Paper

Right, little chickadees all (this includes Alan Bickley - it'll come as a surprise to him, but it does.... I've used many different drawing papers - the one to which I return more than any others is the Daler Rowney cartridge, that comes in those distinctive red and yellow covers: one of the best all-purpose papers, I think, with just enough tooth, and also smooth enough to enable sharp lines if one wants them. I've also used Goldline paper to some effect - but it's rather hard to find.  I've heard recommendations for Strathmore paper, and Moleskine.  I used to like the Winsor and Newton paper, in blue and red covers - and probably still would, it's just that I've not seen it about lately.  Paper, as we know, makes all the difference to work - and depending on what you're planning to use, you might well select a particular paper to suit the medium: since Sylvia Evans - to whom be all praise - gave me a Rotring Art pen, I've been sketching on a rather more shiny surfaced paper than usual (actually, a children's sketchbook, purchased in the local shop: it's a little thin, but it's actually very good paper: it's just called A4 Drawing Book, is adorned by a child-friendly picture of lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras etc, and has no maker's name).   I wonder if there is one paper out there which would be suitable for most - it would be greedy to hope for ALL - applications.  If you were asked to recommend a couple of papers, or even more than a couple, what would you suggest?  For drawing, mind you - watercolour papers, acrylic papers, oil papers, are different kettles of fish.  My Daler-Rowney pad can take pen and ink, carbon pencil, charcoal, conté crayon, coloured pencil, even very light watercolour washes: and it can be strengthened and enhanced by a thin coat of acrylic - I've used it with Chromacolour acrylic, because it's got a range of strong colours, and can be thinned right down for easy application.   But I digress - a good, all-round cartridge is what I'm looking for; versatile, sufficiently tough, what you would suggest yourself to anyone who asked, if you'd really thought about it.  No pressure....

I'd never have thought of that.   This is what you get for asking questions on POL. Any more?

Alan - thanks so much for that: I've not used this paper, but the Adebanji reference is the decider.  And yes - toned paper is so very satisfying to work on: I also like to draw on laid paper, eg Ingres paper but also the Croxley Script papers intended for prestige correspondence - more?

Clairefontaine is certainly a good brand: I'll look out for it.