Pastel Papers, etc.

[Mary Sparrow]

I'm curious as to what others' favorite papers are, or other options for that matter.

I remember Chris Saper saying she was too heavy-handed for the Art Spectrum paper. (Please correct me if I am remembering wrong.) I so far have found this to be my favorite to use, but I would classify myself probably as light-handed. My least favorite so far has been Canson paper.

What is your favorite and least favorite and how do you classify your way of painting: heavy, medium or light?

[Julianne Lowman]

I don't really know if I'm a heavy, medium or light handed pastelist. I have only used Canson because that's really the only thing available at my local art supply stores. I will be trying some new things, art panels, paper mounted on panel, etc. to see what will work for my new rep. She wants them mounted to a firm surface to make framing easier without concern for longterm warping or buckling of the paper.

I am finding that the Canson paper tends to "pill" when I blend. That's the only time I believe I'm heavy handed. I do a great deal of blending and smudging, so I need a durable surface. My next project is on a low grit art board, so I guess we'll find out how that works after I dive in.

There are so many unknowns for me, being new in the industry, that change makes me nervous. Fortunately we have this forum and the experts herein that have tread this ground before us to show us the way to go.

[Juan Martinez]

Hi

You may want to try a couple of papers from Fabriano if this brand is available to you. (I think it's fairly widespread.) The two best ones, IMHO, are Fabriano UNO and Fabriano FA5. Both are acid-free and the UNO paper is 100% rag. The reason these should be suitable is because they are tough and can take abuse. However, they don't erase all that well. Can't have everything.

I normally use the "back" side of these papers - the backside is when the Watermark reads backwards (just in case you weren't aware of that) - because it is often slightly smoother than the front side. The front is quite toothy and, on account of the sizing (which is what makes them tough, I think) your drawing or painting tools wear down very quickly when working there. Although I don't work in pastel, I've found that the back of these papers is plenty toothy to accept a lot of pigment (in my case, charcoal or carbon, but it should be the same for pastel).

Hope it helps.

Juan

[Scott Bartner]

Dear Juan:

It

[Sharon Knettell]

Mary,

Get thee quickly to the website of New York Central Art, www.nycentralart.com. Get their paper catalogue. It is the best. For about $5.00 apiece you can order books of paper from hundreds of paper manufacturers in every size, weight and color imaginable.

The swatches are big enough to try your pastels on. You can do pastel on any paper that has enough tooth to hold the pastel. You have to decide for yourself what paper helps you achieve the results you are looking for.

NY Central has its own pigment coated paper made by Dianne Townsend in two sizes; the colors are luscious.

I do not use Canson, its colors fade. What you
have to look for is pigment-died paper. It is more expensive but worth it.

Here is a partial list of the papers I use:

-Ruscombe Mills, Handmade, subtle colors

-Rives Heavyweight, available in larger sizes

-Hahnemuhle Bugra Butten, large size gorgeous colors

-Hahnemuhle Ingres, a real workhorse of a paper, their silver grey is especially usefull for charcoal or conte.

-Fabriano Ingres, they carry it it a larger size, 271/2"x39", great tough laid suface.

-Fabriano Murillo, ditto, can use it with gouache as well. They have a lovely light green and the texture is somewhat rougher than the Ingres.

-Fabriano Roma, handmade laid paper in exquisite colors.

-Moulin de Larroque Special soft Pastels.

-Alcantra, unusual pebbled surface, lovely colors.

Another fabulous resource is www.twinrocker.com.
Glorious handmade pigmented paper in colors to drool for. They made the paper for the movie "Master and Commander", with Russel Crowe. The ultimate paper indulgence, can't find the paper you want they will make it for you! Love them and their papers, they are the best.

It is a shame to limit yourself to the ordinary offerings of the large websites like Jerry's.
There are so many other exciting and better papers out there. Explore!

Hope this helps!

[Mary Sparrow]

Thank you SOO much for this!

YOU, are the main reason I picked up that box of pastels last August that had been sitting there for 10 years untouched. Since then, I have been hard pressed to even touch my oils! I just absolutely love your work.

[Sharon Knettell]

Mary,

They are a well known addiction, they should be regulated like alcohol. I ran into a friend of mine recently at a party, she had been exploring large scale pastels, using Goldens Acrylic Primer for Pastels. She looked positively insane describing the acres of lush pastels on oversized surfaces. You can put that stuff on anything, I am currently putting it on aluminum panels (DiBond) and airbrushing it with Golden Fluid Matte acrylic. It is like a giant piece of tinted paper.

However, explore the world of really good paper.
It is really satisfying to work on exquisitly crafted surfaces.

Try the Great American Pastels, gorgeous colors, somwhat like a Schmincke only with a greater range.

Ask me any questions about the stuff, I have been really researching pastels intensively over the last few years, mediums , methods, etc.

Thanks for the compliment!
Enjoy!

[Linda Brandon]

Thanks, Sharon! I've been drawing a lot lately and this is terrific information.

I've been experimenting with Nupastel on ABS plastic; one of these days I'll try them out on my 4' x 8' sheet. I will think of you as I choke on the dust.

I saw 'Master and Commander' twice. What paper? The one the boy used to create his drawings?

[Jean Kelly]

Hi,

I've also become an addict. And this info is very much appreciated. I'm going to try gluing fabric (linen, canvas, and some heavy cottons) to board. Adding a sizing, either gesso or acrylic fabric paint, then using pastel on it. I have tons of raw linen, cotton and silk left from my former business so am going to try using it up with these experiments. I have a "heavy" hand and I'm sure I won't be able to ruin the surface of this material. Sharon, thanks so much for the info, I sent for this catalogue a while back and it's one of my wish books (New York Central Art).

Jean

[Sharon Knettell]

Linda,

ABS plastic, 4'x 8' sheet, for pastels, tell us more,weight surface, availability etc..

Thanks,