Watercolor paper from wallpaper liner - GREAT Choice & Cost Savings
by Deborah Sherl
(Pocatello, ID, USA)
Lining Paper Roll
I believe I found out about this hint on this site! I am an elementary art teacher (and artist) and try to use the most appropriate material for each learning experience, but BUDGET is always an issue.
So I looked for the rcommended WALLPAPER LINER - Unpasted. ( I happen to be in IDAHO, USA.) I found 2 brands and once unrolled, wetted-down, cut to needed sizes and flattened, I have been overjoyed using it with my students to do watercolor painting.
It has the look and feel of real 140 lb cold pressed rough watercolor paper! I teach 90 student a week and one roll provides me approx. 260 painting sheets (about 7x9in) and one roll costs $5.00!!(That is FIVE DOLLARS.) So that is just under 2 cents a page!! After three "trial" runs on this "paper", we go to 140 lb Student grade Strathmore, which costs about 42 cents a page.
Prepping the roll of wallpaper liner (really a highly pressed cloth material similar to the real thing) is soooo worth the outcome and savings! I bought the rolls of liner at a local paint & paper store. Also found some on the 'Net, but cost was $22.00 PLUS Shipping-Too Expensive!
Also plan to use this product for a childrens' Art Tent a large regional art festival in a few weeks (700 children planned to "go through" the tent in 2 days.
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I heartily recommend Deborah's tip. This paper is really economical and fantastic for practice for yourself or for all of the teaching uses that Deborah has mentioned.
I use it in a lot of small class demos as it will take watercolour, acrylics, felt pen, pencil, charcoal, pastel quite happily so I can throw in all sorts of impromptu techniques as I demonstrate without having to stop and change the paper.
I'm not sure about elsewhere in the world, but in the UK you can get this in a variety of weights from about 600 grade upwards. That's fine for smaller sheets - the higher the number of the grade, the heavier (and stronger the weight).
Cheers
Bob