Short Question about Paper- Traditional

[Heather Boyd]

So years of schooling has given me an excess of drawing and printing/watercolour paper but I’ve used them already and many are a ridiculously large size to frame.

My question is can I reuse them, ie whether cut them to common sizes and draw on the back or simply flip them over and do the same, and could I sell them? Paper quality is really nice, I don’t like to sell them as they are, nor do I want to throw them out. As a buyer would you care if there was another if not partial work on the back of a work you just bought? And if yes would I need to inform the buyer that there is work on the other side?

I would do this only up until I used up everything and then I would buy and use new paper.

Thanks

[DOTTYP]

@Heather-Boyd Maybe you could paint over the back in a plain colour /white it would then look more professional and as long as the original painting does not show through to the front

[Zachary Drenski]

I've actually heard of people buying used paper and using the back but I think it would have to be special paper or real cheap.

I have the same problem, paper with failed art attempts on one side. Some ideas for how to use the paper...
-thumbnailing
-sketchbooking
-finished art pieces (who cares what the back looks like, right?)
-lining your ferret cage
-creating traditional textures for digital use
-give away the old art as gifts
-taping up on your windows to block light
-color studies
-experimenting with mediums
-let a toddler draw on it
-make your own, new paper from it
-making confetti
-kindling

At least this is how I used up my old paper, minus the ferret cage.

[Coley]

I have a friend who cuts up or folds/creases/tears the paintings she isn't chuffed about into things like bookkmarks and gift tags. She uses them herself and also sells them too.

[sigross]

@Heather-Boyd pulp it and make posh papier-mâché. Then you could make a maquette or use for collage.

[arent-draper]

Seriously, I hear you!
How I handle it....is that I recycle as much as possible. Please believe me, I have a ton of art "wanna-a-be" art leftovers....Do I feel guilty? OH YES! So, I put my "learners" to good use and use the backs (if it turns out good and I want to sell it, I frame it and seal it)....the rest, I put in the recycle, if its not usable. and in truth, I am almost to the point of wanting to plant a tree to make up for my waste while learning.

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@Heather-Boyd This is just me tho. I would really prefer a new piece of good quality paper. I kinda feel like your cheaping out on me by reusing old paper. But then again this is me. Take this with a grain of salt.