Help! Cheap alternative to Strathmore Bristol to use with zig clean color

[Wendykato]

I have a few sheets of watercolor paper and Bristol. But I’m looking for a cheaper option. Possibly sheets. Has anyone tried the JAM paper it springhill for use with Zig Kuretake Clean color markers.

[bjeans]

I haven’t, but use Zigs on Canton XL watercolor paper, which I prefer over Strathmore. It’s very inexpensive and sold at Michael’s, Amazon, Dick Blick, other places. Here it is on Amazon so you can see the pad. Lots of people use the Canson.

When using a very small amount and no water, I use it on my go-to cardstock, which is more expensive (Neenah Classic Crest) but you can test on your cardstock too.

https://www.amazon.com/Canson-Watercolor-Textured-Charcoal-100510941/dp/B004M59O4C

[Wendykato]

I’ve tried all my papers but I wanted a cheaper option.

[bjeans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendykato

I’ve tried all my papers but I wanted a cheaper option.

CansonXL

[muscrat]

Walmart carries canson too. Its my favorite. Usually $5.99 for a pad of it, but they had it reduced to $4.99 for a while. I haven't checked lately.

[wavejumper]

blick is actually having a sale on strathmore right now...

https://www.dickblick.com/products/strathmore-300-series-bristol-board-pads/

I went bc the other day they were doing a bogo on Canson pads but that ended. But this page shows all the types of it for price comparisons

https://www.dickblick.com/search/?q=canson%20xl&unbxd_x=0&unbxd_y=0&unbxd_sp_cs=UTF-8&unbxd_s=unbxd

[dini]

This is the one I use:

https://www.dickblick.com/products/canson-xl-recycled-bristol-pads/

[Wendykato]

has any one tried anything besides Bristol strathmore and canson. Something in sheets at a cheaper price?

[fionna51]

Here's what I discovered, since I am unfamiliar with the JAM paper company.

JAM vellum bristol in a 67 pound weight is available on Amazon for $10.99 for 50 sheets of 8.5 x 11. 

Canson XL vellum bristol in 100 pound weight is available at Consumer Crafts for $4.76 for 25 sheets. 

I would not use a 67 pound bristol for water-based media. It's too lightweight.

In addition, the Canson is cheaper per sheet than the JAM, and it is a heavier weight paper.

Obviously I don't know which JAM paper you are comparing to which Canson paper, but I have found Canson to be a good quality paper for a good price in all of their lines.

[poppydarling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendykato

has any one tried anything besides Bristol strathmore and canson. Something in sheets at a cheaper price?

 In my experience, the cheaper the paper the worse the result. If you spend a lot of time coloring, you're not going to want to waste those hours... 

I would suggest using a coupon at Michael's or JoAnn and getting Canson and trying that... You can probably pick up a whole pad for roughly $5 with a coupon.

[Wendykato]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies.