Acrylic Paper & Pads

Breaking down the basics of acrylic paper and pads

Artist paper is a quintessential art material that needs to be medium appropriate. Good quality acrylic paper and pads will always enhance the experience and finished result of your acrylic paintings.

Besides an artist’s canvas, many acrylic artists also enjoy experimenting and painting on paper. Acrylic paper is thicker and has a heavier weight than drawing paper and has a slightly textured/embossed surface with just enough ‘tooth’ to provide resistance for acrylic paint washes and layering. (When it comes to surface type, hot press paper is recommended for acrylics). The ideal weight of paper for acrylic paints is 450gsm - this will ensure the acrylic paints do not bleed through and the paper does not buckle or warp when multiple layers of paint are applied.

Advantages of painting on acrylic paper:
1. Acrylic pads take up less room than a stretched canvas.
2. Acrylic paper is less expensive than a canvas.
3. Acrylic paper is lighter than a stretched canvas and therefore easier to store, post and transport (especially for Plein air painting).
4. Acrylic paper pads provide a great surface on which to experiment with acrylic techniques. (You can also make notes on the reverse of the sheet).