Canson, Moulin du Roy
På Svenska
The watercolor paper Moulin du Roy from Canson was introduced in 2014, but just a few years later, it disappeared and was replaced by Heritage. Many watercolor artists who had come to love Moulin du Roy were naturally disappointed, but I never painted on the paper myself. However, a few years ago, the production of Moulin du Roy was resumed—this time by the English paper manufacturer St. Cuthberts Mill.
It is claimed to be the same paper with an identical manufacturing process. The name of the paper remains Canson, Moulin du Roy despite the new manufacturer. However, the new paper lacks deckled edges and a watermark and is offered at a fairly affordable price.
The paper is available in hot-pressed and cold-pressed surfaces, but there is no rough grain option. (The older paper from Canson was also available in rough grain.) It is only produced in a thickness of 300 gsm. You can buy it in blocks (but only in sizes A3, A4, and A5) as well as in loose sheets measuring 56ˣ76 cm (22×30 inches).
The paper is sized both on the surface and within the pulp using a synthetic sizing agent, not gelatin, making it suitable for vegans.
It is this new Moulin du Roy from St. Cuthberts Mill that I have painted on and tested. I do not know what characteristics the original paper had or if the new one is different in any way, or if it is truly identical, as claimed.
I have read reviews of the old paper from Canson. Many complained that only the front side was sized, while the back was like blotting paper with no sizing at all—something that does not apply to the paper from St. Cuthberts Mill, which has the same sizing on both sides.
Furthermore, several people felt it was too heavily sized, making it unusable until treated with water. This also differs from the new paper from St. Cuthberts Mill, which is absorbent even without pre-treatment. So, even though I have not painted on the original Canson paper, I think it is reasonable to assume that it is not identical to the new one from St. Cuthberts Mill.
After several paintings on the paper from St. Cuthberts Mill, I have concluded that it does not suit my way of painting with watercolor. The paper is absorbent and should work well for wet-on-wet techniques, but the liquid sits on the surface for a while and, once absorbed, dries rather quickly.
Once water or paint has been absorbed and no longer shines on the surface, you must stop painting wet-on-wet or accept a blotchy result. That critical phase, which many good papers have—where the paper is almost dry but not completely, allowing for delicate wet-on-wet details—does not exist with this paper. Once the paper has absorbed the moisture and turned matte, you must stop painting, or the result will be blotchy.
The paper is very stable and handles all types of masking without issues. It also withstands scrubbing and scraping without disintegrating or tearing. Lifting dried paint with a damp brush is also possible, making this paper ideal if you like making corrections and adjustments afterward.
I can imagine that the paper works well for careful painting—small areas with a limited amount of water perform excellently, but with abundant water, the results are more uncertain.
If you prefer paper that enhances granulating and staining colors, you might want to avoid Moulin du Roy, as it does not do such colors justice. Colors appear somewhat muted and subdued on this paper.
A paper that works well for delicate watercolor painting, likely suited for illustration and botanical subjects. Artists in these fields praise the paper, while others are more skeptical, and some are outright hostile toward Moulin du Roy.
Summary
I generally avoid this type of watercolor paper. I do not like its inability to handle large amounts of water and paint. It has a very stable surface that withstands rough treatment. Lifting dried paint is surprisingly easy. However, the results tend to be somewhat pale and lacking in contrast. If you paint carefully and with control, it is probably perfect, but if you prefer a more expressive and wet approach, this paper is not ideal.
If you would like to buy the paper, the best shop for watercolor artists in Sweden is Jackson’s Art, as the paper is hard to find at Swedish retailers.
Name: Canson, Moulin du Roy
Manufacturer: St. Cuthberts Mill
Manufacturing method: Mould-made
Material: 100% cotton
Sizing: Internal and surface sizing
Surface: Cold-pressed and hot-pressed
Thickness: 300g/m² – 140lb
Color: Natural white
