Papers

The history of paper began in Ancient Egypt approx. 3,700 BC – 3,200 BC with the use of papyrus as a medium for written records. However, papermaking has traditionally been traced to China about 105 AD, when Cai Lun, an official attached to the Imperial court during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), created a sheet of paper using mulberry and other bast fibres along with fishnets, old rags, and hemp waste. The paper was soon widely used in China and spread to the rest of world through the Silk Road. The earliest European papers were made in Spain around 1036 AD primarily from raw materials of linen or cotton rags which gave paper the greatest strength and permanence. As the demand for paper grew, each country, throughout the years, have developed their own special papermaking skills and qualities.

Today, the characteristics sought in each paper is dictated by the particular use and the right choice of paper is imperative for the best results to be achieved.

Watercolour

  • Yupo Watercolor Paper NZD $10.60

    This synthetic paper made of 100% polypropylene offers a unique alternative to traditional art papers. It is exceptionally strong, durable and will not buckle or tear. It is acid-free and has a smooth, bright white surface. Originally used for offset printing, it also accommodates silkscreen, embossing, pen & ink, drawing, acrylic painting and aqueous techniques. Yupo is machine-made in the USA and recyclable. As a watercolor paper, it has the advantage of being non-absorbent so colors lie on top of its surface producing brilliant, vibrant effects. Colors retain their true clarity and brilliance. Yupo requires no soaking, stretching, or taping flat. Best of all, it allows you to wipe off unwanted sections of your painting and start again with a fresh surface. 20 x 26"

  • Fabriano 5 NZD $5.95 - $13.00

    A prized blend of cotton (50%) and select raw materials are the main feature of this paper. Particularly recommended for artists who use watercolor, tempera, charcoal, graphite, wax, pastel, etc. Fabriano 5 also performs beautifully when used for fine art prints (lithography and silkscreen), business cards, invitations, menus and so on. Fabriano 5 has two deckled edges and a watermark that runs parallel to them. Is is acid-free to guarantee excellent permanence and resistance to ageing.

    2 items
  • Cordenons Canletto Aquarelle Sachets NZD $9.60 - $30.90

    Canaletto Aquarelle is an acid free watercolour and drawing paper. It has an excellent surface which is sympathetic to a wide range of media. The high quality composition of the paper -20% cotton, gelatin sizing and the neutral pH - provides good long-life characteristics. It is an ecomomical paper that is a pleasure to use.

    2 items
  • Strathmore Watercolor Pad Series 300 NZD $21.95

    An economical, heavy weight (300gsm), acid-free paper with a rough, non-mechanical surface that adapts beautifully to a variety of watercolor techniques. 12 sheets per pad. 11" x 15"

  • Fabriano Artistico 300gsm Hot Press Blocks NZD $28.00 - $85.00

    Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Blocks are glued on four sides and are perfect for Plein Air painting. They are made from 100% cotton, are double-sized and are acid-free. The traditional warm white shade is created without the use of optical brighteners.

    3 items
  • Fabriano Artistico 300gsm Rough Blocks NZD $28.00 - $85.00

    Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Blocks are glued on four sides and are perfect for Plein Air painting. They are made from 100% cotton, are double-sized and are acid-free. The traditional warm white shade is created without the use of optical brighteners.

    3 items

Mixed Media

  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock NZD $5.95

    Recommended by cardmakers for use with COPIC markers, this bright white card is perfect for marker blending, stamping, card making or for laying with your favorite papers. Acid-free

    216 x 279mm, 216gsm, 10 sheets per pack

  • Blotting Paper A2 NZD $3.50

    140gsm

  • Fabriano 5 NZD $5.95 - $13.00

    A prized blend of cotton (50%) and select raw materials are the main feature of this paper. Particularly recommended for artists who use watercolor, tempera, charcoal, graphite, wax, pastel, etc. Fabriano 5 also performs beautifully when used for fine art prints (lithography and silkscreen), business cards, invitations, menus and so on. Fabriano 5 has two deckled edges and a watermark that runs parallel to them. Is is acid-free to guarantee excellent permanence and resistance to ageing.

    2 items
  • Fabriano No. 4 Disegno 500 x 700 NZD $2.50

    The good sizing and excellent resistance to even the hardest erasers are the main features of this paper, which is ideal not only for students at technical schools but for professional use by graphic artists, architects and surveyors. Each sheet of Fabriano 4 is dry-embossed. Hot Pressed. 220gsm

  • Art Spectrum Draw & Wash Smooth Pads NZD $15.50 - $46.80

    30 sheets of 210gsm, acid-free, smooth drawing paper that will take a wash.

    4 items
  • Art Spectrum Draw & Wash Paper 500 x 700 NZD $3.00

    A 210gsm, smooth drawing paper that takes a wash. Acid-free

Drawing/Printmaking

  • Canson Edition 250gsm Wheat 560 x 760 NZD $7.50

    Canson Edition papers deliver professional results with a variety of media. Versatile and affordable priced, Canson Edition is an excellent choice for artists and discerning art students alike.

  • Canson Edition 250gsm Light Grey 560 x 760 NZD $7.50

    Canson Edition papers deliver professional results with a variety of media. Versatile and affordable priced, Canson Edition is an excellent choice for artists and discerning art students alike.

  • Arches Text Wove NZD $5.50

    This paper is excellent for book arts, drawing, etching, lithography and letterpress printing. Each sheet is 100% cotton, acid-free, buffered and features a registered watermark. 120gsm 19 x 25 inches

  • Fabriano 5 NZD $5.95 - $13.00

    A prized blend of cotton (50%) and select raw materials are the main feature of this paper. Particularly recommended for artists who use watercolor, tempera, charcoal, graphite, wax, pastel, etc. Fabriano 5 also performs beautifully when used for fine art prints (lithography and silkscreen), business cards, invitations, menus and so on. Fabriano 5 has two deckled edges and a watermark that runs parallel to them. Is is acid-free to guarantee excellent permanence and resistance to ageing.

    2 items
  • Fabriano No. 4 Disegno 500 x 700 NZD $2.50

    The good sizing and excellent resistance to even the hardest erasers are the main features of this paper, which is ideal not only for students at technical schools but for professional use by graphic artists, architects and surveyors. Each sheet of Fabriano 4 is dry-embossed. Hot Pressed. 220gsm

  • Art Spectrum Draw & Wash Smooth Pads NZD $15.50 - $46.80

    30 sheets of 210gsm, acid-free, smooth drawing paper that will take a wash.

    4 items

Japanese

  • Kitikatashi Avocado NZD $8.00
    430 x 520 35gsm
  • Taizan Wove NZD $8.90

    30gsm 485 x 640

  • Kitikatashi Natural NZD $8.00

    35gsm 430 x 520

  • Botan NZD $5.50

    53gsm 540 x 790

  • Atsukuchi NZD $6.50

    Made from the Kozo fibre. 39gsm 485 x 640

  • Mulberry Black NZD $8.50

    Japanese Mulberry is a handmade sheet of Kozo fibre and is acid-free. It is soft, flexible and long-fibred and possesses great wet strength for its weight. We recommend Mulberry for relief printing, etching, lithography, chine colle, drawing and sumi painting. 45gsm 485 x 640

Handmade

Decorative

Pads

  • Strathmore Windpower Bristol Pads Smooth NZD $14.60 - $27.95

    These pads are made with 100% wind power – a pollution free, renewable energy resource – perfect for the environmentally conscientious consumer. The tape-bound heavy-weight white drawing board in the Smooth Bristol Pads, is ideal for fine drawing techniques. Lightly textured, the surface of the heavy-weight, white drawing board in these tape bound vellum bristol pads is designed to accept a variety of media. Fifteen sheets per pad.

    2 items
  • Canson Marker Pro Lay-Out Pads NZD $24.80 - $46.95

    This very smooth, white, 18 lb (70 gsm) layout paper is perfect for quick sketches with pencil, pen, or layout markers. It won't bleed, fade, or wrinkle.

    Markers can't bleed through which makes Canson the professional's choice for rough layouts and rendering.

    3 items
  • Daler-Rowney Layout Pads NZD $13.70 - $23.10 2 items
  • Art Spectrum Draw & Wash Textured Pads NZD $15.50 - $46.80 4 items
  • Clairefontaine Fifty-Fifty Drawing Pad NZD $22.50

    100 sheets of 90gsm paper, alternating white and cream in colour. A4

  • GraF it Assorted Sketch Pads NZD $5.60 - $31.50

    80 sheets of white 90gsm drawing paper in a perforated pad.

    4 items

Pastel

  • Colourfix Suede NZD $6.80 - $12.90

    A new, softer surface from the makers of Colourfix. Colourfix Suede, like its older brother, is an acid-free quality surface suitable for use with pastels, charcoal, pencil, inks, acrylics, gouache, watercolours and even oil paint. The surface is not as abrasive as regular Colourfix and was partly developed in conjunction with the manufacturers of PanPastels and an ideal ground for their products. The base paper is a heavier 500gsm hot press watercolour paper. 14 x 18" or 19 x 27"

    16 items
  • Colourfix A4 NZD $2.70

    Lightfast, permanent Colourfix paper is an acid-free, 300gsm (140lb.) smooth watercolour paper coated with Art Spectrum Colourfix Primer, a tooth, acrylic based primer that holds multiple layers of pastel without the need for fixative.

    Colourfix paper is tough; it can withstand scrubbing, soaking, erasure, in fact all manner of artistic 'punishment'.

    20 items
  • Daler-Rowney Murano Warm Pads NZD $23.50 - $37.99

    30 sheets of 160gsm, acid free paper suitable for pencil and pastels. Comes is 6 assorted colours: Bordeaux, Raspberry, Strawberry, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Chocolate.

    click on image of pad to see the colour swatches

    2 items
  • Daler-Rowney Murano Cool Pads NZD $23.50 - $37.99

    30 sheets of 160gsm, acid free paper suitable for pencil and pastels. Comes in 6 assorted colours: Wedgewood, Fern, Dusk, Slate, Lagoon and Aubergine.

    click on image of pad to see the colour swatches

    2 items
  • Daler-Rowney Murano Neutral Pads NZD $23.50 - $37.99

    30 sheets of 160gsm, acid free paper suitable for pencil and pastels. Comes in 6 assorted colours: Stone, Rose Grey, Pale Peach, Haze, Platinum and Oatmeal.

    click on image of pad to see the colour swatches

    2 items
  • Canson Mi-Tientes Pastel Pads NZD $17.50 - $36.95

    Strong and resilient, this 60% cotton French-made paper has two distinct surfaces: texture on one side (perfect for pastel and charcoal), and a smooth finish on the other (for detail work with pencil or ink).

    6 items

Tracing/Graphic

Book Arts

 

How to buy

Note: we do not deliver outside New Zealand.

Enter the quantity and click "add to cart". When you are ready to pay for your order proceed to checkout. Payment is made by credit card on a secure server using Paypal. Alternatively you may pay by "bank deposit" or by phone on 09 489 7213.

Delivery Rates

Our delivery rates are:

  • Prepaid A4 Satchel (nationwide): $5 per order
  • Local (North Shore): $5.50 per order *
  • Shorthaul (within 150kms): $7.50 per order *
  • Rest of North Island: $9.30 per order *
  • South Island: $10.40 per order *

Prepaid Satchel is available for some smaller items that will fit into an A4 envelope. Please do not select the satchel option if your goods are breakable, easily damaged or flammable.
* Oversized items may be charged an additional amount - once you have selected the items you need proceed to checkout to see the exact costs.

Rural delivery fee $3.30

For privacy, returns and security policies please read our policies page.

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