Arches Velin BFK Rives Drawing & Calligraphy Paper
Arches Velin BFK Rives Drawing & Calligraphy Paper is a professional 100% cotton fine art paper renowned for its exceptional performance in drawing and calligraphy, while also serving as a trusted surface for printmaking. Mould-made using a traditional cylinder process at the historic ARCHES® mill in France, this 250 gsm sheet offers a beautifully balanced surface that captures delicate pen lines, expressive graphite marks, and detailed ink work with remarkable clarity.
Its subtle fine grain provides the ideal balance between smoothness and gentle tooth, making it a favourite among artists working in pencil, charcoal, pastel, and calligraphy. When used for printmaking, the paper’s strength and dimensional stability allow it to withstand repeated passes through the press while maintaining crisp detail.
- Paper Name: Arches Velin BFK Rives Drawing & Calligraphy Paper
- Paper Weight: 250 gsm
- Sheet Size: 22 × 30 in (56 × 76 cm)
- Colour: White
- Material Composition: 100% cotton
- Acidity: Acid-free with alkaline reserve
- Optical Brighteners: None
- Permanence Standard: ISO 9706 compliant
- Manufacturing Process: Cylinder mould made
- Surface Texture: Light fine grain
- Edges: Natural deckle edges
- Origin: Made in France
[+] The Creative Details: Performance & Feel (Click to Expand)
Arches Velin BFK Rives is widely considered one of the finest papers for drawing and calligraphy thanks to its beautifully balanced surface. The light fine grain offers just enough texture to hold graphite, charcoal, and pastel while remaining smooth enough for crisp ink lines, brush lettering, and calligraphic strokes.
Because the paper is made from 100% cotton fibres, it feels soft and supple while remaining extremely strong. Artists working with pencil, sanguine, graphite, felt pens, and calligraphy tools appreciate how the surface reveals subtle tonal transitions and delicate mark-making without feathering.
While beloved by illustrators and calligraphers, Velin BFK Rives is equally respected in professional printmaking studios. The cylinder mould manufacturing process distributes fibres evenly in all directions, producing a highly stable sheet that handles dampening and multiple press passes without distortion.
This stability allows the paper to perform beautifully with lithography, intaglio engraving, relief printing, linocut, screen-printing, and letterpress techniques. Printmakers often describe the sheet as having a natural “love of ink,” thanks to its lightly sized yet absorbent cotton surface.
The mould-made process also creates natural deckle edges — a hallmark of traditional fine art papers that gives prints and drawings an authentic, handcrafted character.
To expand your studio options, explore other Arches fine art papers or browse our collection of printmaking papers and blocks.
[+] Studio Guide: How to Use & Store (Click to Expand)
Drawing & Illustration: Ideal for graphite, charcoal, pastel, sanguine crayon, and felt-tip pen. The light grain helps artists build delicate shadows, tonal transitions, and expressive contrasts.
Calligraphy & Ink Work: The smooth yet stable surface allows controlled ink flow for brush lettering, dip pen calligraphy, and marker work while maintaining crisp edges.
Printmaking Techniques: Velin BFK Rives is suitable for lithography, intaglio engraving, relief printing, linocut, screen-printing, letterpress, embossing, and hot-foil stamping. Its dimensional stability allows repeated press runs.
Deckle Edge Presentation: Many artists choose to display the deckle edges when framing prints or drawings. The untrimmed edge adds an authentic handmade character to finished work.
Storage: Store sheets flat in a dry, stable studio environment. Cotton papers benefit from controlled humidity to maintain optimal flexibility.
Studio Tip for Ottawa Artists: During winter months, allow paper to acclimate to studio humidity before dampening for printmaking. Gradual acclimation helps maintain sheet stability.
[+] Artist FAQs: Your Questions Answered (Click to Expand)
Is Arches Velin BFK Rives good for drawing?
Yes. The light fine grain surface is especially suited for pencil, charcoal, pastel, and graphite.
Is this paper suitable for calligraphy and ink?
Yes. Its smooth cotton surface allows clean ink lines and controlled calligraphic strokes.
Can Velin BFK Rives also be used for printmaking?
Yes. It is widely used for lithography, intaglio engraving, relief printing, screen-printing, and letterpress.
What are deckle edges?
Deckle edges are natural irregular edges created during mould-made papermaking. They give the sheet a traditional handcrafted appearance.
Is this paper archival?
Yes. It is acid-free, contains an alkaline reserve, and includes no optical brightening agents.
What does ISO 9706 permanence mean?
This certification confirms the paper meets international archival permanence standards. It is suitable for long-term conservation of artwork.
What drawing materials work best on this paper?
Pencil, pastel, charcoal, sanguine crayon, graphite, felt pen, and calligraphy tools all perform well.
Is Velin BFK Rives the same as BFK Rives printmaking paper?
Yes. In North America it is often referred to simply as BFK Rives printmaking paper.