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

Inktober 2015 Mermaid, Brushpen in Sketchbook
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

Brushpen and watercolor brushpen in Mossery Sketchbook
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


Inkwash and brushpen in Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Medium Visual Journal
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 



Fountain pen ink, inkwash, and brushpen in Strathmore Watercolor Journal
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


Mermaid inked in brush on Fabriano Studio paper
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

Elf girl drawn in fountain pen on Fluid EZ Block Hotpress paper
Example of fountain pen ink and watercolor on Fluid EZ Block Hotpress


Fluid 100 Hotpress (cottonrag)
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  • 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

Girl feeding rabbits, brushpen and watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress watercolor paper

Example of brushpen inks and watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress 


Toned Papers

Strathmore Toned- Drawing
  • 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
  • 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
Alcohol markers and brushpen on Strathmore Toned Blue Mixed Media Paper
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.

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