This is a big, versatile pad of art paper at a great price. The Talens Cool-Toned Mixed Media Pad includes 50 sheets of heavyweight mixed media paper (this paper weighs in at 120#, just a bit less than watercolor paper.)

Cool-toned white paper makes up the largest portion of the pad, with attractive grey, dark blue, and denim blue paper rounding out the collection.

We tested our Talens Cool-Toned Pad with a huge list of mixed-media favorites, and almost everything worked perfectly. Fountain pens, gel pens, rollerballs, pencils, etc. all work great, as do dry media like charcoal and pastel. Ink pens move smoothly along this light-textured paper.

We even applied gouache and acrylic, which did cause some warping but didn't damage the paper or bleed through. We do not recommend this paper for watercolor or water-based ink, because the surface is too absorbent and will soak up these media, causing bleedthrough and diminished saturation.

The Italian-made paper stock contains 15% cotton rag, for strength and softness, plus 20% recycled paper and 65% new cellulose pulp. It is made with hydropower and it carries the FSC-Mix certification for sustainable forestry. It's pulp-dyed (the color is the same inside the sheet) so you can tear and cut this paper for craft projects.

Each pad is glue-bound on the long edge. A4 size (8.3" x 11.7"). 50 sheets per pad. Made in Italy.

ABOUT ROYAL TALENS

2024 marks the 125th anniversary of Royal Talens, one of the world's great color houses and one of the Netherlands' great cultural exports of the last century. Founded in Apeldoorn in 1899, Talens has never abandoned its hometown — instead, the company has built larger, safer, more advanced factories there as they've grown.

By 1949, Talens was already an iconic Dutch brand. The company had successfully rebuilt its factory after the destruction of World War II and the country's occupation. Queen Wilhelmina was an avid painter and used Talens products every day. In commemoration of Talens' cultural importance, she gave the company the right to call itself "Royal."

Today, Royal Talens paints are found in fine art supplies in every corner of the world. Known for their reliable, consistent quality, Talens colors have been used in countless great works of art — and in countless home studios and classrooms, too.