Best art paper according to redditors

As others have mentioned, the glassine bags are regional. I don't believe anyone has mentioned yet though that the other reason, beyond the branded stamp, that they're sometimes referred to as stamps or stamp bags is that their intended use is for just that -- postage stamps. You can get a better look at them, unfolded, on this amazon listing.

If you've ever bought rare stamps from a dealer usually a single stamp will come in one of these sized bags. Multiples will be in larger ones. They're literally just like waxed paper bags though.

Where I live in Canada it is never sold like this. H always comes in mini zip bags or in folded up pieces of paper referred to as "flaps".

Edit: oops, looks like u/DeeboComin beat me to the punch with the postage stamp info. Sorry!

Maruman makes a paper that is supposed to be "foldable" ruled paper to fit a B5 binder, but when it's unfolded, it's B4 size. I haven't used this paper, but I have used other Maruman products and never been displeased with their stuff.

JetPens has it w/ US shipping, or if you have a Kinokuniya bookstore near you, they carry Maruman products there.

Otherwise, the next closest within US availability: graph paper, but to eliminate all the horrific garbage you've probably been encountering, it has to be clearly marked on the packaging as having "non-photo" or "non-reproducible" grids. This means markings will be faint, and also means the paper will not suck because it's being marketed to artists and for drafting purposes. It will also come in sizes larger than Letter. Brands that will fulfill all of this include Bienfang, Staedtler, Alvin, and Canson. You may be able to find Bienfang at crafting stores, Staedtler I have seen in the drafting section of office supply stores, Alvin and Canson, you'll more than likely have to find at an art/architectural supply store, or via the internet.

See also, thicker vellum paper is made with non-repro grid lines, and comes in a huge variety of sizes including rolls that can be cut to size ...but...that is probably overkill as the last time I used a giant sheet of vellum was in perspective class to create the perfect drafted drawing, not as a notebook. (they do sell vellum notebooks but, they're tiny )

Based off of my own experience... see if you can find a physical shop instead. Ordering online is going to be somewhat iffy. Sets are almost always tourist traps with low-quality brushes and ink, made more to be seen than to be used. I would suggest buying the equipment separately and packaging them up yourself.

So! Actual stuff:

• Paper: Rice paper, full stop. Something like this would work - Japanese and Chinese calligraphy share tools, so it doesn't really matter if you use one or the other. Gridded paper would also be nice.
  
  
• Ink: Get black sumi ink, which should be available at art supply shops as well as online. I recommend the bottled stuff to begin with, because it's just so much less of a hassle than trying to get the appropriate level of thickness if you're grinding an inkstick. If you do decide to get an ink stick, be sure to get an ink stone as well. I prefer the rectangular ones, but that's personal preference. You add a little water on the deep end, then dip the end of your inkstick in the water and grind on the flat portion at the top until the ink is as thick as you want.
  
  
• Brush: I'd say a medium sized wolf or goat hair brush, like this one.
  
  
• Other nice things: something like this practice book might be nice. Look for water-based practice sheets - the idea is you write over it in water, let it dry, and then you can reuse it. From my brief look at the preview, this book looks decent and also has good reviews. I like its stroke-by-stroke breakdown with examples.
  
  One thing's for sure - if your boyfriend isn't already learning the language, it will kick his ass, because the writing system is just so different. If he's not learning the language, he will also be limited to whatever words come in the instruction book, because it's not like in alphabets where if you know all 26/52 symbols you can write what you want. Each character is unique, and though there's a standard stroke order, you have to just be able to recognise the character in order to write it.
  
  Learning Chinese calligraphy from written sources is going to be hard. If at all possible, see if your local area offers Chinese calligraphy classes for beginners. It really, really helps to have a teacher who can correct your brushwork. A lot of the expressiveness and beauty of Chinese calligraphy IMO comes from understanding what it is that you're writing, and how it should look proportionally, and these things are hard to understand just by reading.

Understood. I was in a similar situation and for what I wanted I couldn't find it available so I did my own thing. Have a gander here.

About the dot pad, I would have suggested that but I don't think the pitch of the dots is narrow enough for what you described. I would have suggested a 0.1" vellum graph pad but you said the grid was too distracting.

Wish you luck in finding "just the right fit." :-)

That's an awesome gift! They must feel very happy to your kind present.

There are not so many medieval-looking notebooks out there. You can find a few on Amazon with the keyword "medieval notebook." But paper quality is questionable on those products. If you have no other options but these, then you have to be careful on your ink choices. Iron-gall inks tend to feather less and behave well on cheap papers. Check out Platinum Classic inks. They are iron-gall and perhaps the vintage sepia green/black/brown color you are looking for.

(EDIT: sorry, forgot that the notebook must be vegan. But inks should be alright.)

Platinum Classic ink series: https://www.jetpens.com/search?q=platinum+classic&v=2

My idea is: how about using a parchment? What I know is that J.Herbin and other manufacturers sell parchments at reasonable prices. This way you will waste less papers than using a notebook.

Here's one I just found on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Southworth-Parchment-8-5x11-Sheets-984C/dp/B00006IE2D/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1503235181&sr=8-17&keywords=parchment

Reviews say this is suitable for fountain pens. This is not real parchment so it might be okay?

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Parchment-Illuminated-Manuscript-Quality/dp/B00NOFJGGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503235535&sr=8-1&keywords=genuine+parchment

Unlike the one above this seems like a genuine one. (It may not be okay for vegans.) Wonder if it would work with a dip pen? If anybody has an experience with a genuine parchment, please leave your thoughts here :D

Hope this helped!

What sort of question is that?

You don't say what sort of financial plan this is, or why the type of paper matters. 20-pound bond? Archival vellum?
Papyrus?

I use this 11x17 design vellum. You can draw/illustrate directly onto it, or take it to a copy shop and have them run it through their laser (the sheet is tabloid size).

Clearprint 10001416 Design Vellum Paper, 16lb, White, 11 x 17, 50 Sheets/Pad (CHA10001416) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024I7M8E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JKBAxbEHFF3H1

If you draw on it, go over illustration with an opaque marker.

I've burned screens with this using both methods with good results. Simple shapes to halftones, using my 500watt worklamp. It is transparent enough to flip it backwards on the screen for the burn. I just put a sheet of non-uv protecting glass over it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KHADI-HARDBACK-BOOK-White-Rough/dp/B002UJXE3Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=khadi+handmade+paper+sketchbook&qid=1564260063&s=kitchen&sr=1-4-catcorr

http://www.amazon.com/CLEAR-INKJET-Translucent-Vellum-Paper/dp/B0072IJOUA

Something like these. It was at walmart, and came with about 15 sheets a pack. Make sure you use white if you try it.

Well 1st off they can be manufactured legal without having a need to give to anyone on why they are being made. I own a few different little businesses and when I registered my companies I have never once been asked the reason I’m doing the business and if I was asked I would tell them to pack sand unless it falls under certain laws. Now when you do register a business you do have to put down or select what type of business the wax bags would more than likely fall under manufacturing and that would be all that’s needed.

This is America bro you have an idea that you think will work then you go for it, there are numerous reason for those bags, they are just know as the dope bags, not sure why I’m even wasting my time explaining this as there isn’t anything illegal about manufacturing those bags, it is not no small underground businesses making these, it is large companies that mass produce those.

Here check it out

https://www.etsy.com/listing/606478939/25-mm-vellum-glassine-wax-stamp-baggies?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-craft_supplies_and_tools-storage_and_organization-other&utm_custom1=087b477c-4ffb-4ae7-9896-14997db86b2e&gclid=Cj0KCQjwidPcBRCGARIsALM--eNRd2BWVf5emUc4uGIhNJihaP45QCjw6uT9RuSwKUnEhyYMissManYaAjPUEALw_wcB

They are also available on Amazon in bulk that comes pre stamped and are sold to store stamps or small candies, my guess is they are mass produced in China

https://www.amazon.com/Vellum-Glassines-Stamp-Bags-Choose/dp/B00JS5UR6U/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_229_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G2C5JM95FF4NGC59NZGJ