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Products (17)
Strathmore® Windpower®
Strathmore® Windpower® pads feature a photograph of a wind turbine on the cover. Do you have wind turbines that generate electricity for your company?
Strathmore does not own wind turbines. Organizations like us that choose to use clean, renewable energy can do so by purchasing wind power energy in the form of renewable energy credits (RECs). Renewable energy leaders sell wind power into the electricity grid, reducing the amount of power that would otherwise be generated by fossil fuels. The renewable energy credits we purchase are certified through the Green-e® Marketplace Program administered by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions based in San Francisco, CA.
NEW! Mixed Media Pads
We've combined the characteristics of watercolor paper and the finish of a drawing sheet, creating a paper that performs unlike any other. Our Mixed Media paper is ideal for watercolor, gouache, acrylic, graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, marker, pastel and collage.
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Mixed Media is available in a full range of formats and sizes to meet a variety of applications.
Learn about our new Mixed Media pads.
Artist Michael Fudge and Illustration Board for Wet Media
Testimonial from Michael R. Fudge, Jr.
"I've been working as a freelance illustrator for many years. Throughout the years, Strathmore is the brand I trust for quality and dependability.
I currently work as a comic book artist for a graphic novel at Heroes Fallen Studio. Strathmore's sequential art boards in 200, 400 and 500 series have held their own over the many pages of my work. However, recently I discovered Strathmore 500 Series Illustration Board for Wet Media while working on my independent commissions and my illustration novel. This 500 Series board is hands down the best I've ever used. The ink goes on smooth, black as night. Acrylics (watered down or thick) go across easily, displaying magnificent colors. Watercolor never looks so real.
Pigma Micron Pens don't buckle the surface, even after millions of fine strokes. But what tops it off is the color I achieve when using Copic Markers -- smooth vivid tones that look as if I used watercolor and airbrush. It is everything that I've been looking for in one surface. The Illustration Board for Wet Media is the only board I now use for my illustrated novel, commission projects and personal art. I doubt there is any other board out there that can do what this board can do. Just another reason why I will always use Strathmore..."
About Michael R. Fudge, Jr.:
Michael R Fudge, Jr. currently lives in the lost terrain of Kansas. After spending 14 years in the Marines and Army including multiple tours to Iraq, Michael now works as a freelance illustrator for Distorted Black Studio. His media ranges from pen & ink, watercolor, acrylic, marker, pencil and colored pencil. He is currently writing and illustrating a children's book which is to be released next year.
Thanks, Michael! Those of us at Strathmore Artist Papers appreciate your loyalty and kind words about our products!
Art Journal Kit for Kids
Art Journal Kits provide a place where kids can explore their creativity, learn fun drawing and collage techniques and use artist quality materials. Heavy duty front and back covers are available in five fun colors. The durable, matte finish encourages young artists to personalize their journals.
Fourteen pages full of projects with easy-to-follow instructions, inspirational ideas and great visuals offer an engaging introduction to drawing, collage and art. Assorted handmade and bright construction papers provide textures and colors, perfect for collage. Each kit also includes a storage folder, and artist quality drawing paper to provide the perfect foundation for creating works of art.
Strathmore Artist PapersTM partnered with Artterro® to develop the Art Journal Kit. This Madison, Wisconsin based company is well known for their high-quality, innovative children's art kits and commitment to environmentally sustainable products.
For more information about Art Journal Kits.
Dry and Wet Media Guides
We have two great tools available for download on our website - our Paper Selection Guides. The Dry Media Paper Guide and the Wet Media Paper Guide provide ratings by paper types for the full range of media. Papers that are suitable for a particular medium are rated as good, very good or excellent. It makes it easy for the artist to find the best surface to meet their specific needs. You can access the Paper Selection Guides on our website. Dry and Wet Media Paper Guides
New Pad Covers Feature Work from Diverse Group of Artists
The work of twenty five different artists is featured on the new covers of our Strathmore 300, 400 and 500 Series of Fine Art Pads. Strathmore Artist Papers selected a diverse group of artists to create work that represents each of our different surfaces.
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Strathmore 300 Series Fine Art Pads feature the artwork of SCAD foundation studies students. Foundation studies professor John Rise led the group of SCAD students in the collaboration with Strathmore to create a variety of classic still life images representative of artwork created in foundation-level college art classes. "The still life study is an essential and historical tradition for artists, making it the perfect subject to represent our 300 Series Fine Art Pads," says Marketing Manager Sue List who worked with Professor Rise and the students. "And, it is likely that no artist is more familiar with still life art than a college art student. Each of the students exceeded our expectations in regards to responsiveness, professionalism and the quality of their submissions." See their artwork and meet the artists. |
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For the 400 Series Fine Art Pads, the subject of the art was open to the artist. However, you will find the iconic thistle incorporated into each art piece featured on our 400 Series Pads. The thistle has been a symbol of excellence in art papers since Strathmore's early beginnings. In fact, the Strathmore name and thistle originated in the late 1800's when our founder Horace Moses visited the Valley of Strathmore in Scotland. He was so inspired by the beauty of the thistle in full bloom that he used it to symbolize the company's standard of high quality. "As individuals look to see how each artist incorporated the thistle, they become engaged with the art," says Marketing Manager Jeanette Gile. "It's interesting to see the diverse and creative approaches to the project." |
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Art by Melissa B. Tubbs - 500 Series Bristol Plate |
Our 500 Series Fine Art Pads feature the artist's interpretation of the Strathmore corner emboss stamp displayed on our 500 Series sheets. "To professional artists, it symbolizes the ultimate in quality and consistency. We asked artists to re-create that mark in their own style," explains Jeanette Gile. |
New Ready Cut Watercolor Papers
Ready Cut Watercolor offers the convenience of standard size sheets precision cut for readymade frames and mats. This product line was created to address the needs of the growing number of artists who create smaller-sized original paintings and sell them online and at art fairs. Experience the benefits!
Save time and hassle. No need to measure, calculate and cut down paper from larger sheets. You have more time to spend creating and selling your art.
Make framing easier and less expensive. You or your art buyer can purchase readymade frames, mats and glass which are readily available and less expensive than custom options.
Ready Cut Watercolor features our 500 Series 100% cotton watercolor paper. It is archival, lignin free and acid free. The paper provides excellent surface strength, water hold-out, and color lifting and blending properties. It is excellent for watercolor,
gouache, acrylic, mixed media and collage. Made in the U.S.A. 140 lb. (300 g/m2)
Ready Cut Watercolor is available in cold and hot press finishes. Sizes include 5” x 7”, 8” x 10” and 11” x 14”. It is packaged in a resealable, sturdy clear plastic bag, which protects the paper from damage and serves as storage after purchase.
For more information about Ready Cut Watercolor.
New Kids Series® Natural Kraft Paper
Strathmore Artist Papers™ introduces two new 100% recycled Natural Kraft Paper products that offer green options Moms and kids will appreciate. Ideal for drawing and craft projects, the natural brown paper is offered in a 30-sheet pad and 100-sheet pack. Value price points are designed to encourage impulse purchases. Pad covers feature artwork created with Natural Kraft paper and consumer-friendly trilingual packaging.
For more information about new Kids Series® Natural Kraft Paper
Introducing Two New Artist Trading Cards!
New Bamboo and Black Board Artist Trading Cards complement the complete line of high quality papers offered in the Strathmore® Artist Trading Card series. Tree-friendly Bamboo Artist Trading Cards (ATC’s) are made with 90% bamboo and 10% cotton to create a unique textured surface that’s great for use with paints, screen and block prints, stamps and collage. Black Board ATC’s are made with 100% cotton fiber so they are perfect for art, collage and mounting finished works of art. Both are acid free to promote longer life for artwork.
Strathmore makes it easy for artists to express themselves in a small format, then exchange their creations in a big way. All our Artist Trading Cards are precisely cut in the official, trading-ready ATC size to give artists all the performance benefits of our high quality paper now with precut convenience.
We've assembled our bestselling papers in trading card format covering a full range of mediums including drawing, watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media and collage.
For more information about Artist Trading Cards.
Finishes for Shading Techniques
I work mostly with a graphite pencil, can you give some tips on selecting a drawing paper for shading techniques?
The selection of paper for shading techniques is influenced by the type of pencil used, the degree of darkness desired, the shading technique used and the expression of the shading technique desired. The key here is to select a paper surface (medium or smooth) based upon the effects you’re looking to achieve.
As a general rule, a textured surface will be able to produce a more even, more luminescent shade than a smooth surface. These types of surfaces are usually chosen for
shading as the texture of the paper makes shading easier and produces a greater range of tone that can be more evenly applied.
The higher the grade of textured paper surfaces the deeper and more even the resulting shading will be. While all
three Strathmore® grades – 300, 400 and 500 – will produce even, deep, luminescent shades, the 500 Series papers will produce the richest and
deepest shade.
The smoother the paper grain the more difficult it will be to produce an even shade. Although smooth papers can produce good results with graphite, they cannot produce as great a range of tone (shade) as textured surface paper. A smooth surface is very good for pen and ink as well as marker.
Strathmore Medium Surface Drawing Paper
Even, medium textured surface. Random surface produces subtle, rich shades that are expressive with great luminosity and sensitivity.
Strathmore Bristol Vellum
Medium textured surface. Random surface, with texture that is slightly more pronounced (peaks and valleys slightly further apart than drawing paper), enabling paper to handle very soft graphite pencils. Produces shades that are extremely expressive, but not as sensitive as Strathmore medium surface drawing paper.
Smooth Paper Surface
The higher the grade of smooth surface paper, the smoother the paper surface. While all three Strathmore grades – 300, 400 and 500 – are smooth, the 500 Series paper is the smoothest. The smoother the paper the more difficult it is to produce an even shade.
Selecting Marker Paper
What should I look for when selecting a Marker Paper?
We suggest that you look for a 100% cotton paper. Cotton fibers are stronger than wood pulp fibers. Cotton improves many of the working properties that are important, including the paper’s ability to accept heavy marker coverage without bleeding, and allows for the building of colors and blending of tones. Cotton also improves surface strength.
The paper should have some degree of transparency if you intend to “trace” from images. A nice white sheet provides the proper background reflection for marker pen colors. Look for a smooth finish which allows the marker to flow across the surface of the sheet with little resistance. This allows you to work at a quicker pace which reduces the likelihood of feathering. Smoothness also helps artists achieve sharper edges.
More information about 500 Series Marker Paper.
Artist Barry Sholder tries our Illustration Board for Wet Media
Papers for Bookmaking
I want to make my own watercolor sketchbook using traditional bookmaking techniques.
I’m really looking forward to getting creative with it! What paper do you recommend using for this purpose?
Artists tell us they love using our 500 Series Aquarius II® Watercolor paper for bookmaking. This unique cotton/synthetic blend of watercolor paper resists buckling so it doesn’t need to be stretched. It is also lighter weight (80 lb) compared to traditional watercolor sheets (140 lb) so it’s easier to work with when cutting and binding books. The finish is smoother than traditional watercolor which makes it an excellent mixed media sheet.
Sequential Artist Katie Cook
Katie Cook created original artwork for the covers of the 200 Series Sequential Art Bristols.
Katie Cook is a professional illustrator, cartoonist and comic artist working out of the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. She graduated from the College for Creative Studies in 2004 with a BFA in illustration, her love of cartooning and comics has led her to where she is today.
Katie has done licensed and comic work for DC, Marvel, Star Wars, HEROES, Lord of the Rings, and more. She loves being a nerd and being able to draw nerdy things for a living is like a dream come true.
"I use Strathmore® smooth bristol for every project that comes my way. The smooth surface takes ink beautifully and my underlying pencils erase away without smudging or tearing any of the paper. The bristol is also a really bright white, which gives everything great contrast and an automatic vibrancy. The board can take all kinds of artistic abuse, like marker, watercolor, gouache and colored pencil and still stay intact, which is rare for illustration paper that's not mounted to a board. It's pretty hefty stuff! I really love this bristol and can go through an entire pad of the 9" x 12" board in one sitting just sketching out ideas!"
Rag Paper
What is meant by "rag" paper?
Rag is a term used today to describe papers that contain cotton rags and linters. Rags come from the clippings used in the making of textiles and from the reprocessing of cotton garments. Linters are the by-product of the cotton gin process. They are shorter fibers that cling to the cotton seed after it is extracted by the cotton gin. This makes cotton rag a more environmentally-friendly option compared to tree-based papers.
There are also a number of other advantages to papers that are constructed of 100% cotton. First, cotton cellulose is up to 10 times stronger than wood cellulose. Cotton is also lignin free. Lignin that is left in tree-based papers will naturally turn yellow or brown over time.
Cotton paper has become the preference of many professional artists because of its purity, durability and permanence.
Plate vs. Smooth Bristol
What is the difference between the smooth surface of your 400 series Bristol and the plate surface of your 500 series Bristol?
While both smooth and plate surfaces offer a finish suitable for smooth, fine line details, our plate surface is considered an "ultra-smooth" finish which is ideal for the professional illustrator. The surface is excellent for detailed work with pen and ink, technical pen, airbrush and markers.
The term "plate" comes from a process that is exclusive to the Strathmore® brand. The finish is created by hand – layering sheets of paper between special metal plates to create a "book." The book is sent to a specialized piece of equipment that compresses it creating a very consistent, ultra smooth surface like no other.
Create, Swap, Collect. Artist Trading Cards
Strathmore® makes it easy for artists to express themselves in a small format, then exchange their creations in a big way. Join the movement!
What are artist trading cards?
Artist trading cards (ATCs) are miniature pieces of art that are traded around the world. Artists create, trade and collect art at organized “swap” events, either in person or online. The only official rule for ATCs is the size: 2.5" x 3.5".
How did the movement start?
In 1997, M. Vanci Stirnemann, a Swiss artist, created 1200 cards by hand as part of an exhibit. On the last day, he invited others to create their own cards and trade with him during the closing reception. The movement took off, and today, there are ATC swaps in almost every major city around the world. There are also many online swaps.
How do I create ATCs?
Most swaps are open to any media, materials or techniques as long as the card fits into a standard trading card sleeve. ATCs are traded, not sold. However, there are some artists who choose to sell cards. Cards that are sold are called Art Card Editions and Originals (ACEO).
How do I trade cards?
You can locate an in-person swap in your area, find an online swap, or organize your own swap. There are a number of Web sites that others have created to help artists get started. They can be found by doing online searches using key words such as “artist trading cards.”
See more information about Strathmore Artist Trading Cards