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Paper Questions
1. Toned Paper
I found quite a few tutorials use toned paper. How will they go on plain paper? Toned paper is quite expensive here and not sure if I’m ready to draw on them.2. Neenah Vellum Bristol Cardstock
“LIGHTWEIGHT WHITE CARDSTOCK: Vellum Bristol cardstock offers a slightly textured, toothy surface making it ideal for lightweight applications. For reference, 67 lb. vellum Bristol cardstock is lighter and more flexible than 65 lb. cover cardstock”
Will this be a good paper for graphite pencil drawings? It’s a lot more affordable then the Strathmore ones
I’ve used Hammermill premium cardstock 199GSM. I found it ok. I wonder if the Vellum bristol cardstock be better.
3. Neenah Exact Vellum BristolSimilar to above but it has a semi-smooth finish
Ali, Arsh and 4 others7 Comments-
Can’t really help you @cheryl . I tried once gray toned paper from Clairefontaine 180gsm to color pencil draw a fried egg and turn out that I couldn’t handle the paper with standard colored pencils. Didn’t have the polychromos. Couldn’t build layers. Somebody here on the forum even suggested me to use POSCA pencils ( Acrylic) for more pronounced white. Toned paper is also gone giving you another negative space to consider. My two cents to your enquiry. 😉
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@pacific8118 thanks. Sounds like an advanced paper type. I’d be keen to try in future. From what I read on the internet, the main advantage of toned paper is that it is already a mid tone so there are less shading and it makes white pops more, compared to white paper.
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Still seeking Knowledge
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Hi Cheryl 😊
Great questions! You can absolutely create beautiful graphite drawings on plain white paper, so don’t feel like you need toned paper to achieve realistic results. Toned paper is simply another option and is often used when artists want to work with both dark and white media. Between the two Neenah papers, I would choose the Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol. The slight tooth will generally hold graphite better than the smoother version and should allow you to build darker values more easily. If it’s more affordable and easier to get where you live, I think it’s definitely worth trying. Finding the right paper often takes a little experimentation. 😊🎨1-
@alihaiderrehman Thanks! Do you think the Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol be better than this Hammermill Cardstock 199 gsm (I don’t know what tooth it has.)
Or should I just save my money and keep using the cardstock? I already have a ream I bought for other purpose before I started sketching
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Hi @cheryl If you already have a full ream of the Hammermill cardstock, I’d recommend continuing with that for now. It’s perfectly capable of producing excellent drawings, and your recent work proves that. The Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol will likely hold graphite a little better because it has slightly more tooth, but the difference isn’t so dramatic that I’d suggest buying new paper before you’ve used up what you already have. My advice would be to keep practicing on the Hammermill, and once you’ve finished it, then consider trying the Neenah Vellum Bristol to see which you prefer. Every paper has its own feel, and part of becoming an artist is discovering what works best for you. 😊
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wow gets fairly technical this paper thing i have not delved n to paper so much llol good advice though ali
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