Finding a happy medium
That's art humor, by the way. Laugh cretins.
So, I continue my noble quest to find a good, solid substrate on which I can do marker pictures at conventions. Many people are quick to suggest marker paper to me and as happy as I am to use the stuff, it's unfortunately too thin to offer out as products. Such thin paper would certainly wrinkle or crease during the rigors of a con and I don't have anything suitable to protect that particular media. I suppose it could be done with comic backing boards and poly bags, but there's still not insurance the ultra-thin paper won't slide around.
Which is a pity. Marker paper works so well. I picked some up today and -- I haven't used the stuff since college, but I fell in love with it all over again. The fine tooth insures smooth, clean lines. It picks up marker well and displays colors boldly with a minimum of ink. It takes well to pencil sketching and even erasing (though you have to be ultra-careful not to tear!). Zangetsu's an example of what I was able to do on the marker paper as just a quick sketch.
Now, I also had a chance to try some super-glossy 'Professional Pen & Ink: UV Smooth Coating'. It's recommended for rapidographs, microns, prismacolor markers (ding), Paint pens, Gel pens, Quill & Ink, and Ball Point Pens. It's smooth white art stock from 'Big Art Brand' that I've seen only in Hobby Lobby but may be carried elsewhere. Immediately, I could imagine the problems with this paper. It's too slick, and while that means nice, consistent lines in pen, there are a number of flaws that make this just annoying to work with.
I think I can find a use for this paper as purely an inking medium. The inks are sharp, smooth, and contrast well! On the slick paper, it's hard to keep control of your pen. Little mistakes show.
Overall, these experiments are good exercise for me to, if nothing else, familiarize myself with other types of paper. Unfortunately, I can't try new media before I buy! That's so infuriating sometimes. I hate dropping $13 for two new papers I may use so infrequently.
For now it looks like I'll be sticking to bristol for the conventions. Maybe I'll find some that's a bit more agreeable than what I currently have. What I first found was recycled bristol from Big Art brand. It came in a loose block for under $8. I have some common name brand now. It doesn't completely stink, but markers don't blend at all well on it and it bleeds like Auntie Flo.
I'll continue looking around. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm glad to hear them. Thanks!
So, I continue my noble quest to find a good, solid substrate on which I can do marker pictures at conventions. Many people are quick to suggest marker paper to me and as happy as I am to use the stuff, it's unfortunately too thin to offer out as products. Such thin paper would certainly wrinkle or crease during the rigors of a con and I don't have anything suitable to protect that particular media. I suppose it could be done with comic backing boards and poly bags, but there's still not insurance the ultra-thin paper won't slide around.
Which is a pity. Marker paper works so well. I picked some up today and -- I haven't used the stuff since college, but I fell in love with it all over again. The fine tooth insures smooth, clean lines. It picks up marker well and displays colors boldly with a minimum of ink. It takes well to pencil sketching and even erasing (though you have to be ultra-careful not to tear!). Zangetsu's an example of what I was able to do on the marker paper as just a quick sketch.
- Pros
- Excellent surface quality
- No bleeding
- No smudging
- Less ink for bolder colors
- Fairly easy to find
- Not terribly expensive ($6 for 50 sheets)
- Cons
- Woefully thin
- Not durable in the least
- Pages don't read 'acid free' so no insurance of archival quality
- For the Canson product, pages fall out of the perfect binding way too easily
Now, I also had a chance to try some super-glossy 'Professional Pen & Ink: UV Smooth Coating'. It's recommended for rapidographs, microns, prismacolor markers (ding), Paint pens, Gel pens, Quill & Ink, and Ball Point Pens. It's smooth white art stock from 'Big Art Brand' that I've seen only in Hobby Lobby but may be carried elsewhere. Immediately, I could imagine the problems with this paper. It's too slick, and while that means nice, consistent lines in pen, there are a number of flaws that make this just annoying to work with.
- Pros
- The super-slick surface is excellent for ink lineart in pen, marker, or nib (I should try it with ballpoint!)
- As the paper is intensely white, black ink contrasts very sharply!
- As a heavier weight stock, there's more durability for the finished product.
- No bleeding
- Cons
- It's nearly impossible to fully erase pencil sketches (even light ones) from this paper
- You can partially erase ink lineart while attempting to erase pencil smudges
- Dry ink smudges
- Marker colors seem washed out since the paper can hold very little pigment
- Undependable availability
- Fairly pricey at $7 for 25 sheets (not as bad as some art supplies, but it won't exactly last
I think I can find a use for this paper as purely an inking medium. The inks are sharp, smooth, and contrast well! On the slick paper, it's hard to keep control of your pen. Little mistakes show.
Overall, these experiments are good exercise for me to, if nothing else, familiarize myself with other types of paper. Unfortunately, I can't try new media before I buy! That's so infuriating sometimes. I hate dropping $13 for two new papers I may use so infrequently.
For now it looks like I'll be sticking to bristol for the conventions. Maybe I'll find some that's a bit more agreeable than what I currently have. What I first found was recycled bristol from Big Art brand. It came in a loose block for under $8. I have some common name brand now. It doesn't completely stink, but markers don't blend at all well on it and it bleeds like Auntie Flo.
I'll continue looking around. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm glad to hear them. Thanks!