: It's best not to start off with a cheap
paper grade. There are perfectly adequate rag-content papers you can use
for practice. However, you should switch to a hand-made paper as quickly
as you can. It takes paint better.
Along with the type of paper, consider the grade.
You can achieve consistent effects under ideal conditons when you use
the same grade of paper again and again.
Next, consider the weight. As a beginner, you'll
use a lighter weight, possibly 72 pounds. However, as you gain
experience and become more competent, you'll discover the lighter paper
won't hold up when you apply a heavy wash.
Finally, the paper texture must be right
depending upon the artist's technique. Some artists prefer the rough
paper because it softens edges and creates textures. The 300-pound rough
is a good choice.
Sand paper is used to scratch off paint where you
need more white, and masking tape is useful to cover areas that you will
either leave white or paint later on. If you want to create softer
effects, an ordinary butter knife can scrape paint.
You can use mat