Unconventional Reviews (part one)

Hello Berries!

Unconventional Reviews are a genre of review invented by our very own Raspberry, Beatrix. The topics of review can range from the serious and useful to the silly and unorthodox. This month, two Raspberries (Noelle and Amelia) wrote a professional perspective on straws and an unprofessional perspective on watercolour paper.

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A Non-Professional Perspective on Watercolour Paper

Amelia Watford

If there is one thing that my professor stressed to me during my “Introduction to Watercolour” course, it’s that the quality of paper will help determine the outcome of your painting. 

To put it into perspective, imagine a baker wanting to make an exquisite cake. They have the idea in their head for what they want the cake to look like, and they make the batter perfectly using all their finest tips and tricks. But then they realize that they don’t have the right cake pan. Sure, they could bake the cake on a sheet pan and it would still turn out tasty, but it wouldn’t look the way they want it to. The cake pan provides structure for the cake, the same way that watercolour paper provides the artist with a foundation for their painting. 

Throughout the twelve-week class, I worked with many different types of paper, learning the differences between brands, presses, and weights. For this “Unconventional Review,” I would like to discuss three of my favourite papers that I worked with, from the perspective of a non-professional. 

But before I start, here are some quick definitions: 

• Arches and Fabriano: Two brands of paper.

• Lbs (pounds): The measurement for the weight of the paper, which determines the thickness, durability, and feel of the stock. The measurement is based on the weight of 500 standard sheets (a ream) of that stock. For example, a regular sheet of copy paper has a measurement of 20 lbs. The higher the weight, the better the quality of the paper will be. 

• Pressing (cold or hot): A method that determines the texture of the paper. Cold-pressed paper is toothy (textured), whereas hot-pressed paper is smooth. Both types of paper can be good depending on the project you want to work on, but generally, a toothier paper works best for watercolour.

• Wash: A thin, even layer of watercolour paint that helps determine the quality of the paper. If the paper takes a wash smoothly and doesn’t dry unevenly, you know you are working with high-quality paper. 

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Okay, now onto the exciting discussions of paper. 

1. Arches, 300 lbs cold-pressed paper 

This paper is the crème de la crème. The absolute best of the best. It’s thick, durable, and perfectly textured. To bring back the baker/cake analogy, this is a commercial grade, heavy duty cake pan that would make even the worst cake batter cook well.

I have only used this paper a few times because one sheet of 22” x 30” paper is around $30 CAN, but I loved it for the way that the wet paints glided on its surface and dried with saturation. 

If you’re a complete beginner to watercolour paper, I’d recommend using this paper for bigger projects, but only after you’ve practiced with the other two papers I mention below, to avoid wasting money. 

2. Arches, 140 lbs cold-pressed paper 

140 lbs paper is a more standard weight for watercolour paper. This is like the typical 9” x 9” cake pan that humble bakeries use. I use it for both sketches and bigger projects. Compared to the 300 lbs, it’s thinner and less durable, but has a similar texture that’s lovely to paint on. It takes a wash well, although the colour doesn’t dry as bright as it does on 300 lbs sheets. 

Price-wise, it’s about $12 CAN for a 22” x 30” inch sheet, which is an average price for a good piece of watercolour paper. 

3. Fabriano, 140 lbs cold-pressed paper sketchbook 

I use Fabriano paper for sketching. Returning to the metaphor, I think it would be like a small muffin tin that a baker would use to test out different cake batters. This paper is perfect for quick studies where you only add a few layers of paint. In my experience though, it is hard to use for big projects, as it doesn’t take multiple washes well because the colour dries unevenly. 

The price reflects the quality of this paper, as you can get a 40-page 8” x 8” sketchbook for around $12 CAN.

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Every artist will have a different taste for their paper, just like every baker has a different cake pan they like to use. If you’re just getting into watercolour, it’s important to try out multiple different types of paper, as different paper gives different results. 

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A Professional Perspective on Straws

Noelle Suzuki

One thing about me is I will always have a straw on hand. The straw is what can make or break both the taste and experience of enjoying a beverage—whether you’re battling with a paper straw as it dissolves between your lips and turns into the drink itself, or fighting with a metal straw that you keep accidentally biting and giving yourself a toothache. Whatever texture, shape, feeling, or form, all straws are extremely prominent in our day-to-day lives. Well, at least in mine. So, I thought, Who better to critique the good, the bad, and the ugly about straws than the straw-enthusiast herself?

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6. The Plastic StrawI have little to say on this straw, but I do have to mention, SAVE THE DAMN SEA TURTLES. For me at least, the life of baby turtles mean more than having an ever-so-slightly-cheaper-and-maybe-more-comfortable route of administrating a drink into my mouth. 

5. The Paper StrawComing in close to plastic straws comes paper straws. They dissolve in your mouth and flake into a million pieces, adding an ever-so-slight sprinkle of what tastes like dirt onto your drink. And yet, my least favourite part about paper straws is that they’re so bad, they’re making people switch right back to plastic straws.

4. The Glass Straw The glass straw is elegant. She is classy. She is chic. She wants to be your favourite. There’s something quite satisfying about sipping a drink through a perfectly clear tube, watching the liquid travel upward like a science experiment that you actually care about. Glass straws are easy to clean, reusable, and aesthetically pleasing.

However—the anxiety. One wrong move, one distracted bite, and suddenly you’re imagining a dental surgery or a visit to the Emergency Room because there is literal glass inside your mouth. While glass straws may be beautiful, they demand a level of focus and trust that I simply do not care to possess.

3. The Metal StrawMetal straws are glass straws’ tougher, louder, more resilient cousin. These straws are durable, reusable, and, of course, environmentally responsible. In theory, they are the bee’s knees. In practice, they are sensory’s worst nightmare. 

Biting down on a metal straw feels similar to having your soul briefly exit your body. The metallic taste, the temperature shock, the clang against your teeth—all deeply unsettling. Metal straws may mean well, but they don’t hesitate to punish you for your mistakes. So, if you want your beverage to be forgiving, I wouldn’t recommend the metal straw (or the glass straw for that matter).

2. The Bamboo Straw Bamboo straws solidly land in second place for a few reasons. Not only are they biodegradable and reusable, but surprisingly, they are quite durable. They feel both natural and earthy, like you are one with nature, which I absolutely love in a straw—or anything for that matter.

With that said, bamboo straws do come with an inevitable minor flaw. They absorb flavours over time which could cause your water to taste ever so slightly like the smoothie you had three days ago. Nevertheless, bamboo straws strike a near-perfect balance between sustainability and comfort. A respectable and grounded choice. 

1. The Silicone StrawThe silicone straw is a clear winner. Flexible, soft, and forgiving. This straw understands what the people need. Silicone straws don’t punish you for biting down, nor do they dissolve mid-sip, or threaten your dental health. Instead, they reward you during that bite. They bend, they adapt, they care. 

Silicone straws are reusable, safe, easy to clean, and can come in all different shapes, sizes, and patterns that can match any outfit you wear. They’re also more accessible, including for people with sensory sensitivities and mobility concerns. These straws offer the perfect drinking experience without fear, guilt, shame, or compromise. 

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Allas, straws are not just accessories. Straws are an extension of your drinking experience. The wrong straw can ruin a perfectly good beverage, whilst the right one can elevate it entirely. As a devoted straw enthusiast, I stand firmly by my rankings. Choose wisely, try not to bite down on straws three or four, and please, I am begging you, try to keep the turtles alive.

Sidenote: Edible straws should not exist and for that, they do not exist in my review.