Vallis Clausa
På SvenskaThere are small local paper mills that make fine paper, and some even make watercolor paper. The papers are often a bit special and have different properties than ordinary papers from large manufacturers. I thought I’d write about some that I’ve found and bought in this and future posts
Vallis Clausa is a French fine paper mill. The paper mill was founded in 1973 in an attempt to keep alive a tradition of several hundred years of fine paper production in the region. During the 18th century there were 11 paper mills, already in the 16th century paper was made in the Vaucluse region. All these paper mills disappeared during the 20th century. In 1973, at the initiative of Jean Garcin to protect this cultural heritage, the last paper mill in Sorgue was renovated.
On the paper mill’s website there is a shop, they have a lot of white paper, in different sizes and thicknesses, which, among other techniques, are also stated to be suitable for watercolor. But they only have one paper specifically listed as watercolor paper. It was this paper that I bought.
The paper is only available in the sizes 25X33 cm (10X13 inches) and 33X50 cm (13X20 inches) in the thickness 300 gr/m² (140lb). The paper surface is listed as fine to medium, I would probably call it hot pressed (although the manufacturing method is not the same), the paper is very smooth.
It is not clear in the description what type of sizing is used, but traditionally it is gelatin that applies, so I assume that it is not a paper that vegans should use. Nor does it appear in the description whether it is provided with any sizing on the surface.
The paper is quite tightly pressed, which results in a smooth surface, therefore it has trouble handling a lot of water. When you apply paint liberally, it floats on the paper surface without being absorbed. Something that I tried to use to the advantage of the paintings.
Use this paper for restrained and careful painting if you want to achieve a predictable result. But that’s not my style of watercolor painting, so instead I tried to use copious amounts of water and paint. It works if you are not too concerned about the result, it is hard to know how a certain surface will behave if the paint flows on the surface, before it finally decides to stop.
As with any paper with a smooth surface, the paint does not stick very well, it is easy to lift it with a damp brush. The paper is therefore not suitable for glazing. Nor is it suitable for wet on wet, it is difficult to control how much the paint is transported in the wet surface.
For me, the paper is good for paintings in a freer style with only one layer of paint. It is a style of watercolor painting that I often advocate. The colors are most beautiful if they are painted liberally once, without overpainting.
The paintings I made on this paper I painted in this way: lots of color on large surfaces, no overpainting, I let the color flow and am surprised by the result. With this type of painting, the paper is an asset. As a paper for a more classic style, it works questionably.
But it is always nice to paint on a surface that is characterized by genuine craftsmanship and professional skill, so regardless of the paper’s qualities and weaknesses as a watercolor paper, it is a real paper, traditionally made by hand and from 100% cotton.
The paper is sold in the manufacturer’s shop only in packs of ten sheets, the price for 10 sheets is €37 for the small and €75.60 for the large paper. That makes the paper almost twice as expensive as Arches (in Sweden).
Is it worth the high price? Not really, it’s a hard to paint paper that lacks several qualities that distinguish a truly good watercolor paper.
But for the experienced watercolorist, with a need for challenges and who appreciates solid craftsmanship and genuine products, I recommend it.
It is a fun paper that is a joy to experiment with.
