Focus on Materials

We examine some of the essential art materials available to practicing artists

Introducing the Raymar panel designed for watercolor artists. Raymar’s new watercolor panels are crafted with Fabriano Artistico mould-made paper, currently available in cold press, extra white. The paper is mounted on Raymar’s 2mm ACM (aluminum composite material) panels with a conservator’s grade ph neutral adhesive for the ultimate rigid, archival support.

Fabriano has been famous for its fine art papers since 1264 and was the choice of Michaelangelo. This exceptional Italian paper, with its beautiful pebbled surface, grabs the paint while colors remain rich and vibrant. The surface is ideal for watercolor as well as tempera, gouache, acrylic, ink, charcoal, graphite and drawing.

Mounting watercolor art can be a difficult and time-consuming process. With Raymar’s new watercolor panels, artists have more time for painting. And with more sizes available than watercolor pads or sheets, art is limitless on a Raymar panel.

Lasting Art Lives on Raymar.

“Raymar’s Fabriano watercolor panels are perfect for my needs. I love Fabriano paper; it has a long history and was the choice of Michaelangelo. Combining it with an ACM panel continues that history and makes Raymar’s watercolor panels completely unique. The surface maintains the cold press texture I love, with a rigid support that doesn’t buckle. I thoroughly enjoy working on this new surface!” — Matthew Bird, artist

The surface tooth of the Fabriano paper grabbed the paint as you would expect, and I was able to create lovely textures in the wood, cork and burlap.

During the initial background washes, working heavily wet into wet, there was no buckling or deformation, the surface remained wonderfully flat.

I glazed the glass surfaces with many layers, building up the proper values, while the reflections were lifted out and controlled with ease.

Matthew Bird, Beer and Pretzels, watercolor on Raymar’s Fabriano Artistico Panel, 20 x 16" (51 x 41 cm)