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Testing 4 Hot Pressed Watercolour Papers | Mini Horse Chestnut Conker Tutorial

Shannon Mullin

4,849 views

Join me as I test out 4 different hot pressed watercolour papers for drawing with coloured pencils. In this video I complete 4 studies of the same horse chestnut / conker and even show you exactly how to draw it step-by-step in a mini-tutorial.

I give my verdict at the end as to which papers I like and which I don't.

For exclusive in-depth tutorials on drawing animals in coloured pencil, head over to my Patreon:
Patreon: shannonmullin

Supplies mentioned in this video:

Paper:
Canson Moulin Du Roy Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper -
http://tinyurl.com/mr3msypp
Winsor & Newton Professional Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper -
http://tinyurl.com/y473c3pd
Baohong Master's Pure Cotton Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper -
http://tinyurl.com/39dpp4ez
Bockingford Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper -
http://tinyurl.com/4up29jj6

Arches Aquarelle Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper - http://tinyurl.com/2792mcem
Strathmore Bristol Vellum - https://amzn.to/44EQHKB

Horse Chestnut / Conker Reference - http://tinyurl.com/2scaaep8

Coloured Pencils:
Faber Castel Polychromos Pencils - https://tinyurl.com/25n9txas

Colours Used in Tutorial:

Burnt Umber - 280 (or just use Walnut Brown)
Burnt Ochre - 187
Burnt Sienna - 283
Warm Grey - 270
Blue Violet - 137
Light Magenta - 119
Derwent Drawing - Chinese White
Caput Mortuum Violet - 263
Deep Scarlet Red - 219
Dark Sepia - 175
Black - 199
May Green - 170
Earth Green Yellowish - 168
Cold Grey I - 230
Cold Grey II - 231
Warm Grey II - 271
Nougat 178

Additional Tools:
Derwent Superpoint Manual Pencil Sharpener - https://amzn.to/3NPasII
Putty Eraser - https://amzn.to/43l5MQx
Tombow Mono Zero Eraser - https://amzn.to/44ER1Jj
Slice Manual Pen Cutter - https://amzn.to/3pBSrpg

Where else to find me:

Instagram - https://bit.ly/30sPI1t
Facebook - https://bit.ly/3ljICob
Website - https://bit.ly/37aPaQP
Etsy - https://etsy.me/3yXojmA

Music:

Some of the music in this video is written and produced by Chris Dixon, my lovely subscriber!

The rest is from Epidemic Sound - https://tinyurl.com/4tt5xayk

14 Comments

@hollyneal453 2 years ago

Derwent lightfast paper is the closet you will get to the older Fabriano paper

@nicola.p 2 years ago

I still have 3 unopened pads of the old skool Fabriano. Maybe I should put them up in an auction 😂

@thePencilist 2 years ago

I don't know if I said this to you before or not, but I found a new paper designed specifically for colored pencils. I went to Amazon web sight and typed in colored pencil paper it came up with a Strathmore that is not a Bristol and not a vellum. it has a picture of a little girl holding a small animal on its cover. I am shocked at how well it works for me.

@choochoochooseyou 15 hours ago

Interesting, Shannon. That first one looked like your pencils were skating over the surface. Very odd. I would have used sharper points that I find helps enormously. Have you tried pastelmat? That's very forgiving.

@artobsessionbybarbara2953 2 years ago

That was very interesting Shannon, thank you.🦋xx

@tracidraws 2 years ago

The Fabriano debacle began around 2017 and has been a very unfortunate and costly experience for so many of us. As botanical artists we have gone out of our minds testing other papers. I personally have spent a ridiculous amount of money and now own so many papers that it borders on insanity. One thing that people need to understand is that paper is manufactured and sold in such large lots that it can literally take years until stock is exhausted. I have heard now that some better Fabriano is starting to show up in some markets but it could take a while until it shows up more globally and you don't know what you will get once you have ordered until it arrives and you try it. As I needed a hot press paper that could take a lot of watercolor, colored pencil, and erasing I found the Saunders Waterford 638gsm to be the most suitable as it is highly durable once you get used to the "sponge". Unfortunately I cannot get it in high white here so I am still looking. As with all hot press papers there is a huge difference in surface between weights and significant differences in the same weights between the blocks and the sheets. Thus you end up with so many papers when trying to find a suitable alternative. If you are up for one more paper I would also give the Hahnemühle: "The Collection" a try. It is a lovely paper and it's only drawback is cost.

@IONPortraits 1 year ago

Baohong Academy hot press paper is less textured than the one of the professional line, I have found out..

@janehardcastle9602 2 years ago

Loved this - thank you!

@eumaycondouglas 10 months ago

Great review Shannon! Have you tried Hahnemuhle The Collection Hot Pressed yet? Give it a try ❤

@RobertFinger-e8f 2 years ago

Great information Shannon!
I’ve been enjoying the Strathmore Bristol vellum we discussed on Instagram.
Thank you!
Bob

@JanineLourens-q7d 5 months ago

You should try the Baohong Academy hot press. It’s stunning and smooth and so affordable. You buy it n blocks.

@peacefulheartstudio5998 2 years ago

Thank you so much for this. I’m currently doing your yellow lab tutorial on sanders Waterford and I quite like it. I did a similar test in some different papers and I also like strathmore but in smooth rather than vellum. Polydraw drafting film is also great. Have you tried Stonehenge HP? I’ve not got through all your videos yet so maybe you have. I was recommended that one too and just bought a sheet. Lots of colour pencil artists love pastel Matt too but think that would be a nightmare to blend. Love your videos 😊