Beginner Hand Lettering Series-The Perfect Paper

Does paper REALLY matter? The answer is … yes!

You are ready to start lettering and you’ve invested in brush pens. YOU NEED to use the right paper to help protect them!

At this point, you might be thinking, seriously? Why can’t I just whip out a notebook and get going already?! I get it. And I’m here to tell you in some instances, you can. When you are using pencils, Crayola markers, regular ballpoint pens, or gellyroll pens then, of course, any notebook and regular copy paper will do. I have notebooks FILLED with design sketches and doodles all in pencil.

However (and this is key) when you are using a brush pen then you need to invest in some high-quality paper.

Protecting your pens:

Brush pens are consumable and won’t last forever. You can go a lot further and keep them from fraying when you choose the right paper. Paper is made up of different fibers and pressed together to create different textures. You want smooth paper texture to protect the tips of your brush pens!

Different paper for different reasons:

Rhodia Pad- perfect pad of super smooth paper to protect your pens. Great for practice on the go.

HP Premium 32 Laserjet Paper- perfect for printing out any hand lettering workskeets you may purchase (check out mine here). If you are having a hard time choosing paper I suggest this FOR SURE.

Canson Marker Paper- Another great option for your brush markers. I use large brush markers on this pad a lot.

Tracing paper- This is a great thing for practicing drills and alphabets. You can lay it on top of any page and practice away! It’s inexpensive paper that comes with lots of protection.

White Cardstock Paper- This is the paper to use when you are creating those final, beautiful pieces for your family, friends and clients. It is simply amazing. High quality and WORTH EVERY CENT.

Note: Sometimes you are going to need to use your pens on a rougher paper for a project and that is fine! I use one pen specifially for addressing envelopes during the Christmas season knowing full well it will be frayed by the end of it.

Choosing the right paper is so important. I can answer any questions you may have. Comment below!

Want more?

Are you looking for practice pages? Check mine out here.

Read all about the best pens for beginners here.

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Read my tips for hand lettering beginners here

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