Recommended Papers for Inktober

When it comes to Inktober, I have opinions.  Strong opinions.  Opinions about great papers to use for your inky endeavors!  These recommendations are mainly based off my own experiences (and include examples of finished work), but a few come from friends who are also comic artists.

Sketchbooks

Blick Studio Sketch
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• Great for Brushpens and technical pens
• Cheap
• Sturdier paper than most sketchbooks

Example of Brushpen in Sketchbook, from 31 Days Under the Waves

Mossery Sketchbook
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• Heavier paper- like a thin watercolor paper
• Great for brushpens, brushes, nibs
• Able to take alcohol marker and watercolor

Example of light watercolor, watercolor brushpen, brushpen, and washi tape in Mossery Sketchbook

Marker Paper

Strathmore 400 Series Marker Paper
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• Heavier paper  with a smooth finish
• Great for brushpens, technical pens, and dip pens.  Also good for brushes.

Neopiko Color Marker Use Paper Pad
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• Like a thinner cardstock
• Ultra Smooth Finish
• Good for technical pens, brush pens, light dip pen inking

Comic and Illustration Paper

Deleter Neopiko Comic Paper
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• A lightweight comic paper
• Super Smooth Finish
• Able to take technical pens, brushpens, nibs
• Also good for marker

Kent Paper
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• A lightweight comic paper
• Smooth finish
• Able to take technical pens, brushpens, nibs
• Good for marker
• Good for Tone

Bristol
300 Series- Strathmore
Affordable
Heavyweight

Smooth
Get it here

• Smooth surface is great for brush pens and dip pens
• Decent for brushes
• Nice for alcohol markers

Vellum
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• A bit of tooth is nice for brush inking
• Also great for larger brush pens
• Good for dip pens

500 Series- Strathmore
Higher quality than 300 series

Plate
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• Ultra smooth surface
• Great for alcohol markers
• Great for Brushpens, Dip Pens, Technical Pens

Vellum
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• Slight tooth to surface
• Great for dip pens, brush pens, technical pens, brushes
• Decent for light ink washes
• Mixed Media Paper

Mixed Media Papers

Strathmore Visual Journal 500 Series Mixed Media Paper
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• Heavy weight paper designed for ink, marker, acrylic, and watercolor
• Vellum texture is nice for brush inking and brush pens
• Spiral binding is convenient for travel
• Cotton rag makes for durable paper

Example of Inkwash in Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal, from Lilliputian Living Volume 2

Cellulose Watercolor Paper

Coldpress:

Strathmore Watercolor Journal
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• Thicker paper (140lb, but slightly on the thick side) is durable and resilient
• Texture is great for drybrush, inkwash
• Can handle brushpens, brushes, and even nibs decently well
• Spiral binding is convenient
• Modest size travels well 

Example of inkwash (fountain pen inks) and Sakura Pigma FB on Strathmore Watercolor Journal

Fabriano Studio
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• Cottonrag (25%), cellulose mix (75%)
• Lots of tooth to this paper
• Great for brush inking
• Great for drybrush
• Sturdy paper
• Good for inkwash
• Mediocre for watercolor

Example of brush inks on Fabriano Studio, from Mermae

Hot Press:

Fluid EZ Block Hotpress
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• Smooth paper surface
• Good for fountain pens, technical pens, brush pens, brush, nib
• Decent for watercolor
• Available in blocks

Example of fountain pen ink and watercolor on Fluid EZ Block Hotpress

Fluid 100 Hotpress (cottonrag)
Buy it here

• Smooth paper surface
• Great for technical pens, brush pens, brush
• Great for watercolor
• Heavier paper (140lb), sturdy
• Available in blocks

Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress (cottonrag)
Buy it here

• Smooth paper surface
• Great for technical pens, brush pens, brush
• Great for watercolor
• Heavier paper (140lb), sturdy
• Available in blocks

Example of brushpen inks and watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress 

Toned Papers

Strathmore Toned- Drawing

Tan

Grey

• Drawing paper weight toned paper provides color base for ink illustrations
• Great for brushpens, technical pens
• Great for alcohol marker (will bleed through)
• Great for colored Pitt Pens

Example of brushpen, alcohol markers, white Pitt Pen on Strathmore Toned Tan Drawing paper

Strathmore Toned- Mixed Media

Tan

Grey

Blue

• Heavyweight papers provide color base for ink illustrations
• Really striking with limited color palette
• Paper is sturdy- can stand up to brushes and nibs
• Smooth surface is great for technical pens, brush pens, and nibs
• Heavy enough for light watercolor

Example of brushpen, alcohol marker, and color pencil on Strathmore Toned Blue Mixed Media Paper

Let me know if I turned you on to an awesome new paper option for your Inktober inkings!  And if you're doing Inktober, shoot me a message on Instagram so I can cheer you on!  I'm sharing my own Inktober inkings over there, and would love it if you checked out my work as well.