Watercolor Wednesday with Schut-12 #Exaclair #Schut #Watercolor

Each Wednesday for 22 weeks, I'll be sharing artwork that was done on paper from a Schut Papier sampler.  I'll be giving you a little information about each of the papers.

Schut Serene Aquarelbloc Paper, Medium Fine Grain/Cold-Pressed, 300 gm2/140 lbs

100% Cellulose, acid-free, ph-Neutral.

Although the cover said 300 gm2/140 lbs, the paper seems much heavier, more like a 300 lb.  You can see the texture in the photo below.  It is almost rough, but the paint was easier to control than it is with many rough papers. You do easily get a granulated look of sorts, but the indents are wider, leaving more white than you normally get with *granulation.  It is something that will appeal to some, but not to others.

The outcome of my tests:

• The tooth of the paper is rougher than most cold-press. 
• The paper is heavy for a 140 lb paper
• Paint lifts, but some granulation may remain.  
• Very little rippling occurred, even with very wet washes.
• No dimpling at all.
• Doesn't scrape well.  It's hard to get started, and tends to come away in chunks 
• You can gently fold the paper over until the edges meet.  The paper 'remembers' the fold, but will straighten completely if weighted down.
• Creases well for it's weight, with only tiny radiations..
• Because of the faux granulation, lifting color can be difficult. However, it does take scrubbing fairly well.
• The painting seemed to become overworked very quickly, especially when color was lifted.
• Washes move well.
• backruns are not a problem.
• Both liquid frisket and tape lift well.
• Pencil marks fade into paint.

*Granulation--the speckled effect you get when watercolor pigments separate by weight.  The heavier pigments settle into the indentations, the 'tooth' of the paper leaving darker spots. Some people love granulation and some people hate it.

 Both of these paintings were adapted from exercises in Zoltan Szabo's 

'70 Favorite Watercolor Techniques'.