How to Select the Right Type of Paper for Your Art

When it comes to creating different types of art, it’s essential to choose the right type of paper. Different papers feature distinct qualities which makes them suitable only for specific art techniques. Therefore, you need to pay attention to various factors when selecting a specific paper for your art.

From exploring different colours to choosing the appropriate texture suitable for your chosen art medium, each aspect can give you valuable insights into the world of specific art papers. Join us on this creative journey, as we’ll delve into each one of these factors, to help you deepen your knowledge and make a more informed decision when selecting a paper for your unique art project.

Consider a Paper Texture that Aligns with Your Chosen Art Medium

The texture of the paper plays a crucial role in how your art will turn out. Different types of paper have unique texture qualities which makes them suitable only for specific art mediums. For instance, you can opt for smooth art paper when engaging in art projects such as drawing, sketching drafts, and portraying detailed illustrations with pen, coloured pencils, and markers. This type of paper you can find in various levels of smoothness including wove and vellum.

Wove paper is considered among the most popular paper finishes on the market. This type of paper features a very smooth surface suitable for writing and printing a variety of documents, books, etc. Compared to it, vellum has a subtle roughness and is much heavier which makes it perfect for a variety of art techniques, such as crafting, drawing with ink, printing and calligraphy. Vellum paper was originally made from calfskin, while now it’s mostly made from cotton and wooden pulp.

For those who love to paint, finding the right paper is crucial when experimenting with diverse art mediums. For instance, for art techniques like watercolour painting, you need to consider a slightly rough texture that absorbs the colours and doesn’t let your paint splash over. You can find this kind of paper in three different textures, including rough, cold and hot pressed.

The pronounced texture of the watercolour art paper is particularly suited for painting landscapes and scenes from the natural world. This is because the texture of the paper can perfectly mimic the patterns and textures found in nature, including surfaces like rocks, plants and trees.

While primarily used for watercolur art, cold-pressed paper can also be used when painting with much thicker paints such as acrylics. However, these types of paints require a much thicker surface, and therefore papers like specific types of canvas, mixed media paper and heavy drawing paper are often used to handle the consistency and thickness of these paints.

Explore the Impact of Diverse Paper Colours on Your Artwork

While selecting the right textures of paper matters, the choice of colour can equally influence the outcome of your art. You can find papers in almost any colour from vibrant hues like rich red and orange to more neutral and pastel shades such as beige, white and light green. These colours can serve as a foundation when engaging in various forms of art.

For example, coloured cardboard paper for art is usually suitable for various decorative art projects, such as making greeting cards, constructing visually appealing 3D sculptures or creating party decorations such as banners, and window displays. In comparison to cardboard, canvas paper is mostly suitable for painting. You can find canvases in a range of hues that allow you to experiment with different backgrounds.

For example, you can use black canvases for painting galaxy and space scenes, or vivid northern lights using bold and bright colours against the dark surface to create bold and high contrast effects. While selecting the right canvas colour is always a choice, you can also create your own coloured canvas by applying the desired shade of paint on the entire surface.

This allows you to choose a colour for your background that resonates with the theme of your artwork. For example, if you want to paint a vibrant sunset you can customise your canvas by applying colours like light blue or lavender to paint the evening sky. This allows you to set the tone for your entire artwork and perfectly captures the visual and striking sunset hues.

Pay Attention to the Weight

In addition to choosing a paper colour that resonates with your artwork, you need to consider the weight of the paper when immersing in different art projects. This feature can directly affect how a chosen art medium interacts with the surface.

For instance, to create stunning pieces with ink, you need heavyweight paper that is durable and won’t let the ink bleed through on the other side. This type of paper usually weighs 150-230 gsm and provides a sturdy surface for engaging in various art techniques as it can handle a thicker layer of paint, such as with detailed ink drawing, mixed media, and acrylic painting.

Compared to it, lightweight papers, such as bristol and vellum weigh considerably less and are mostly suitable for art techniques like sketching, and quick drawings. These papers offer a smooth surface for portraying detailed artwork with pencil, coloured pens and other suitable mediums.

You should also explore specific types of extra heavyweight surfaces that weigh 340 gsm and above and provide enough stability and sturdiness for certain art mediums. For instance, to create art with oil paints you need much heavier paper as these types of paints are mostly thicker and require more time to dry. Therefore, you should consider using a heavyweight canvas that offers a robust surface when engaging in techniques such as layering or impasto that involve applying thicker layers of paint on the canvas to create a unique and textured effect.