How To... Sanded Paper

In the past, Alyona Nickelsen recommended the following kinds of paper for use with her Brush and Pencil product range:

  • Fisher 400

  • UArt 500, 600, 800 grit

  • Ampersand Museum Series Panel Pastelbord

  • Canson Mi-Teintes Touch Sanded Paper

  • Richerson's Premium Pastel Surface

  • Art Spectrum Colourfix Supertooth

  • Pastel Premier Sanded Paper

These are sanded papers which have a layer of fine abrasive grit. Originally, they were designed for pastels but can also be used for colour pencils and graphite. Depending on the paper oil, acrylic, watercolour or ink washes are possible.

To prevent Brush and Pencil's Textured and Final Fixative from cracking, the paper needs to  be mounted on a rigid surface like conservation board. 

Alternatively, mounted absorbent paper can be prepared by applying a layer of toothy acrylic gesso with an airbrush. For this, the gesso has to be thinned down to the consistency of milk.

However, the above mentioned sanded papers all had their individual shortcomings, which set Alyona on a path to creating the ideal surface for colour pencils and her Brush and Pencil products. What she created is a remarkable paper that perfectly supports wet and dry applications, offers an even, consistent white surface for brilliant colours without distortions and archival properties: LuxArchival Professional Sanded Art Paper by Alyona Nickelsen

  • An excellent support for all dry mediums, such as coloured pencil, pastel, graphite, charcoal, etc. as well as various liquid mediums

  • White surface makes applied transparent and translucent colours shine with brilliance.

  • Archival and is compliant with ISO 11108 - will not yellow, darken or deteriorate in any way and will last 100+ years

  • Extremely durable, allows 30+ layers of dry art medium, multiple corrections, erasures and reworkings without damage to the paper. j

  • Sanded surface is even and consistent without any visible patterns.

  • Water, alcohol and Odourless Mineral Spirits (OMS) resistant which allows application of dry and liquid mediums without buckling the paper. See how much water LuxArchival can withstand without buckling, warping or rolling, go here: https://youtu.be/Vv5buqurDzg

  • Acid-Free

  • Currently available in 8x10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm), 140 lb / 300 gm, Pack of 10
    Please contact Magic Pencil if you are interested in other sizes.

  • 100% Cotton, Lignin Free

LuxArchival Professional Sanded Art Paper by Alyona Nickelsen

LuxArchival Professional Sanded Art Paper by Alyona Nickelsen

C279341C-53F4-4683-9410-B625E91D1DB6_1_201_a.jpeg
Abstract Background created with Derwent Inktense pencils and Golden Fluid Acrylics. Large amounts of water were used to create this background. The paper was not taped down and stayed flat despite water pooling on it, to create running and mixing of the acrylic paint and ink. Two layers of wet medium were applied and the tooth of the paper remained the same, enabling many layers of colour pencil to be applied to the surface and on top of the background painting.

Abstract Background created with Derwent Inktense pencils and Golden Fluid Acrylics. Large amounts of water were used to create this background. The paper was not taped down and stayed flat despite water pooling on it, to create running and mixing of the acrylic paint and ink. Two layers of wet medium were applied and the tooth of the paper remained the same, enabling many layers of colour pencil to be applied to the surface and on top of the background painting.

Sonja Hay