Question from Clayton, Drawing Academy student
Can you please tell me what paper should I use for artworks?
Cheers,
Clayton
Hi Clayton,
You can use a common sense when choosing paper – use cheaper kinds for disposable preliminary drawings and sketches; for more involved pieces, use a higher-quality paper. Generally, these will be of a greater GSM (grams per square meter) and thus more expensive.
Try various tooth grains, ‘hot’ and ‘not’, white and tinted, for various purposes. Different papers are designed for different media. It is not advisable to use, for example, watercolor paper for graphite drawing, and vice versa.
With time, you will find certain brands that work well for you. This is the matter of personal preference and budget. Usually, local art suppliers stock a wide variety, so you don’t have to go hunting just to find some particular brand that you might have heard about from someone.
Every artist has his or her favorite techniques and media.
We do not advocate any specific brands. Advising a certain kind of paper for every case is like telling a chef to use a specific kind of pan for every dish : )
Cheers,
Vladimir
You are right, Vladimir, as time goes by when you draw you will see by experience the kind of paper you have to use. Choose the best quality paper coz it will give you a good quality drawing you will see ingenious choosing the right kind of paper.