System3 Collection

The Fine Art Trade Guild was formed in 1910 as the successor to the 1847 Printsellers’ Association, set up to oversee the fine art print trade. The Guild continues to set standards for prints, and our ArtSure scheme has brought those standards into the digital age. In addition, it sets standards and guidelines for picture framing, including the Four Levels of Framing and Quality Standards for Mountboard.

Daler-Rowney is one of the founding members.

For more information, please visit: https://www.fineart.co.uk/

Extend Longevity: Select acid-free and archival-quality papers to ensure the longevity of the artwork.

Handling and Storing Artwork: Once the artwork is completed, avoid direct contact with fingers or other surfaces that may cause smudging or damage. Store the artwork in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Acid-free sleeves or portfolios are ideal for protecting the pieces from environmental factors, such as light, humidity, & pollutants, and handling.

Maintenance and Preservation: Regularly inspect the finished piece for signs of deterioration, such as fading, yellowing, or discolouration. Take proactive measures to address any issues and preserve the integrity of the pieces. Consider framing the artwork using archival-quality materials to further protect. UV-protective glass prevents fading caused by sunlight exposure.

Choose papers with a smooth, white surface to enhance the vibrancy and clarity of the colours.

Experiment with different paper textures and finishes to achieve unique effects and enhance the mood of the artwork.

Art blocks are glued along all four edges. This eliminates the need for stretching the paper prior to painting. Once the painting has dried, it can be removed.

Step 1: Wait until the paint is completely dry. Flip over the cover and look for the area where there is an unglued opening on the edge.

Step 2: Insert a knife, palette knife, or letter opener between the first and second sheets.

Step 3: Then gently run the knife around the edge of the sheet, rotating the block counterclockwise while moving the knife in the opposite direction.

Step 4: Continue splitting the glue until the sheet breaks away. Remove any remaining glue from the top sheet using your fingers.

Artist papers come in a variety of formats, these include sheets, pads, spirals, blocks, and books. Blocks feature paper that’s securely glued on all four sides with a slot in the middle for a knife to release the paper, supported by a sturdy backing board.

Archival papers are made from acid-free materials and are pH neutral, preventing yellowing, fading, and deterioration over time.

Artist-grade papers offer a spectrum of white shades, each with its own distinct character and aesthetic impact.

Bright White: Bright white papers exude crispness and clarity, providing a clean and luminous backdrop for artworks. They enhance the vibrancy of colours and ensure sharp contrast in compositions.

Natural White: Natural white papers offer a softer, warmer tone reminiscent of unbleached fibres. They evoke a sense of authenticity and organic beauty, lending a subtle warmth to artworks.

Warm White: Warm white papers possess a gentle ivory or creamy undertone, imparting a sense of warmth and nostalgia to artworks. They soften harsh contrasts and infuse artworks with a timeless elegance.

Cool White: Cool white papers lean towards the cooler end of the spectrum, with a hint of blue or grey undertones. They imbue artworks with a modern and sophisticated aesthetic, adding depth and dimension to compositions.

Off-White: Off-white papers offer a delicate balance between white and cream, with a subtle hint of warmth. They provide a versatile canvas for a range of artistic styles, blending seamlessly with both bold colours and delicate details.

The art world has a vast range of papers available to artists. Below are the key features of each:

Drawing & Sketching Papers: Ideal for preliminary sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings. These papers offer a smooth surface that accommodates a variety of drawing mediums, from graphite and charcoal to coloured pencils.

Watercolour Papers: Specifically designed to absorb water-based paints, watercolour papers come in different textures to suit various painting styles. They offer excellent colour retention and allow for subtle washes and vibrant pigments.

Acrylic Papers: Engineered to withstand the heavy application of acrylic paints, these papers provide a durable surface with minimal buckling. They allow for layering, blending, and texture-building techniques.

Oil Papers: Specially formulated to handle the unique properties of oil paints, oil papers feature a non-absorbent surface that prevents oil penetration. They offer excellent tooth for paint adherence and allow for intricate brushwork.

Pastel Papers: Textured to hold multiple layers of pastel pigment, pastel papers come in a range of tooth options to suit different preferences. They provide excellent grip and minimal smudging, allowing for precise blending and detailing.

Cartridge Paper: A high-quality, medium-weight paper, cartridge paper is known for its smooth surface and excellent erasability. It is commonly used for a wide range of artistic techniques, including drawing, sketching, illustration, and preliminary studies.

Mixed Media Papers: Versatile and adaptable, mixed media papers accommodate a combination of wet and dry media, including watercolours, acrylics, inks, and more. They offer a sturdy surface that withstands layering and experimentation.

Printmaking Papers: Engineered to meet the demands of various printmaking techniques, these papers feature a smooth surface that allows for crisp lines and intricate details. They come in different weights and textures to suit different printing methods.

Graphic Papers: Graphic Papers support a wide range of techniques including dry media, sketching, illustration, tracing, painting, markers & inks, and come in a variety of textures and weights. Tracing paper offers transparency for precise tracing, Marker paper prevents the bleeding of ink, Layout paper provides a smooth surface for drafting & technical drawings, and Bristol paper offers durability for multiple layers of media.

Ink & Calligraphy Papers: Designed to enhance the fluidity and richness of ink, these papers offer minimal bleeding and feathering. They provide a smooth surface for precise lettering and calligraphic strokes.

Canvas Papers: Mimicking the texture and appearance of traditional canvas, canvas papers provide a convenient alternative for artists who prefer working on a flat surface. They offer the flexibility to create both paintings and mixed media artworks.

Coloured Papers: Adding a pop of colour to artworks, coloured papers come in a variety of shades. They can serve as a vibrant background or as a unique element in collage and mixed media artworks.

Speciality Papers: Offering unconventional textures, colours, or properties, speciality papers cater to specific artistic needs and preferences. From handmade and textured papers to metallic and translucent sheets, the possibilities are endless.

An artist’s paper’s ingredients include wood pulp, cotton fibres, or a combination of both, both sourced sustainably. Wood pulp, derived from trees, forms the foundation of many papers. It provides strength and durability while offering a smooth surface for precise detailing.

Cotton fibres, harvested from the cotton plant, lend papers their texture and archival quality. They absorb pigments more readily, enhancing the richness and longevity of the artwork.

In addition to these primary ingredients, some papers may contain additives or coatings to enhance their performance, such as sizing agents for controlling absorbency or buffering agents for pH stability.

White and natural paper colours provide a classic, neutral backdrop for artwork, allowing colours to appear true and vibrant. They offer versatility for a wide range of mediums and styles, from delicate watercolours to bold acrylics.

Coloured paper introduces an additional dimension to the artwork. It can enhance mood and atmosphere, create striking contrasts, and inspire creative exploration. Whether sketching with charcoal or creating mixed media collages, coloured paper adds depth and intrigue to your compositions.

Smooth papers offer a sleek, uniform surface, perfect for intricate details and precise lines. They provide a consistent backdrop, allowing the medium to glide effortlessly across the page. Ideal for techniques that require controlled application, such as detailed drawing or intricate illustration.

Textured papers boast a tactile quality that adds depth and character. Their unique surface adds intrigue and dimension, inviting exploration through varied brushstrokes and rich layers of pigment. For pastels, watercolours, charcoal, or mixed media, textured papers offer an excellent surface.

Sizing is a treatment applied to paper to control its absorbency, ensuring that the chosen medium interacts with the surface just as the artist intends. Sizing plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity, preventing unwanted bleeding or feathering of colours, and allowing for finer details to shine through.

Paper weights refer to the thickness and sturdiness of the paper, often measured in grams per square metre (gsm). A higher weight indicates a denser and more robust paper, capable of withstanding heavier applications of paint, ink, or other mediums without buckling or warping.

When selecting papers, artists need to consider both the sizing and weight carefully. These elements influence the final look and feel of your artwork.

There are three types of paper making techniques, these include handmade, mould made, and machine made.

Handmade Paper: The art of handmade paper making has endured through centuries with little alteration. Crafted sheet by sheet, this traditional process involves pouring pulp onto a mould and then carefully interleaved between woollen felts, pressed to expel excess water, before being air dried and sized. Handmade watercolour paper often utilises 100% cotton and/or linen rag. Their longer fibre lengths result in a sturdier weave within the pulp enhancing durability. It’s important to note that the sizing and texture of handmade paper may vary between batches.

Cylinder Mould-Made Paper: Cylinder mould machines are comprised of a vat and a rotating cylinder mould. Paper material is drawn from the vat by the slowly turning cylinder. This cylinder is coated with a wire mesh, allowing water to flow through as it rotates, while the pulp forms a sheet on its surface. The resulting sheet is then transferred onto a moving belt lined with felt and undergoes further processing within the machine. During this process, the paper is either pressed between felt-covered rollers to create a textured surface or hot metal rollers for a smoother finish.

Fourdrinier Machine-Made Paper: The Fourdrinier machine, named after Sealy and Henry Fourdrinier, streamlined the paper-making process by mechanising the drying, pressing, and texturing of paper pulp using a series of rollers, enabling manufacturers to produce consistent batches of paper rapidly. Paper stock is spread over a mesh conveyor belt, where a vacuum removes water from the fibres. The paper is then passed through heated rollers to further reduce moisture content. Additional rollers are used to smooth or texture the paper surface and ensure uniform thickness.

Pastels stick to paper due to the texture and composition of both the pastel medium and the paper surface. Here are a few reasons why pastels adhere to paper:

Tooth of the Paper: Pastel paper often has a textured surface, known as “tooth,” which provides a slightly rougher surface for the pastel pigment to adhere to. This texture helps hold the pastel particles in place.

Softness of Pastel Medium: Pastels are made of pigments held together with a binder, typically Gum Arabic or Gum Tragacanth. Unlike paint, which is liquid when applied and dries to form a solid layer, pastel pigment particles remain loose and can embed themselves into the texture of the paper.

Friction and Pressure: When applying pastels to paper, the friction and pressure created by the pastel stick or pencil against the paper help embed the pigment particles into the paper’s fibres.

Absorption: The paper absorbs some of the binder in the pastel medium, causing the pigment particles to adhere more firmly to the paper surface as the binder dries.

Fixatives: Artists often use fixative sprays to further secure the pastel pigment to the paper surface after completing a piece. This helps prevent smudging and ensures the pastel adheres securely to the paper.

Overall, the combination of the texture of the paper, the softness of the pastel medium, and the application technique all contribute to the pastel sticking to the paper.

Oil painting is not supported by most mixed media papers. Paper for oil painting needs a barrier to prevent the oil seeping through the paper as used in Georgian paper. Without the barrier, the oil seeps through and the colours will dry dull and matt instead of matt and shiny.

Mixed media papers are versatile, lightly textured, and usually come in a heavier weight for greater stability with wet techniques.

The following techniques can be used on drawing & sketching papers; graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, oil pencils, markers, fineliners, colouring pencils, pastels, pens & ink.

Fine Grain papers come in a variety of weights for different uses; lighter weights are more often used for drafts & sketching whilst heavier weights are used for finished works as they are more durable.

A paper that is acid-free will not turn yellow over time and does not contain acid which can react with colours in artwork.

Yes, we have a wide range of surfaces that are acid-free.