great sizes and formats such as dot, grid or blank. The dot and grid make it easier to layout a piece and maintain the letter sizes. The paper is really smooth and works great with my markers.
Printer paper - I don’t think the brand of printer paper is as important as the weight. You will find between 20 lb to 32 lb the most common. The higher the weight, the thicker the paper. For my purposes I use higher weight printer paper mostly for practice because it is inexpensive and smooth which means less damage for my favorite markers. I like the higher weight to avoid soaking through the page.
Miscellaneous - Another handy pad of paper to have around is tracing paper. I really buy whatever is cheapest or sometimes even in the kids section. You can use it to layout a lettering piece and make adjustments before the final piece. It is usually really smooth and great for your markers. Pointed pens also work well on most tracing paper since it doesn’t have a lot of fibers that can get stuck in the tines.
If you have any paper you love please send those recommendations my way.
Now that we have done my favorite supplies, what else would you like to see? Feel free to send me any questions or ideas you may have and stay tuned for new “Technique” blogs.
Here is my Amazon Storefront link: www.amazon.com/shop/detailsandscribbles
Just to be as open as possible, I did sign up for an associates account on Amazon so I could point you to the products. I do get a small amount if you order from these but you do not pay more. Also, I have purchased some of these at Target, Walmart and Michaels so always be on the look out for a good deal or a coupon!