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The Art of Paper

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The Art of Paper

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If you are interested in the art of paper, you should consider purchasing or making paper sculptures. This flexible medium is perfect for expressive artwork. You can form intricate geometric shapes with paper, and you can use it to create objects that resemble lace. Examples of paper sculptures include carved, folded, and cut out objects. You can even make realistic 3D sculptures using paper. You can also use recycled materials to create paper sculptures, such as books and cardboxes.

Different types of art papers have different strengths. They are made from various weights, and their density is expressed in grammes per square metre (gsm). Fine art papers generally range from 120gsm to 850gsm, while drawing papers are often slightly heavier. Papers with higher density are more durable and can withstand more erasing. A high-quality drawing paper will be thicker, while a lighter weight one is pliable enough for drawing.

Drawing papers are made from cotton fibers and come in different shapes and sizes. A common choice for dry media is drawing paper, which comes in individual sheets, spiral-bound pads, and other forms. While all drawing papers are white, different types have varying surface textures. The smoothness of a paper helps it hold ink and graphite, while a rough surface is better for pastels. The type of surface will affect the quality of the finished product.

The surface texture of paper is essential for layering. Paper with a toothy surface will be easier to layer than one without. Another important consideration is paper weight. The heavier the paper, the more layers, and more techniques you can use. Usually, paper weight is determined by the weight of a ream of 500 sheets. The heavier the paper, the thicker it is. For this reason, the thicker the paper, the more tooth it has.

The most common surface for artists is paper. Paper is inexpensive and readily available. Natural materials decay over time, so look for high-quality cotton rag paper, alpha cellulose paper, and lignin-free paper. They are also more durable than many other materials. So, it's a good idea to purchase more than one piece of paper to start a collection. This way, you can save money and still have a nice selection of artwork.

Paintings and drawings made from paper are sensitive to light, humidity, and temperature. It's important to protect them from damage with modern conservation techniques. For example, use gloves when handling oil pastels. If possible, have the artwork framed by a professional. Framers can use UV-protected glass to prevent damage from light. You can also avoid placing your paintings and paper sculptures in strong, direct sunlight, or on top of a radiator.

While there are a variety of types of paper to choose from, watercolour paper tends to have a hard size on the top that lets pigment remain on the surface. You can purchase watercolour paper in different textures, from smooth to rough, from HP to Not to Cold Press. The smoothest finish is called Hot Press, while not-cold-pressed paper is medium to heavily textured. Rough is a highly textured paper.