We feel that exploring the paper is highly important when choosing the right sketchbook. We also think other factors should also be taken into consideration when choosing the right product for what you want. Things such as the type of bind and cover are just as important when choosing the correct sketchbook which is why we wanted to highlight some of these within their own blog.
To begin with, we will first explore the binds that Clairefontaine use within their sketchbooks and pads. One of the most common binds used, especially within the Paint On range is a glued bind. Having a bind like this means it is a relatively low cost for production. Once the page comes out of the pad it is also left with a straight edge. A bind like this also means it can lay flat, however, because it is a cheaper form of production it is not as sturdy as other binds. Some pads that have a glue bind might easily have pages fall out, nevertheless, the Clairefontaine range seems to be very secure compared to other brands.
Some of their Sketchbooks that have a glued bind include; the Kraft Pad range, The Sketch White and Ivory Sketchbooks and as we have mentioned nearly all of their Paint On range including Gris, Mixed Media and Natural. As most of these pads are perfect for mixed-media and quick sketching, this style of bind is perfect as it makes it very flexible and quick to turn the page.
Clairefotaine Glued Binds
One other notable collection that uses the glue bind is the Pastelmat No.1 and No.2 Pads which is a highly prestigious pastel paper and some of the best pastel pads on the market. Additionally these pads are also interleaved with crystal paper to protect your pastel drawings and to stop the pastel colours from being transferred to another paper surface. Not only is the cork grained paper a fine texture that has a velvety finish but the added crystal paper provides a professional high quality pad.
There are two other types of binds that let you open a pad fully as well as being able to lay-flat. These binds are also more expensive to produce compared to the glued bind, this is down to material and man-hours. The first is a wire bind (Spiral Bind). This is usually a singular metallic rod that loops around and through punched holes at the top or side of the sketchbook. One pad that uses this within the Clairefontaine range is the Sketch - Ivory Sketchbook. This book is perfect for students and the bind provides a more sturdy finish. One feature to this specific pad is that it has a perforated edge so if people want to take a sheet out, they can whilst also leaving a straight edge.
On the left is the Sketch Ivory Sketchbook and on the right is the Graf Book
The Clairefontaine Graf Book is one pad that uses a stitched bind, because of the way it is stitched it also means that it can completely open-flat as well as being able to open 360 degrees which is something similar to what you would get with a spiral bind, however compared to a spiral bind, using a stitch bind means you will be able to draw across the bind. It is one of the most expensive forms of binding, but this also means that is it one of the most secure forms and pages won’t fall out.Another sketchbook that uses a stitch bind is the Paint On Square Sketchbook. A book that is dedicated to travelling and urban sketching. Additionally these pads also have some other qualities to take notice of, for example, the cover is very soft and foam like making it very pleasant to touch. It also has a round elastic and pull tab providing added quality to the book. These extra features make this pad unique compared to the majority of other sketchbooks and pads we have mentioned throughout this blog; as most of these use a paperback cover, with some using a cardboard back so you have a slightly harder surface to work on.
Overall, Clairefontaine has a small yet varied option when it comes to binds and covers, with most sketchbooks and pads sticking to similar styles like a paperback cover and glue bind. However offering some other alternatives, all being high in quality, leads to great options for any artist as most of their products are versatile and suitable for all techniques. We offer a large and affordable range of Clairefontaine products, click here to see our range.
Image Credits -
Product Shots: Sandra Manchester
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As we explored in part two, Clairefontaine produces high quality paper. They control the whole manufacturing process and exclusively source sustainable materials which leads to professional artist quality paper. They are pioneers and leaders in the market and a brand we highly recommend.
A Quick Overview
Many of the Clairefontaine sketchbooks that we have on offer would work exceptionally well with mixed-media. The versatility that their products provide means it is perfect for a new artist who wants to experiment with different art materials. Nevertheless, they also provide products dedicated to one specific technique such as watercolour or pastels.
If you have never used this type of paper before or intend to purchase it as a gift, some of the most common art techniques used are;
The Clairefontaine Logo
More Detail
Although our quick overview highlights key uses we have gone into further detail below, exploring some of Clairefontaines most popular products and highlighting further techniques.
Origami Paper Sets (70 / 80gsm)
These sets come in either neutral (black, white and kraft paper) or patterned and can also be used for other crafts such as creating a scrapbook. Because it is thin paper, they can be easily manipulated and folded which is perfect for creating origami figures like the image below.
Click image to view Clairefontaine's Instagram
Kraft Pad (90gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes)
The perfect paper for charcoal and pencils. This sketchbook has a laid-surface (ribbed) as both sides provide a different finish, so one side is smooth whilst the other is textured. It is brown in colour due to the way the paper is made which provides something a lot more unique compared to typical white paper. Because of the light weight in gsm we wouldn’t necessarily suggest using watercolour, this paper is more tailored to dry art techniques. Not only can you get this in a book form but you can also buy in rolls and because this paper is 100% recyclable it is much more eco-friendly to use for wrapping paper.
Click Image to view Clairefontaine Kraft Pad
Paint On (250gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes)
One of the best mixed-media range of sketchbooks on the market. Most of the books within Paint On are 250gsm which can work well with water as it is thick enough to absorb. However, if you are only wanting a pad for watercolour we would suggest getting paper that is specifically tailored for that technique.
The Natural (250gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes) and Multi-Technique (250gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes) sketchbooks are the smoother books within the range. They are still great for mixed-media and will be able to handle a light wash.
The Gris (250gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes) sketchbook from this range has more texture so watercolour can be used easily on these pads.
The Paint On range is one of their biggest, and it is still expanding with some new and recent products like the Mixed-Media Pad (250gsm in A5, A4 and A3 sizes). This comes in six assorted shades of mixed-media paper. The paper is already in other sketchbooks like the Naturel and Blanc pages, except for the new Denim colour which is exclusive within this sketchbook. The Mixed-Media pad would be perfect for someone who is new to art or wants to experience a great selection of what Clairefontaine has to offer in one convenient book.
Click to view looonalou's instagram
Sketch (90gsm in A5 and A4 sizes)
A sketchbook that would work well for students, artists and writers is the Clairefontaine Sketchpad. Their Sketch range comes in either an Ivory book (90gsm in A5 and A4 sizes) or a 50/50 Blend of Ivory and White combined (90gsm in A5 and A4 sizes). These sketchbooks are suitable for pencils, felt-tip markers, charcoal and a variety of dry art techniques. We wouldn’t recommend using any kind of paint on this paper due to it’s light weight, but if you choose to do that make sure it’s a light wash.
Click to view the Clairefontaine Sketchbook (Ivory)
Pastelmat (360gsm in sizes: 24x30cm - similar to A4 and 30x40cm - similar to A3)
One of their most well-known products is their Pastelmat Paper which is some of the best pastel paper and pads on the market. It has a smooth and velvet touch but is rough enough so the pastel can latch onto the paper well; because of this you can also put many layers of pastel on the paper. The colours remain vibrant and over time don’t lose that vibrancy; we would still suggest using a spray fixative just to keep it in place. We sell two sketchpads with a variety of paper colour in each pad, as well as this, we also sell each colour separately. Both pads come in three sheets of four different colours; Number 1 includes Maize, Buttercup, Light Grey and Dark Grey. Number 2 includes White, Sienna, Brown and Anthracite.
Click Image to view Ellenspetportraits Instagram
Overall, Clairefontaine produces some exquisite paper with a lot of versatility. Their range is the perfect paper for many mixed-media techniques but they also produce paper specifically catered towards a specific technique, once again showing why and how this brand are leaders within the market.
Want to know more about this brand? Check out part four of our Clairefontaine series which explores some of the products further by looking at additional extras such as type of cover and bind.
Image Credits
Product Shots: Sandra Manchester
Instagram Artists: Looonalou - Ellenspetportraits - ClairefontaineUK
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As we mentioned in our last blog, Clairefontaine has a reputation that is exceptional when it comes to their paper production as they control every stage of manufacturing. Their machines include a sensor which is constantly checking the products quality and uses a multitude of parameters including; the material that is used, mechanical (things like tears), optical (whiteness and opacity) and texture (surface finish and gsm). Having control over the whole manufacturing process means that they have been able to source their materials exclusively from sustainable forests, making it PEFC and FSC certified. It uses its own water treatment plant as well creating 80% of its own electrical power.
Using a machine in the Clairefontaine Paper Mill to check quality control
It’s clear to see that being eco-friendly plays a large factor within the Clairefontaine company strategy. Not only do they control every stage of manufacturing to a point of perfection, but they also control its environment when producing their paper by using a set of very specific ecological criteria that includes; energy consumption, air pollution, limited use of volatile organic compounds like inks, waste treatment and that the finished product has to be 100% recyclable made from renewable materials. They are also the only company who produces paper within France, guaranteeing a consistent product whilst also protecting the environment even further.
Clairefontaine produces the paper on two different machines that vary depending on what paper you desire. The first is a flat machine to create things like smooth card. Being an innovative company, the second machine is a specialist piece of equipment for their unique grained paper. This machinery is the only hybrid in the world, and is a mixture between the flat and mould-made machines. Creating a unique piece of equipment makes them pioneers in this field as well as leaders in paper production on a global scale.
Clairefontaine's Specialised Machine
Not only do they use quality machines, they also are very specific when choosing the right material. Each page contains long natural unbleached virgin fibres which makes the paper 100% natural and bio-degradable. These fibres also provide paper that has a higher absorbency rate and better colour retention which means they work great as a mixed media sketchbook. Although Clairefontaine could easily use recycled paper, it would only be able to be re-used a number of times. Virgin paper is a lot more hygienic as it can be burnt and turned into energy compared to relying on fossil fuels. Additionally it is also necessary to continue the use of these paper products as without the production of virgin fibres, the world would run out of paper quickly.
Adopting to use a size with a neutral pH during its production, the papers are genuinely acid-free. As the active acid pulp is eliminated during the process of creating acid-free paper it also becomes lignin (organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of some plants and algae) and sulphur (chemical element) free. All papers are sized, but the paper for wet techniques needs to be sized internally as well as on the surface. This means it will highly reduce or eliminate bleeding from ink and paint. Sizing also protects the fibres of the paper from breaking down due to oxidation and also adds an adhesive quality and strength.
Clairefontaine's Pastelmat Paper
Clairefontaine is very focused on providing sustainable products and they do try to use a starch-size alternative where possible, however, there is an exception within some of the range for which they use a gelatine-size meaning it is not vegan-friendly. One vegan-friendly option within their range is Pastelmat Paper. An exceptional paper for pastels and charcoal that has a velvet finish and is smooth to touch. It is the only pastel card with a specific surface retaining pigments. As far as Clairefontaine are aware, the nearest competitor makes it’s card the similar way as ‘glass paper’ with non-vegan friendly elements.
It is clear to see that Clairefontaine strives to create a high quality product from the natural materials they use as well as wanting to do it in a way that protects the environment. Using some of the best natural fibres that can be responsibly sourced leads to some of the most superior and perfect paper on the market. Not only does this brand use exquisite materials but they have created an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind machine exclusive to Clairefontaine. All of which leads to a brand that produces professional artist quality paper whilst protecting the environment and dominating the market.
Want to know more about this brand? Check out part three of our Clairefontaine series which explores some of the products and their uses.
Image Credits -
Sandra Manchester
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Companies that focus on the environment and charitable causes that also produce high-quality artist papers are a rare find. Clairefontaine is one brand that has successfully become a leader in this; with a reputation that is exceptional when it comes to their paper production as they control every stage of manufacturing. Their paper mill is on the Meurthe River in Étival-Clairefontaine, North-Eastern France, where they create exquisite paper for professionals and students alike.
Established in 1858, Clairefontaine began in an already fully established paper mill that was built in 1512. Jean-Baptiste Bichelberger chose this small town to take advantage of the local textile industry and the rags they provided. The company began from the creation of envelopes but by 1880 it began the production of notebooks. Now part of the Exacompta Clairefontaine Group, it is one of the most important factories within the region. It is the only paper manufacturer in France which means that they can maintain the environment whilst also providing an excellent and consistent product.
The Exacompta Clairefontaine Group Headquarters
In total they have four paper mills with their reputation upholding at each location. As mentioned above, their main site of production is Étival-Clairefontaine. Since expanding, they now have a mill dedicated to recycled paper in Everbal. The Mandeure mill focuses on heavy-weight and speciality papers and the Schut site in the Netherlands focuses on the top-end speciality papers. Although they have four mills they still focus on the environment, sourcing materials from FSC and PEFC certified companies.
As well as producing high-quality professional paper, they are also an untiring advocate in education. Since 1950, one of the companies main priorities was to produce the best tools for children’s education by providing quality notebooks to complete school-work. According to Unicef, as of 2019 there are approximately 115 million young people (aged 15 to 24) who are illiterate around the world and have never had the opportunity to go to school. Feeling that this figure is unacceptable, Clairefontaine support - and work closely with - Unicef, because they feel a child without education has no future.
Supporting Unicef means that they are able to build concrete projects to disadvantage school children. Since 2004, Clairefontaine has been committed in donating over two million euros of their profit every year in aide of supporting the charity. They have also endorsed the construction of buildings, teacher training and school products so all children can get an education that everyone should be entitled to.
Clairefontaine help school children get an education
Not only are they pioneers in the support for schools and education, but they also heavily support various sports and sport teams. They have partnered with many youth teams around France that focus on different disciplines such as football, hockey and basketball. They feel that providing a proper education to children is extremely valuable, but they also want to advocate the values of participating in physical exercise as well. Values such as respect, ambition and equality can be developed and constructed through exercise. These qualities are something that Clairefontaine share and are seen as invaluable assets within the brand.
This has led to them becoming huge sponsors towards many prestigious national youth football clubs in league one and two as a way to support young people who participate in fitness as well as promoting the importance of exercise.
One of Clairefontaine's Sponsored Teams
Clairefontaine also uses fitness and sport to help raise awareness for climate change. They work closely and sponsor OceanoScientific (previously known as the Meroceans Association). Working together their aim is to promote the environmental protection of the ocean by raising public awareness to the consequences of climate change; one way they achieve this is by holding an annual sailing race, Trophee Clairefontaine.
For over 150 years Clairefontaine has worked hard in creating a company that not only creates exquisite paper but thrives in supporting education and exercise. Believing that everyone should have an equal opportunity in learning and building values that advocate in targeting this quality. Choosing locations for their paper mills that take advantage of being in close proximity to sustainable and recyclable materials leads to the beginning of their environmentally-friendly ethos and culture. Not only does this company create perfect paper but they also create a perfect opportunity for values to grow, education to be taught, exercise to be encouraged and the environment to be safe.
Want to know more about this brand? Check out part two of our Clairefontaine series which explores how the paper is made.
Image Credits
Exacompta Clairefontaine Group Website
Product Shots - Sandra Manchester
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