What paper should I use?
Today I want to talk a little bit about paper as some of you have been asking. Here is what some of us use.
Lorraine Glessner
I love plain old Masa paper... Bright white, the absorption is exactly what I like and it’s heavy enough to withstand the many layers I apply.
Goldenrod, 13x9, encaustic on Masa paper.
Jodi Reeb and Erin Keane also work with Masa paper
Erin Keane
I use Japanese Masa and Mohawk Superfine textweight paper for encaustic monotype and sew them into sculptural books and functional journals. I find both papers absorbent to the wax, flexible for folding, and very economical.
Clare O'Neill
I work with archival tissue papers in all my pieces.
Archival Methods Tissue Paper https://www.archivalmethods.com/product/archival-tissue
Wayne Montecalvo
“Lately I've been using Tengucho, and Asuka, but I also like Toyo Gampi. All of them are thin papers, and are fairly transparent when they absorb encaustic medium. They work great with inkjet printing, although Tengucho can be a challenge to use with a digital printer.”
Kathryn Bevier
I have been using Khadi papers (fairtrade) 140 lb watercolor paper, however several years ago I asked St Armands ( a paper making husband and wife team out of Quebec ) if they would be interested in making an unsized 100% cotton rag paper suitable for encaustic. it is about a 90lb weight, no sizing, accepts wax readily. I think it will be great for my paint sketches and would also be good with encaustic paint that has the microcrystalline added for flexibility since the paper is on the thinner side. It has a nubbly texture, so I am not thinking about it for printmaking personally. It is perfect for light applications of paint, unless you plan on mounting it. since it is unsized the paint absorbs beautifully and leaves an almost gouache appearance. Just a 'doodle' to hopefully show the matte quality. Image below.
Here are the links:
Cotton Paper (No Sizing) by Saint-Armand- 22x30" Sheet
Khadi Paper Packs from India - 140lb (320gsm) Watercolor Paper
Nishinouchi Natural Naka Ban Japanese Paper 13.5"x19" Sheet
Gabriela Sánchez
Cold wax on Strathmore mixed media paper.
Lyn Belisle
Here's a beeswax/collage with several different kinds of paper, including black construction paper, which is wonderfully absorbent.
Crystal Marie
I use a mix of new papers and found/recycled elements in my collage works. The substrate is 140# Strathmore Coldpress Watercolor paper.
Personally I love Awagami Bamboo select paper. It is light and strong and a joy to paint on. I work fairly thinly, in a very painterly way so it really suits me.. and on the plus side is that the paintings can be rolled up to send off to new homes.
April Flowers, encaustic on Awagami paper by Lora Murphy.