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I'm halfway through a block of Fabriano Artistico cold press, 140lb, that I've used for years without complaint. But this particular block, purchased six weeks ago from a reputable supplier, is remarkably inconsistent. Sheet one took the wash beautifully, exactly what I expect. Sheet three had a mystery spot that resisted pigment entirely, as if there were silicone or grease contamination in the pulp. Sheet five is almost too absorbent, pulling colour down into the fibres faster than I can lay it in, which is not characteristic of this paper at all. I'm working on a Passiflora study that needs clean, even washes for the corona filaments, and I cannot trust what each sheet will do. I've considered whether it's humidity in my studio, but nothing else in my practice has changed. Has anyone else noticed a drop in consistency from Fabriano recently, or did I simply draw the unlucky block?

I've been using Arches 140lb cold press for nearly twenty years. It was reliable. You knew what you were getting. That block of paper I opened this morning has sizing so uneven the paint is pooling in patches on the first three sheets. I'm not talking about a minor inconsistency. I'm talking about washes that lay down flat in one area and bead up like wax in another. I wrote to them a few months ago about a different batch and got a polite form letter suggesting I might be using too much water. Which, no. I know how much water I'm using. I've been doing this long enough to know the difference between a technique problem and a materials problem. I've already switched to Fabriano Artistico for my commission work. I didn't want to. I liked Arches. But I can't keep fighting the paper. If anyone else has noticed this I'd be curious, though I suspect most people just adapt and don't say anything.