I'm pretty green with portraits, so I haven't experimented much yet. I made my first one in April from a pattern Old Crow did for me. This one makes my 3rd to-date. I made the pattern myself this time around. The paper I use now is 12x12" sheets from a scrapbook store. They claim it to be acid free archival paper that shouldn't fade, but who knows. I'll have to give Black Felt at try. Seems like it would be a deeper, more rich black color.