Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper Review

Many artists, myself included, enjoy the challenge of trying new things. 2015 seems to be my year of that. I knew going into the year thanks to my brief jump into pen and ink that I wanted to stay with colored pencil art. What I didn't know, however, was whether or not I wanted to stick with the paper I had been using (Arches Hot Press Watercolor) or even the pencils (Prismacolor). 

I decided to start with Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper. I had heard it reviewed before and actually had a nice stockpile of it from a few years ago, though I never tried it before this project. Colourfix is a basic watercolor paper with an acrylic primer (the bonus being that it's lightfast). Most importantly, the paper is durable, which is vital for me and my heavy hand. While browsing references for my previous piece, I found one that would translate wonderfully onto the Colourfix. 

First off, I have to say that I love textured paper (hence my choice in Watercolor Paper). Colourfix, though, is probably a little too textured for my taste, though it took the color wonderfully. There are two papers from my experience that are the most comparable to it: a sandpaper I used years and years ago with pastel and Cold Press Watercolor Paper. It was textured enough that I had a difficult time pushing the color around on the paper to blend. However, the paper takes abuse like none other. I used Prismacolor Pencils with this piece, and I really felt they worked well with the paper as the paper almost completely eliminated the waxy "bloom" that is so characteristic of Prismacolors. I finished off the wood grain with some white gel pen. I was pleased that I had enough texture on the paper after burnishing that the paper had no problem accepting the gel. 

​So the question is will I use this paper again? Probably. I would be interested in knowing how it takes other pencil brands. Will I make it my paper of choice? Most likely not. It was way too textured, and while I liked the layers it took, I felt it wasn't worth how quickly I burned through the pencils. 

"Hope."
9x12" Prismacolor Pencil & White Gel Pen on Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper.
Reference by Photos by Jacklynn Matthews. Used with Permission. 

Note on the piece: The name "Hope" struck me as fitting for some reason. I came to find out later that the horse in the reference died after the woman who owned him had to sell him. It was such a sad story, but it made the name of the piece so meaningful.