Raymar’s mission and passion is to make the finest quality art panels for professional artists. Since 1998, Raymar remains dedicated to the craft of fine art materials. A second-generation family business of artists, Raymar knows quality materials are essential to advance an artist’s work and their latest Watercolor Aluminum Panels are no exception.
Raymar’s hot press watercolor aluminum (ACM) panels are a dream come true for artists. The panels are crafted with the finest Fabriano Artistico 140 lb, mould-made paper from Italy. The paper is mounted to Raymar’s rigid ACM panels (aluminum composite material) with a conservator’s grade pH neutral adhesive. The result is an archival watercolor support that does not warp or buckle.
The ultrasmooth hot press surface allows for artwork with a high level of detail. Ideal for all water media, printmaking, digital printing, ink, charcoal, graphite, pastel and drawing. Plus, once varnished the finished artwork can be framed without glass. With more sizes available than watercolor pads or sheets, art is limitless on a Raymar panel. —
I toned the entire surface with powdered charcoal and a brush, the smooth hot press surface takes the charcoal beautifully. I then blocked in the face by lifting out the charcoal with a chamois and revealing the white of the paper to create the light areas of the face.
Using vine and compressed charcoal which adheres to this surface excellently, I created anchor points to the features and established the structure of the face further while simultaneously erasing out the highlight to create luminosity and form.
At this point I have layered with charcoal pencils to add variation of texture throughout the drawing. I love how this panel can hold both a soft or textured mark equally well. Even in the late stages of the drawing, I am still able to erase out the highlights and pull forth the full vibrancy of the initial light of the paper.
Michelle Dunaway, Portrait of H. Lyon, charcoal drawing, Raymar Hot Press Watercolor Aluminum Panel, 20 x 16"