Established Style vs. Personal Style

A 1980s Curtis Linen Artist Portfolio

May 12, 2026

When Curtis Papers Inc., an American paper producer, wanted to launch new colours and double-sided two-colour “duplex combinations” of its Curtis Linen line in the mid-80s, they chose to produce a folio of five artist’s work to highlight the paper’s uses.

Each of the five, very different artists provided two works for the folio: one in their “established style” and one in their “personal style.” These were then printed on the duplex combination paper (basically a thicker stock with a subtle linen-like ground, with different colours on each side), to illustrate how these papers “give you more ways than ever to express your most imaginative ideas.” The artist’s papers are graduated in size, so that they nestle beautifully within the folder.

The artists include a computer artist/illustrator, a photographer, a typographer, a satirical illustrator, and an illustrator/graphic designer. It’s a rather motley group. I came across this folio as I have interviewed two of the artists for my podcast previously, and love their work. Curtis Papers closed in 2003, so I haven’t been able to discover much more about this project, but as corporate projects go, I always welcome ones that highlight artists.

The top image for each artist is their “established style” with the bottom, their “personal style.”