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Keep fingers clean: pick up tortillas or mixed tree stumps to mix, soften and apply your creative marks. These hand tools are made of paper that is compacted and shaped into a pencil-like design. They look similar but are used for different effects. The most common are drying media such as charcoal, graphite, and pastels. Tortillas are hollow, have a pointed end, and are shorter, lighter, and less smooth than hybrid stumps; it is perfect for applications that require precision and can create interesting textures. The mixing pile is a sturdy tool with pointed ends, perfect for smooth mixing; it can be cleaned and sanded with sandpaper. Use our favorite products below to explore the characteristics of both.
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ARTNEWS recommends Pro Art Blending Paper Stumps. Maybe it is paper type or specific manufacturing technology, but for some reason, Taiwan's blending stumps are considered by many artists to be the best. These are made of gray felt paper, soft but tightly wound to form dense and strong stumps. Even under considerable pressure, the tip can remain sharp and resist bending. Of course, you can use them with dry media, but they are also suitable for oily materials (such as crayons) and even fluid media (such as Gamsol or wet watercolor pencils). They are sold in medium (a pack of three) or large (two packs). Purchase: Pro Art Blending Paper Stumps for $1.99
We also like the Jack Richeson hybrid Tortillon stump. This option offers three sizes of hybrid stumps, making it an excellent basic set for most needs. Also made of soft gray felt paper, these are sturdy tree stumps that can withstand multiple uses. Even when used with acrylic, watercolor or oil paints, their tips will not break, but they are easy to sand with sandpaper. Richeson's products are second only to Pro Art's stumps. Purchase: Jack Richeson Blending Tortillon Stumps $9.38
Another good option is Artist's Loft Mixed Stumps and Tortillas. This option offers mixed stumps and tortillas in a convenient package. You can get a wide variety of tools: four tree stumps in four sizes and six tortillas in three sizes. Diversity means you will be able to integrate a larger area. The stump has a very smooth tip to prevent scratches on the paper, and each tool can maintain its structure well unless you are very clumsy. Purchase: Artist's Loft Blending Stumps & Tortillons for $6.99
Can you also consider the creative mark giant rice paper mixed tree stump looking for giant tree stumps? Creative Mark made a one-inch wide tree stump, which is perfect for mixing large areas. Made of soft rice paper, rolled into a solid spire, suitable for all dry media, this stump will not polish the surface of the paper. It can be cleaned by lightly sanding. Purchase: Creative Mark Jumbo Rice Paper Mixed Stump $10.99
Top Caran d'Ache Hybrid Pile Caran d'Ache Hybrid Pile is very expensive for paper hand tools, but these gadgets are the densest on the market and can be used for a long time. Their tips are very rounded, forming a very smooth contact point for precise and consistent blending, and their shape remains for a long time. When the prompt really needs to be refreshed, you can use sandpaper or simply use an ordinary pencil sharpener to complete it. In other words, this is a tree stump that you can continue to return to while spending very little time on maintenance. Purchase: Caran d'Ache Blending Stump for $4.85
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