Hi Buddies!
As i soon won't be on the rocks anymore I'll at long last spend some money on some valuable paper
(many of you should already have read about my paper problems) and thus I would like to know about what paper you prefer mostly. I'm interested in brand and weight.
Furthermore it would be interesting to know whether it's better to draw on an hard ground(like a wooden desktop) or a softer ground(like a blotting pad).

Well, I'm interested to hear what other people say. I can't say I have any brilliant insights here. I always draw on a laminate board, with the one sheet of paper on it. For graphite, of the things I've tried, I'm happiest with Strathmore 100lb smooth Bristol. For colored pencils, I've come to agree with the majority of folks who love Stonehenge (they only make one paper!)

Well, here are my two cents. I draw on precut pieces of plywood that I get in a variety of sizes at my art store. I usually put several pieces of paper under my working paper to give it a little cushion, then tape it all around with painter's tape to keep it secure. I know many artist here like Stonehenge, but I often find little scratches in the paper that can't be covered up very well. I like Strathmore Bristol Vellum, but forgot what the weight is. I have also tried cold press water color paper - heavy weight -which I liked. There is not any one that I am crazy about yet. I am still looking. So try all kinds to see the effect you get and just have fun with it.

Judyvan

I love the Strathmore Bristol Smooth 100lb, its smooth and heavy enough and lovely. Next to illustration board (which you don't want to do everything on) its the best.

But here is where it gets interesting - I have had trouble getting it & settled last time for W&N 100lb 'Smooth Surface Cartridge Pad Heavy Weight', it should be the same - wrong. Its not quite as smooth which doesn't make it my favourite but would be OK if it was the right weight but the two are different. The Strathmore Bristol 100lb is 260gsm (grams of paper in a square metre), and the Winsor & Newton 100lb is 220gsm - less weight of paper. I am not sure how this anomoly can occur as if they are the same in one measure they should be the same in the other?????

All I am sure of is that the Bristol is far better to work on because its heavier and a better finish.

Feel your paper - know what you are buying and (unlike me) double check your paper weight - it makes a difference.

The smoother paper allows the graphite to sit more on the surface and is easier to get a crisp erased line - but the more you erase the more the surface is damaged and the more the graphite can "sink in" and is then harder to get a good erasure - think of blotting paper as the result (not that bad but lets you know what it can do).

Because of this I always use rubbish paper to draw my image on and then when I have the bugs ironed out I transfer it - really cuts down on the damage to the paper.

Hope this helps

Sue

Nice! Very interesting contributions!
Unfortunately I've got the problem that i live in Germany where there is neither to get some Strathmore, nor the often praised Canson paper .I know this is some kind of specific,but does anybody know about a branding that is also available where I live?

Canson papers are much too rough for your style -- I'm pretty sure you would hate them!

I personally like the Strathmore Bristol Vellum, I find it has a smoother surface for using my color pencils and when I really wanna use paper with texture I do like my canson Mi-Tientes which I cant remember the weight, I also believe I have the colored pad of it and like to use the creams and off whites or light gray colors. I have yet to try Stonehenge. We will just have to see what santa allows.

Being part of the colored pencil society I have learned of various papers and boards that work great with color pencils, but financally (sp) it takes time to aquire and I have quite a stock with my vellum paper at the moment that is just as good too me.

And that's why i worship this forum so heavily!
I nearly bought an import of the Canson smooth Bristol from another country what would be very expensive.
Thanks you Ernest , I know I already owe you a lot by know, thank you so much!

But this doesn't take away my problem anyway...^^

Anybody else got an idea? (pertaining to a brand available in Germany)

Nuke, I am not sure about Germany unfortunately, I do live in the states. But, I go to the colored pencil forums in Wetcanvas so I will make a post there and see if I can find out anything for you and some of my other colored pencil threads I frequent and see what I can come up with if that helps.

You guys are worth your weight in gold!!!

By the way,as a last resort, does anybody know about an us shop that exports the Strathmore Bristol 100lb to Europe as cheap as possible?

Nuke have you tried Blicks.com to see if they did? Or CheapJoes.com? Maybe even ebay?

Hi Nuke,

I'm living in Switzerland and here is what I did to get a paper that I was happy with.

I went to my local paper and office supply store (Kramer-Krieg). They have a fine arts department. I would imagine you have similar stores where you live. I then bought several types of paper one sheet at a time and tried them until I found what I wanted. I'm still experimenting from time to time but have settled on one vellum bristol and one smooth bristol.

For practice paper I use a brand "Carton bristol SIHL + EIKA 160 to 380 gms" that you might find in your area. I'm happy with this paper and it is not expensive. I get 125 sheets of the 380 gms for around 26 euros. Actually I think this paper is as good as the more expensive paper if you are only using dry medium.

thanks riblanchette,I'll have a look about what you recommended.

Now there's another question: what are the differences between the diffrerent
Strathmore Bristol "Series"?(300/400/500)
I spontaneously would buy Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Pads (http://www.dickblick.com/zz133/12/)

Nuke, I am not sure of the difference between the series. I use the one that is available at Micheals Arts and craft sore near me and they only have the 300 series which is pretty thick, and thats one of the main reasons I like using it. I posted a threat on Wetcanvas to see if I could find anything out for you and one of the moderators suggested you try this website for a store in Germany.

http://www.gerstaecker.de/ARCHESAquarellBu...arellblocke.htm

If you are interested in reading the thread I started and seeing what all she said, here is a link to the thread. I hope this helps you out.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462486

Nuke another one I found out about was www.boesner.com , hope it helps.

Alright,now I have some paper I'm veeeery satisfied!
i'm looking forward to working with it and see my new results.

THank you all for your comments and tips!!!

Tell us, what did you get?

as you adviced me, a 250g/m² bristol paper (I think from Hahnemühle,but I'm not shure) from one of the only art stores in the city next to where I live. *lionize* it's so smooooooth

And very cheap also: You can buy a sheet of paper (100cm x 65cm) for 1,15€ (1,7 USD) and can cut it like you want it to be.