Canson XL Series Mixed Media Pad covered with stickers I come across
I’m still working on this sketchbook. It’s not finished, but I thought I would talk a bit about it this week.
This is a similar sketchbook to the one I recently finished off in that it’s a mixed media pad able to take both wet and dry media. This pad is a little larger than the previous sketchbook which was made in the USA by Strathmore. This was made in France by Canson which has a rich and fascinating history.
Canson paper dates back to 1557 when it was established by the Montgolfier family in France. The company’s origins are linked to Jean Montgolfier, who learned papermaking techniques while a prisoner in a paper mill in Damascus and later brought this knowledge back to Europe. In 1801, the company adopted the name Canson. Over the centuries, Canson has been associated with numerous innovations, such as developing a wax-based sizing product in 1865, which simplified the papermaking process and reduced costs. The company has also been involved in the production of photographic paper since securing a patent in 1865, contributing significantly to the evolution of photography.
For a more detailed history of Canson and the Montgolfier family, look here.
I like this sketchbook. The paper is nice and heavy; it’s wire-bound and it takes both wet and dry media without bleeding or wrinkling. 7 x 10 inches is a pretty good size for me because it fits well in the bag I take on my commute.
Sailor Fude Fountain Pen with 40º nib
On the other hand, I think this particular paper is more of a student grade. It’s perfectly fine, but after using my Sailor fountain pen on the smooth Bristol on the Goo Goo Muck illustration, I may switch up to a more professional quality paper or a different paper altogether. The Canson XL Mixed Media paper has a little tooth to it. My fountain pen skips along that texture whereas it glides across the smoother Bristol. I wonder if I’ll make out better with the more professional lines of paper.
Anyway, I have a little bit of all sorts of paper in my studio so if I want to pivot to another grade of paper, all I have to do is rummage around. I’ll use the Canson sketchbook until it’s used up, and I’ll get another one if the price is right. It’s predictably good paper and there are worse ways to spend my money.
Below are some of the sketches I’ve done in this Canson pad. Click on the images below for a larger view.
Interesting bit of history there, thanks!
Eventually I will move to the Arches paper company which is older still.