Paper For Practice

[JeffPDX2]

I am new, and I practice...a lot. I have been using Clairefontaine Triomphe, and it is a wonderful writing surface.....but expensive. Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative that approaches the same kind of quality?

 

I have tried 20lb pads from Office Depot, 20lb HP Super White ink jet paper, Levengers pads (nice, but also darned expensive.)

 

Any suggestions?

[Sasha Royale]

At work, I use Noodler's Eel Blue, out of a fat-nib Jinhao x750. It's pretty wet. Our copy paper

seems to be fairly friendly to liquid ink. Boise Aspen 30, 20# 92 bright paper by the ream.

[iveyman]

I use exclusively Clairefontaine 90gsm notebooks for daily practice. They are really fountain pen friendly. I have used Rhodia 90 gsm notebooks before but somehow, I prefer Clairefontaine more. Do a search on eBay. I have purchased Clairefontaine 90gsm 8.25 x 11.75 notebooks for as low as $3.95 each.

 

I don't use Clairefontaine Triomphe paper for practice as they are a little more expensive. I use them only for writing personal letters.

 

Hope this helps.

[proton007]

Depends on where you live and what you can get.

My place has Maruman Giuris or Mnemosyne, pretty nice paper.

 

But if you just want to use paper for practice, then you can also buy paper for color prints, its thicker than regular copier, and should be cheaper if you buy a ream.

[DanF]

What specifically are you practicing? Basic handwriting or calligraphy of some sort? For basic handwriting, if you can find 8 x 10.5" filler paper made in Brazil at Staples, I think you will be reasonably happy. It is fountain pen friendly, no feathering with most inks, and cheap - $2 for 120 sheets. It comes in college or wide rule. On the shelves, it might be mixed with stock that originates from Egypt or Mexico, which isn't quite as good, so look for Brazil on the label.

 

Dan

[Wonder Pens]

Maybe the famous HP 32lb Laser Paper in a ream?

[JeffPDX2]

What specifically are you practicing? Basic handwriting or calligraphy of some sort? For basic handwriting, if you can find 8 x 10.5" filler paper made in Brazil at Staples, I think you will be reasonably happy. It is fountain pen friendly, no feathering with most inks, and cheap - $2 for 120 sheets. It comes in college or wide rule. On the shelves, it might be mixed with stock that originates from Egypt or Mexico, which isn't quite as good, so look for Brazil on the label.

 

Dan

 

Sorry, I guess that is kind of important, isn't it? Silly of me....

 

I am practicing copperplate calligraphy.

 

Has anyone tried the Boris pads advertised in John Neals website?

[Scribe_Not]

I've found that Hammermill® Color Copy Paper, 8 1/2" x 11", 28 Lb, 100 brightness fits my needs pretty well. At $13.49 for a #500 sheet ream from Office Depot I find I'm not taking those deep breaths everytime I open a Clairfontaine notebook to practice.

 

I fact I switched over to this entirely at work and it performs better than anything else I've used in laser, inkjet color or b&w.

 

Milage hasn't varied for me...

[Elizabeth in NJ]

I've found that Hammermill® Color Copy Paper, 8 1/2" x 11", 28 Lb, 100 brightness fits my needs pretty well. At $13.49 for a #500 sheet ream from Office Depot I find I'm not taking those deep breaths everytime I open a Clairfontaine notebook to practice.

 

Hey, you stole my suggestion!

 

Unlike some papers, I find the performance of this paper does not deteriorate after you run it through a printer to put guidelines on it. It comes in 11 x 17 too, if you want to practice big or use it on a sloped board.

[thang1thang2]

I'm using HP 32lb inkjet right now. It's about $17.50 for a 500 sheet ream from staples. I quite enjoy it.

 

A very cheap option that seems to work well for many people is the 24lb paper from walmart for about $6-7 a 500 sheet ream. That'll be my next purchase once I go through my staples stack.

[barleycorn]

If you can find an art supply store online or near you, try whitelines perspective pads. It is fountain pen friendly and already has a 60 degree slant dawn on the page. You can write either landscape or portrait.

What pen are you using? If you are using an oblique nib holder and regular ink, it may put too much ink on the page. A thicker ink or even india ink may be more workable.

Any flex wiritng will put alot of ink on the paper and bleedthrough and feathering will result. If you print a grid on calligraphy or wriiting paper that may work better. This can be done by overlapping a grid with horzontal lines and another grid at 55 degrees. Calligraphy paper is more pricey that copy paper but may allow you to use both sides.

Good luck.

[mbankirer]

I have found some very nice composition books at, of all places, the Dollar Store! Great for practicing all sorts of lettering or even for journaling.

[FPFan]

It isn't all that cheap, but I really like the A4 ClaireFontaine loose leaf notebook paper

 

http://www.shopwritersbloc.com/clloshbicopa.html

 

200 Sheets for about $11. Gives you a very pleasing writing surface and even comes in French Rule if you need guidelines.

 

Not affiliated with them.