Tag Archives: school art supplies

The History of Paper

Posted on by
32

Paper originated in China in about AD 105. It reached Central Asia by 751 and Baghdad by 793, and by the 14th century there were paper mills in several parts of Europe. The invention of the printing press in about 1450 markedly increased the need for paper, and at the beginning of the 19th century wood and other vegetable pulps began to replace rags as the foremost source of fibre for papermaking.

Before 1798, Nicholas-Louis Robert created the earliest paper-making machine. Using a moving screen belt, it was made only one sheet at a time by the dipping of or mould which has a screen bottom into a vat of pulp. A few years later the brothers Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier improved Robert’s machine, and then in 1809 John Dickinson invented the first cylinder machine.

Although most steps in papermaking have become highly mechanized, the basic process has remained mostly unchanged. Firstly, the fibres are separated and wetted to create the paper pulp, or stock. The pulp is then filtered on a woven screen that forms a sheet of fibre, which is pressed and compacted to squeeze out most of the water. The remaining water is removed by evaporation, and the dry sheet is further compressed and, depending upon the intended use, coated or impregnated with other substances.

Differences among the grades and types of paper are decided by several factors: the type of fibre used; the manner in which pulp is prepared, which can be either by mechanical (groundwood) or chemical (primarily sulfite, soda, or sulfate) methods, or by a combination of both; by the addition of other substances to the pulp, the most commonly used being bleach or colouring and sizing, the latter to retard penetration by ink; by conditions under which the sheet is formed, including its weight; and by the physical or chemical treatment applied to the resulting sheet.

Although wood is the key source of fibre for papermaking, rag fibres are still used for paper of maximum strength, resistance to mould, and permanence. Recycled wastepaper (including newsprint) and cardboard are also important sources. Still other fibres used include straw, bagasse (residue from crushed sugarcane), esparto, bamboo, flax, hemp, jute, and kenaf. Some paper, in particular specialty items, is made from synthetic fibres.

Weight or substance per unit area, called basis weight, is measured in reams (now commonly 500 sheets). Paper is also measured by caliper (thickness) and density. The strength and durability of paper is determined by factors such as the strength and length of the fibres, as well as their bonding ability, and the formation and structure of the sheet. The optical properties of paper include its brightness, colour, opacity, and gloss. Among the most important paper grades are bond, book, bristol, groundwood and newsprint, kraft, paperboard, and sanitary.

If you are looking for arts supplies or school art supplies, make sure you visit Discount Art Warehouse for all your art supplies and art paper.

Four Essential Art Supplies for Professional and Budding Painters

Posted on by
36

Before you can create the best artworks that show your unique painting style, you should secure four essential art supplies that can help you define your deepest feelings onto the canvas. Once you have obtained these important tools, you are ready to explore the world of art without anything holding you back. Here are the most important supplies that can help you to create your very own masterpiece.

Paintbrushes
Every painter needs a brush to convey a feeling to his or her audience. Start finding different types of brushes that can assist you while you are exploring various painting techniques. Start with a flat synthetic brush to create simple works of art. As your skills continue to improve, look for other art supplies such as flat bristle brushes, Filbert brushes, and sable brushes (and think outside of the box, trying items such as rubber wedges, potato/lino cut shapes}. All of these tools can add variety to every idea you were able to put into paintings.

Palettes and palette knives
While you are using oil-based paint, you will need to use a wood palette to hold them. Do not forget to clean your palette at the end of all your painting sessions. If you want to use acrylic paints, use a paper palette or any plastic surface instead of a wooden palette.

You can use palette knives to mix the paint on your wooden or paper palette. Try to look for trowel-shaped palette knives that you can use to remove the paint from your canvas or palette.

Oil paint and special mediums
Oil paint is one of the most common art supplies used for painting images with beautiful textures. Their versatile nature can help you use thin and thick textures for your artworks. Since they tend to dry slowly, you will have plenty of time to work the oil paint on the canvas and to scrape some of the paint off for revisions.

You will also need special mediums to thin the oil paint when it becomes too thick. You can also use it for cleaning your brushes and using special techniques such as glazing.

Artist’s canvas
When shopping for canvases, you should have the option to purchase a stretched canvas or a canvas board. Stretched canvases are conveniently mounted on stretcher bars, and can be displayed on walls even when they are not framed.

If you have a limited budget, use canvas boards as an alternative to high-end stretched canvases. Although they are cheaper than stretched canvases, they can deliver better performance with their durable card panels and versatile surfaces.

With these four key art supplies, you can share the beautiful images you were able to visualise by preserving them into an exceptional work of art.

If you are looking for art supplies, including school art supplies, make sure you check out Discount Art. The range of art supply specials is extensive and as a member you get a 10 percent discount.