I color swatched some of my papers. Here’s the results.
** This page contains amazon affiliate links. You can copy and past the name of the product into the amazon search, or into your favorite art store search and find the products your searching for as well.
Papers I liked for this project.
Artist Loft Watercolor Pad, 90 LB, 185 gsm, 25 sheets
This is nice thick paper, and it’s texture is smooth. It does bleed through, and feathers just slightly. It blends a little, The colors are vibrant. It works well with gouache and watercolors, and inks.
Bianyo Bleedproof Marker Paper Pad 50 Sheets 70 GSM
Out of the ones I tested, this one blended the best. It’s very thin paper and does bleed through. It feathers very little, and had the cleanest lines out of the paper tested. The colors are vibrant. I will not be using it for this project though as I intend to use watercolor, gouache, and inks.
Laser Printer Paper
Surprise. Generic laser printer paper was petty impressive with the markers. It keeps the colors vibrant, the lines are almost as good as Bianyo Marker paper. It does bleed through. The paper is thin, but very smooth. The paper also allows the markers to blend. If I was just using markers this would be a very good cost effective supply.
Papers I didn’t like for this project.
Artisto Watercolor Pad 30 Sheets, 140lb, 300gsm
This paper feathers slightly, but is mostly ok. The alcohol markers do not blend on this paper. The paper has texture it’s not smooth. The back is the same. The markers did not bleed through the paper which was great. If you don’t mind the texture, and the lack of blending you could use both sides of the paper.
BOXUN Premium 50 Sheets, 90gsm, Sketch Marker Paper Pad
Some of the markers feather (Ohuhu and Bianyo) the others (Shuttle and Touch) did not. The markers did not blend on this paper. The colors are muted compared to some of the others papers. One layer of marker did not bleed through, but two laters of dark colors started to bleed through. Paper is very smooth.
U.S. Art Supply 9″ x 12″ 60lb 100gsm 24 sheets, Premium Manga-Marker Paper Pad
This is pretty nice paper. It’s very smooth. It did not bleed through. It does not feather. It does however mute the colors, noticeably when compared with other papers. You would not be able to reuse the back of the page for a 2nd drawing.
Backmore Mixed Media 110lb, 180 g 60 sheets.
This mixed media paper does pretty good keeping the colors accurate, it only mutes the colors slightly. The markers bleed through to the back so you can only use one side. Both sides of the paper feather, and neither side blends the markers. The front has texture, the back is mostly smooth. I like this paper for painting with gouache on the smooth side, but not for markers.
Papers (Summary)
Backmore Mixed Media 110lb, 180 g 60 sheets. Amazon Link
Watercolor (yes), Gouache (yes), Alcohol Markers (No)
Bianyo Bleedproof Marker Paper Pad 50 Sheets 70 GSM Amazon Link
Watercolor (–), Gouache (—), Alcohol Markers (yes)
BOXUN Premium 50 Sheets, 90gsm, Sketch Marker Paper Pad Amazon Link
Watercolor (–), Gouache (—), Alcohol Markers (no)
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Paper Pad, Smooth Amazon Link
Watercolor (yes), Gouache (yes), Alcohol Markers (—)
U.S. Art Supply 9″ x 12″ 60lb 100gsm 24 sheets, Premium Manga-Marker Paper Pad Amazon Link
Watercolor (–), Gouache (—), Alcohol Markers (no)
Artist Loft Watercolor Pad, 90 LB, 185 gsm, 25 sheets Amazon Link
Watercolor (yes), Gouache (yes), Alcohol Markers (yes)
Artisto Watercolor Pad 30 Sheets, 140lb, 300gsm Amazon Link
Watercolor (yes), Gouache (yes), Alcohol Markers (no)
Laser Printer Paper
Watercolor (no), Gouache (yes), Alcohol Markers (yes)
