I like the colour rendition on the bamboo. You can stop the damage from masking tape by using a hairdryer to warm the tape (which warms the glue) and removing slowly as you warm it. Also the same damage can be avoided with masking fluid (which should never be pulled) if a rubber cement eraser is used as it is the best way to remove without damage.
That is so true !! Looking for paper that best fits perfectly is so difficult, lol! I feel like I'm always on an journey to find the paper that best works for me. But from these 4 that you showed, I think the Clairefontaine and the bamboo paper are absolutely beautiful!!!
I exactly feel the same like you! soo difficult to find the perfect paper, I wish we could have infinitive money to buy and try every kind of paper out there and then maybe we would finally find the perfect paper for us XD Clairefontaine cold press and the bamboo are very nice indeed! I think Clairefontaine is not a very known brand although they have many different type of papers!
Seeing what papers you are enjoying sure helps me to keep an eye out for these brands. I do use Arches cold press since I can use a 50% off coupon at Michaels Crafts store. I appreciate you sharing your current paper preferences as I think I might try a few as I'm ready to place an order online soon. For Christmas, my hubby gave me a lovely set from Shanhan PASS Hybrid (Watercolor and Gouache). I feel that they are special and have yet to use them since I'm still new and learning all I can about watercolor and gouache. I really enjoy these mediums but I don't want to waste my test drives with good paint and paper. Perhaps a bit silly thinking but I'm sure I'm not alone with those thoughts.... Anyway, recently I learned that many illustrator artists enjoy using cotton paper by BFK Rives when layering with gouache as it is easier for post-processing work since it has a smoother surface that can take mixed media or multiple painting layers.
My friend recently sent me the Arches cold press to try and I don't dislike it, it's good quality but to me the surface is too textured, while the paper I prefer using are less textured. So papers are really a personal preference! I just hope you won't be disappointed if you will try some of the papers I enjoy using, I hope you will like them too! If you can, buy single sheets rather than paper pad /paper blocks, usually single sheets are cheaper so this way you won't waste money on an entire paper block if you will end up not liking the paper I enjoy using! I totally understand, I also don't like to waste good papers for swatches and color tests but sometimes it's better to use them (like small pieces) because otherwise you won't see how the paper and the paint will react once you're going paint the proper paintings! but it depends, if it's only for practice I totally get your point! I've never heard of Pass hybrid and neither of BFK Rives, but i will definitely look into them! thank you for sharing! :)
I love paper reviews! It sounds like the Clairefontaine is not surface sized (which is considered an "old world european style" paper). I have never tried any paper like that, but I am very curious.
Papers are difficult to choose- I prefer smooth paper but I also like workin in layers. Smooth paper that does not dissolve when being painted on is difficult to find.
