Strathmore watercolour paper has always impressed me because of the quality of their products and the good quality/prize ratio. This is also the case here.
This pad has a great size for beginners, not too big or too small. The tone and texture of the paper are excellent. I use it mostly for mixed media, mostly working with acrylics, and I do nasty things to the paintings (rubbing, scratching, wiping). Yet, the paper resists almost everything and it is very forgiving. I always gesso the paper before working on it.
Perhaps not as good as other brands, but this is one of my watercolour paper pads staples.
I
bought this grey card pack just because it was cheaper than the white
paper one and not sure what the real colour was as the product page
doesn't show it. The cards are toned in a lovely warm grey as per my
photos. The card stock is sturdy and has resisted everything I've done
to it today without tearing.
Things I've done to the paper just to try it: > Covered the cards in white high tooth gesso. > Added a coat of heavy-body acrylic paint. > Glued several layers of collage paper using matte gel medium. > Glued a small piece of fabric. > Stitched French point using embroidery thread, previously using an awl to perforate it. > Added a glaze of acrylic paint and rubbed it with my fingers. The
paper has resisted everything. The stock is 215 gsm and not 300, which
is ideal for mixed media, and that shows in the fact that the paper
corners curl a bit.
I've also tried the paper without gesso and also resisted everything.
The
third experiment I've carried out is stitching and doing basic sewing
and embroidery on it, without gesso added. I also added heavy-body
acrylic paint and rubbed water-soluble crayons. The paper stood
everything as per my photos.
For the rest this is an excellent
artist paper, versatile, and it can be used as it is, in the original
toned colour or covered in paint , gesso or anything you want.
Yet, it's a bit expensive taking into account that the pack only has 30 tiles.
