VIDEO: Lizzie Harper compares painting on different watercolour papers

This post is about a BRAND NEW and very useful video comparing paper for botanical artists by professional artist and illustrator Lizzie Harper, who specialises in botanical, natural history and scientific illustration. ​

a still from the video

In the video, she tests samples (not sheets or blocks) of five different watercolour papers.

She made it as her contribution to the collective effort to find a new paper for botanical artists after the problems with Fabriano Artistico HP. There have been a number of problems with that paper experienced by many botanical artists have  in recent times. Some artists have given up on waiting for Fabriano to find an answer...

The papers tested are:

• Moulin du Roy HP,
• Arches 300gsm/140lb HP,
• Canson Heritage 300gsm HP,
• the new Saunders Waterford from St Cuthberts Mill and
• Botanical Smooth. 300gsm HP also from St.C.Mill.

The close-ups are good of her painting and her verbal descriptions of what it felt like painting on the papers and how each performed are excellent and informative.

I won't spoil the ending by telling you which two papers she says she'll be focusing on in future. 

This article on her blog shows you close-ups of the papers and the results achieved.

I will add a note of caution and advice.

Of late artists have found that samples of some paper have not been the same as either sheets or blocks of paper they have subsequently bought from the same manufacturer. Canson Heritage is the latest to be "under the spotlight" on this score.

Hence if you'd like to repeat the test for yourself - because people work in different ways and what works for one person is not necessarily the best paper for somebody else - I suggest you

• use paper from sheets or blocks for your test.  
• try different weights and both sides of the paper as some botanical artists have discovered that just changing the weight or the side of paper you work can make a big difference!

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This video has been added in to my new page about Paper on my website.  (I also have a page about Vellum)

My Paper Page is still a work in progress but it covers:

• Basic paper data - to make the most of paper you need to know how it is made and how it can perform
• Paper-making and different types of paper - improve your understanding of how papers are made and why they perform differently
• How to test watercolour paper - general principles plus tests for watercolour paint, coloured pencils and pen and ink
• Reviews of different papers by botanical artists - all aiming to identify the best paper for botanical art and illustration - including a video
• Different brands of paper identified as suitable for botanical art and illustration. Some are suitable for some media only (this section has still to be developed)​

I'd love to see more videos of botanical artists testing different papers and the results you've achieved so I can share them with others via my page. It's a lot more permanent than sharing on Facebook!