BATTLE OF THE PAPERS 

Perfect timing, I've been experimenting with paper and how graphite and charcoal take to different papers. Ive yet to try the fabriano....

Great video thanks! I liked and subscribed. I'm now going to bum a few sheets from my bf's stack of Fabriano hot press after watching this! I recently rec'd a sample of paper from Legion. They sell lots of 8.5 x 5.5 inch sheets in a pack so you can do tests inexpensively and found I really like some of their hot press papers for cp work, esp Legion Rising Barrier and Legion Stonehenge Aqua HP which I'd never heard of. I am about to try Derwent Lightfast paper, a sample booklet came with the Lightfast colored pencils. Have you tried that paper yet? It's pricey here in the US but if it's worth it, I'll get some as I think paper is more important than pencils, oddly enough, esp when it comes to the amount of joy vs frustration.

Fabriano artistico does make an extra white hot pressed 150lb. I like to get large sheets and cut them down. Not sure if accessible where you live. I do like Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth too. Thank you for sharing your comparisons. Jenn

In case we are not allowed to post the link to the shops and you are looking for Fabriano Artistico paper (extra white or the creamy coloured) as sheets or rolls. There is an art supplies store in the UK called "Great Art", and they stock Fabriano Artistico as paper rolls. I am not affiliated to them in any way, I am just learning to draw and paint. The parent company is called Gerstaeker which are based in Germany and have branches in Austria where I live. They stock both papers marked "old" and "new", I would opt for the one marked "new". Thanks!!

Fabriano Artistico Hotpress, is the best paper for either Faber Castell graphite, charcoal, or their coloured pencils Polychromos. It's a watercolour paper ofcourse, which means it can excel with any wet medium, like the obvious watercolour or ink etc. Very versatile and the best for hard pencils like all Faber Castell. It's tooth makes the graphite darker, which is another huge advantage for Faber Castell pencils and sketching/drawing in general. All in all, since those are the best pencils out there, we can say that combined with Fabriano artistico, you get the best quality and performance, you can get, especially for dry mediums. For wet, it becomes more of a personal preference and what you are going to draw, which means with all those papers available, you can't say one is better than the other. On your test here, Fabriano comes out on top, Strathmore 2nd place and the decent DAler Rowney 3d. I really like Daler Rowney Heavy weight Fine grain, it's another good paper, that I would suggest for Faber Castell pencils. Actually, I would suggest that paper for less experienced people, it will help them make a great start and in the same time, it's easily a paper, for advanced users too!!

I have 2 rolls of Fabriano Artistico Extra White 300 gsm paper, I managed to get them on sale a few years ago for about 95 euros each (excellent value for money). Its a lovely paper, and its vegan-friendly. The surface in the older pre-2020 and new (post-2020) are slightly different, particularly noticable when using them for watercolour. The older Artistico rolls have a slightly rougher surface than the sheets which I purchased a few months ago. But they are both lovely.

Great, i just ordered a pad of the DR bristol yesterday thinking it was good after reading reviews. This review made it look terrible

What's with the loud music? I had to lower the sound then couldn't hear you! Otherwise, good review.

Great video that is much appreciated, but the music got so loud and drowned out your voice. I couldn't even watch to the end. :(