Brush Up Paper? What's that all about?

Has anyone ever used this product? I saw it on SF and thought it was probably what I need to practice my strokes without wasting paint or dirtying brushes, but like most things, I'm wary of spending moulah on something that I can find a substitute for...especially at the current postage rates. I wish I'd known about the paper when I called in my first order there, then I could've asked more questions and had it lumped into my order. As it stands, I can't justify paying that much to ship a piece of paper if I'm not certain that it will be worth its weight in ...uh...paint.

Have any of you every used it? Is there a suitable substitute for it? I've asked at Joann Crafts, Michaels, and Pat Catans and I'm getting tired of people looking at me like I have my head screwed on backwards.

Thanks!

No idea... I'll have a look...

Yeah, okay... just paint with water on a brown paper bag or piece of brown wrapping paper... same thing.

Honestly, the things people will charge other people for!!!

I'm new to this in away...I fear I may fall for some of that! I'm so glad that I decided to jump in and ask. I thought that it might be something that I could do on regular dark paper, but the pictures look so pretty on the advert for the paper... Thank you for pulling me back from the ledge! Money isn't exactly easy to come by, you know?

So, the brown paper bag huh? I think I have those... who woulda thunk it?!

I was going to suggest brown paper also. Shannon is right. When you slap "face painting" on some things the price goes up. Not to encourage you to spend money, but for me, the proface head and pad were invaluable when I started. I haven't used it in quite a while and it isn't great for blending, but for line work and planning faces, it rocks.

Your thighs will work well, giving you a large surface are and the ability to practice blending as well. Use the worst color in your palette as opposed to black, white and red.

Let us know how you make out.

Thanks Metina...and you're right...my thighs will give me a large surface to work with...but...how did YOU know that?

Because we ALL have large thighs!! It's the law!!

Home at last!! lol!

Shannon Fennell wrote:Because we ALL have large thighs!! It's the law!!

Now I know why!!!!!!!!!!

You know, we wouldn't have such problems with more women in politics....
Do you think a woman president would stand for mandatory thunder thighs?
Fertility spertility! When I had my son, I was a hipless, thighless waif...when I had my daughter 8 years later I was knocking things off of any table I walked pass. I don't see how curves signify anything other than a larger pant size

Hehe...I stole my kids 'Aqua Doodle' pad and did stroke work. Obviously you can't paint and blend...but for doing curls and swirls, dots and stripes it works great...and Tribals!

Just a brush and water. It goes away when it dries and then you have a fresh new surface again.

Water activated papers to practice work really well.
But honestly, nothing is as good as really using your paint and practicing on your arm or leg. You have to know how your chosen brand of paint works with the brush you like. If you think paint is too expensive to practice with, think of it in terms of the better paying gig you'll secure by having improved with true strokework.

Sweet Loretta

And use the colours you know you never use anyway =)

Like light grey and maroon and beige... !!

Thanks for that little tidbit ladies...
I was definitely of the "too expensive" school of thought! While I use the Maroon for my son's School logo, I have other colors I think I'll "sacrifice" for my cause!

BTW...
Shannon,
I received your book today and it is brilliant! I love it and so does my 5 year old who had it much of the day. The timing couldn't be more perfect as I am on vacation in a hotel and I have nothing but time to pore over every word and detail! Thanks for the edu-ma-cation!

Have fun!!

Update:

After discovering a severe deficit of brown paper bags in my house, I took a trip to the local craft store with a framing shop thinking to buy some construction paper to practice on. I came across a cart full of framing mat castoffs that were clearance priced! So I grabbed a 11 x 17 sheet of matte mat board and paid a whopping $1 for it! It has been wonderful! My practice water strokes show up perfectly and then soakes into the core...no warping or anything. I've used it every other day for the past few days and it's as good as new everytime! I love that it's so big that I can practice in a different spot everytime!

I even taught my daughter how to do some brush strokes on it without having to worry about getting paint everywhere. No she prefers the board to painting with colors on paper...she thinks it's so cool the way the water just disappears!