Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Paper

Whether you are an acrylic artist that is looking to take their studio beyond the four walls and pigment plein air, or are but looking for a new surface to paint on, newspaper can brand an splendid choice.

But here's the deal:

You tin't just use any blazon of paper.

Instead, you need to use ane that tin can withstand the lofty weight of acrylic.

As y'all are likely already aware, acrylic dries both incredibly fast and hard.

In order to prevent any pronounced cracking for your finished piece, you have to have a keen heart for selecting the right newspaper surface that volition work with your existing acrylics.

In today'south article we are going to not only become over some really bang-up papers yous can use with your acrylic paints the side by side fourth dimension yous are in the studio, just we are also going to talk nigh some necessary prep work you lot should be doing likewise.

This will not only let the acrylic lay effortlessly, but will also ensure you don't blow your budget on a fast absorbing surface.

But before nosotros get into all the details, hither is a quick annotation on why you might want to consider paper every bit your preferred surface when using acrylic paints:

paper like surfaces for acrylic paints - pinterest

Primal Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Acrylic On Paper

While canvas may reign supreme for major pieces of both oil and acrylic mediums, newspaper is a great intermediary surface should you lot exist testing out new techniques, subjects, or only more often than not looking to pinch a few pennies on your monthly artistic budget.

Merely it goes beyond just saving a few pennies…

…if you are a budding creative person in a highly dense area similar NYC where every square inch of real estate is fought over…

…or…

…find that your studio is bursting at the seems even if yous alive in a scrap more spacious of an area, newspaper is a huge space saver, especially if you are coming from a background of regularly using stretched canvas.

While the compact and light class factor of newspaper makes this a surface that is quite alluring, nosotros would be remiss if we didn't at to the lowest degree mention a few key drawbacks:

When it comes to acrylic paints on paper, you MUST select i that is the correct weight…

…and this is a point worth stressing.

Why?

Well too heavy of a paper and y'all are likely going to be wasting your money on a couple of fronts.

First off, heavy weighted paper does tend to cost a fair bit more than those of lesser weights.

But secondly, and perhaps about importantly to you is the waste of acrylic pigment.

Overly absorptive papers will completely suck upward all the paint that is loaded on the end of your brush much quicker than a primed canvas.

Therefore, you volition want to make sure that you check out our proposition below on some papers that we establish work better for most folks that use acrylic regularly.

Now just a quick word for artists who similar to take their wares on the road with them:

Paper surfaces are not bad for plein air paintings.

Their naturally lighter weight make it perfect for any portable studio.

However, there's a catch:

When outdoors, you have to make certain y'all ever have a few other supplies with you lot on mitt at all times.

Here's the essentials:

A lath to keep your paper lying apartment while you paint.

Tape or clamps to ensure your paper doesn't fly away while you lot are painting (this happened to me one time and I never forgot record when leaving the house ever again).

But one time you are aware of these common traits of using your dearest acrylic paint with paper, you will be set to begin painting some of your best work immediately.

Is Prep Work Necessary When Using Acrylic Paint On Newspaper?

In brusque, perhaps.

Here'south why we can't requite yous a not-committal answer:

It really does depend on the results y'all are seeking from your next painting.

If you are looking for a highly absorbent surface that doesn't let your paint budge one time its placed, then no, you don't have to prep.

Most important effectually the absorbency aspect however is going to pertain to haemorrhage.

Some artists who try to push the boundaries on a cartridge paper or even watercolor paper when using acrylics may simply need to prime it beforehand to ensure in that location is no deterioration amid the fibers of the paper as well as to ward off any wrinkling or warping…

…which may leaded to a finished piece that will crack as it dries.

Where are we going with this?

Information technology's important to test out your work and practise some quick paintings on a new surface to see what the results will exist.

The final thing you lot volition want to practice is to spend an extended menstruation of time on a slice only to find it deteriorates right before your eyes.

Here's the deal though:

It goes WAY across just simple absorbency problems…

Some artists may be looking for a certain texture or molar from their surface that reminds them of a traditional canvas piece fifty-fifty though they are painting on paper.

So, what should you use as your primer?

A uncomplicated coating of gesso on both the front and back of the newspaper should be more sufficient to prevent bleeding of the acrylic while also giving yous a swell texture to work with.

If you don't utilise gesso currently, you can typically selection it up at online retailers or at your local art supply shop.

We wouldn't recommend going to hardware shop to option up gesso or whatever type of primer as a substitute.

While it may skew a bit cheaper, these primers are typically suited for outdoor use or in well ventilated areas and frequently strongly recommend that you wear a respirator mask to ensure there is no long-term damage to your lungs.

drawing or cartridge paper with acrylics

Types of Newspaper You lot Can You For Your Next Acrylic Painting

Hither are a few common surfaces that many acrylic artists find themselves using for their pieces:

Drawing / Cartridge Paper

Cartoon newspaper, or also referred to every bit cartridge paper in countries like UK and Commonwealth of australia, will be your typical standard sketch or drawing paper you may employ with a pencil or pen.

At present you are probably wondering how in the globe tin standard cartoon paper take plenty backbone to support acrylic…

…and you would exist correct!

Your standard slice of drawing newspaper that you pick up at an office supply store or even drug store is likely not going to be sufficient in holding your much thicker and dense acrylic paints.

Here's the deal though:

In lodge to go a cartoon newspaper that won't buckle under the pressure, you lot need to await at the lbs or gsm.

Both of these metrics measure the same thing, still volition differ depending on the market that y'all purchase your newspaper.

Essentially anywhere but the United States, paper volition exist measured in GSMs (Grams Per Square Meter).

When information technology comes to painting with acrylics, if you are looking for the all-time in backbone and immovability, then we would suggest going with a paper with enough of heft.

Therefore, we recommend artists go with papers of at to the lowest degree 185lbs (or 400 gsm).

Anything less than this should have a primer applied in order to ensure structure of the surface.

Synthetic Paper

Aside from your standard drawing newspaper, ane not bad alternative is constructed paper.

Specifically, nosotros really like this 1 from Yupo.

While its marketed equally a watercolor newspaper, it tin can work flawlessly with your acrylics as well.

Instead of being fabricated from wood and other natural fibers, this constructed lath is 100% polypropylene.

This makes the surface not terribly absorbent (which effectively wastes a lot of paint), but also is completely resistant to tears and wrinkling every bit you layer on the acrylic paint.

Furthermore, these constructed papers are great for long term preservation too. They accept been designed to be pH-neutral so you won't encounter any long-term deterioration of the surface – this tin can exist great for artists who brandish their piece of work privately or do deputed pieces.

The simply downside to this particular surface is its price bespeak. Typically costing roughly $5 a board, it can be a bit out of reach for some artists who are migrating to paper for budgetary reasons.

Paper-thin

On the complete other end of the price indicate (and substantially free), is cardboard.

Especially if you discover yourself shopping online ofttimes (or a quick trip to the liquor store), yous can unremarkably notice a cardboard box everywhere you look.

Only but take a box cutter and cut out your desired surface size.

If yous can get one without any bends or wrinkles, all the meliorate.

Only a quick note about this surface:

With paper-thin, you will want to apply a coat of gesso to both the front and back. Not simply will this help brand a slightly flimsy slice a cardboard a bit more than rigid, merely it volition also assist to reduce the waste of your pigment.

Heavy Watercolor Newspaper

While we talked nigh cartoon (cartridge) paper above, we also desire to take a minute to cover watercolor paper as well.

This highly absorbent surface tin exist perfect for some artists out in that location.

Nevertheless, what really catches ours and many others artists' attending is the texture of the surface itself.

Different the relatively smooth surface of drawing newspaper that carries very little grit, watercolor paper is perfect at catching your acrylic as it comes off the tip of your brush.

Simply, that's not all…

Watercolor newspaper is designed not drain through when its used. This high absorbency allows yous to safely use acrylic paints without requiring the use of gesso or any other primer.

Just like drawing paper, watercolor does come in varying weights, therefore we would recommend skewing towards the higher lbs (or gsm) in gild to ensure the best performance for your acrylics.

Acrylic Paper

Yes, this is a thing!

While you might have come here looking for papers that are used for other mediums, manufactures like the French based company Canson, make papers specifically geared towards artists who use acrylic.

So how does it fair?

Well, if yous regularly visit the pop online fine art forum communities, yous will often find artists in that location always recommending Canson acrylic paper pads in a higher place all else…

…and with good reason.

With both an affordable price point coupled with terrific results (i.e. no deterioration of the surface, wrinkling, etc.), it really is one of the best acrylic papers on the market.

While a bit tougher to observe locally (at least we couldn't notice it at our local fine art shop), you can usually find Canson Acrylic Newspaper Pads at online retailers similar Dick Blick.

If yous are looking for a new surface for your acrylic paints and ane that is highly regarded by many other artists, then you should give this offering by Canson a shot.

Is That Really All For Newspaper Surfaces You Can Use With Acrylic

With new synthetic surfaces constantly popping up in the market coupled with different DIY solutions that many artistic artists may employ, nosotros only wanted to include a few of the nigh popular newspaper surfaces that 99% of artists apply.

If yous would like to add whatsoever options to this list, just simply send us a notation and nosotros will consider calculation it to the listing above.