I was turned onto Arches 88 paper a couple of years ago for graphite drawing and absolutely love it for drawing landscapes and trees. However I'm currently working on a commissioned portrait on it and discovered halfway through that an area of the surface has slightly fuzzed up, which causes ugly black specks in the drawing where the fuzz grabs more graphite. If it was only a few specks I could easily dab them off with a kneaded rubber eraser pinched to a tiny point. But we're talking about many dozens. It makes my subject appear as if he has acne on his neck or a lot of dark freckles! If I hold the paper up to a strong light I can see that the fuzz is even worse in an area I haven't reached yet. Is there some way I can make the surface plate-smooth again? Or must I bin this portrait and start all over with some other paper? I always keep a sheet of paper under my hand as I'm drawing, so if that is what fuzzed the surface then it is delicate, indeed.

Hi Denise,

Arches 88 is a beautiful paper, but it is also one of the most delicate papers and is prone to scuffing and piling as it has no sizing whatsoever.

For drawing applications we recommend a paper with sizing and is more durable, such as:

Stonehenge
http://www.legionpaper.com/stonehenge

Coventry
http://www.legionpaper.com/coventry-rag

Lenox
http://www.legionpaper.com/lenox-100

Hope this helps.

We'd also like to talk to you further about the paper you're using. Can you send us your contact number to info [at] legionpaper dot com?

thanks