The paper has a heavy tissue paper feel to it. It is strong, but tears by hand easily. There is a definite grain to the paper that is visually apparent along with small flecks of shell.
I tested watercolor, pastel, graphite, colored pencil, and ink.
- The watercolor behaved beautifully on this paper-it does buckle, but flattens out once dry again. Color lifted easily without much effort.
- Pastel went on nicely, but the grain definitely shows through. I don't think it would hold multiple layers well.
- Graphite pencil also went on nicely. Again the grain/texture of the paper is there. I found that burnishing the graphite slightly warped the paper.
- Colored pencil chips away the shell emulsion. I don't know if it is the wax that is grabbing hold of it. I did not have the same issue with the graphite.
- Ink also when on great with no bleeding and no chipping of the shell.
- Printing and stamping also went down nicely-again no bleeding of the ink and the texture is not as apparent as it is with the pastel.
I look forward in using this paper in my pen and ink drawings along with my watercolor. I paid $20.79 from Jerry's Artarama.
*Edited to add that artwork should be finished with a fixative when complete. I did this mixed media painting with ink, watercolor and gouache and found that even my 'permanent' ink was no longer permanent on this paper. A soft brush can easily lift any of those three mediums.
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