Best Paper For Pastel Pencils (2024 Update)
If you’re looking for the best paper for pastel pencils, it’s important to consider a few factors before making your purchase. First and foremost, you’ll want a paper that has a toothy texture that will hold the pastel well, but not too rough to cause the pencils to break. Additionally, you will want to consider the paper’s weight and color to ensure it’s suitable for your project.
When it comes to weight, thicker paper tends to be better since it can handle more layers of pastel without wrinkling. Lighter weight paper may work for some projects but is more likely to rip or tear. As for color, pastel pencils show best on mid-toned papers that allow for both light and dark shading. White paper may be too bright, while black paper may be too dark.
When choosing the best paper for your pastel pencils, ask yourself what type of project you plan on creating. Are you looking for a paper that will work well for portraits, landscapes, or still lifes? Do you want a paper with a specific texture or color? Are you on a tight budget, or are you willing to spend a bit more for higher quality? Considering these questions can help you make an informed decision and ultimately find the perfect paper for your pastel pencil artwork.
10 Best Paper For Pastel Pencils
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The product is ideal for those who want a wide variety of pastel colors in their art projects.
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The product is ideal for artists looking for high-quality, versatile and vibrant chalk-pastel pencils in a range of colors.
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Ideal for drawing and sketching with various mediums such as charcoal, colored pencil, ink, pastel, and marker.
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This product is ideal for dry and wet painting with pastels, pencils, and charcoal. It's a premium sanded paper for art supplies and craft paper.
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This tracing paper pad is ideal for preliminary drawing, overlay work, and using pencils, pens, markers, charcoal, and pastels.
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This product is ideal for creating dry media art such as oil pastel, pencil, and charcoal drawings by adults and students.
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This product is ideal for tracing, preliminary drawing, and overlaying with a variety of mediums such as pencils, markers, and pastels.
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The product is ideal for artists who use soft pastels, dry and wet painting techniques, acrylics, pencils, and charcoal.
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The product is ideal for creating art projects and drawings on paper with a variety of colors and textures.
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Ideal for artists and coloring enthusiasts with a range of 60 pastel colors to choose from.
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1. Cont Paris 2184 Pastel Pencils With 48 Colors, Colors May Vary
The Conte a Paris pastel pencil is a remarkable tool for artists seeking creative freedom and an unparalleled tactile experience. With a lead diameter of 5 mm, this pencil allows for effortless, precise strokes that make any creation a masterpiece.
Designed to complement soft pastels, the Conte pastel pencil features a slightly harder lead with less pigment, making it the ideal companion for artists who require details in their work. Unlike Conte soft pastels and crayons, the pastel pencil is perfect for small and medium-sized formats, allowing artists to focus on intricate details with clarity and ease.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner artist, the Conte a Paris pastel pencil is a must-have tool in your arsenal. With its exceptional diameter and unrivaled feel, this pencil provides a unique and enjoyable experience that will elevate your creativity to new heights. Don't settle for anything less than the best – choose the Conte a Paris pastel pencil for your next masterpiece.
2. Chalk-Pastel Pencil – Stabilo Carbothello – Arty+ – Tin Of 60 – Assorted Colors
The artist-grade charcoal pencils offer a unique and textured drawing experience with their charcoal-like feel. These pencils are equipped with highly pigmented colors that produce rich and bold lines, making them perfect for sketching, shading, and outlining. The 4.4 mm diameter lead ensures smooth and consistent coverage, allowing the artist to achieve desired results with ease.
These charcoal pencils are specifically designed to perform exceptionally well on dark or toned papers or surfaces. They are perfect for creating dramatic and moody artworks with deep contrast and dimension. The finished artwork can be preserved with a fixative, ensuring long-lasting results.
Whether you're a professional artist or an aspiring beginner, these charcoal pencils are a great addition to your art supplies. With their excellent quality and performance, they are sure to elevate your artwork to the next level.
3. Artistic Expression: Strathmore 300 Drawing Pad
Introducing a high-quality drawing paper for students, perfect for final artwork – the Student Grade Drawing Paper. This paper is specially designed to cater to the needs of students who are into pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, and sketching stick applications, and can also be used for marker, mixed media, soft pastel, and oil pastel.
The Student Grade Drawing Paper boasts a medium surface that is acid-free and has a weight of 70 lb./ 114 gsm, making it an ideal choice for students looking for a durable paper to use for their final artwork. This paper's medium surface allows for good pencil erasability, ensuring that students can make corrections without damaging their work.
The 11"x14" Wire Bound drawing pad comes with micro-perforated sheets, allowing students to easily tear off their artwork without damaging the paper's edges. Each pad contains 50 sheets, providing ample space for students to create multiple artworks.
What's more, the Student Grade Drawing Paper is proudly made in the USA, ensuring that students get access to high-quality paper that meets their needs. With this paper, students can create stunning artworks that are sure to impress.
4. Maimoufin Sanded Pastel Paper – Premium Shades.
Introducing the Pastel Paper for Artists, the perfect medium for pastels that can hold up to 9 layers of pastel colors. With its 500-grit texture, it allows artists to create stunning masterpieces with ease.
The Pastel Paper for Artists has a great "tooth" texture, which provides just the right amount of grit on the paper, making it easy to work with. The high-precision sanding surface can hold many layers of pastels and allows for precise detailing and blending.
This paper uses a high-weight substrate board that prevents warping even in wet conditions. It is resistant to acrylic, alcohol, and oil, making it a versatile choice for any artist. The great substrate of the paper also works well on wet or dry underpainting, making it perfect for creating multiple paintings.
The Pastel Paper for Artists comes in black and measures 393*273mm (15.4*10.7inch). It includes 10 sheets, providing artists with plenty of paper to create their masterpieces.
This paper is not only perfect for artists but also makes a special and meaningful gift for artist friends or as a teacher appreciation gift.
5. Parchment Pad: Perfect For Precise Tracings
Introducing an exceptional tool for artists and designers, the 19-inch by 24-inch, 50-sheet pad specifically designed for preliminary sketches, rough layouts, and concept sketches. This pad is perfect for individuals who love to work with pencils, pens, ink markers, and pastels.
The paper quality is remarkable, providing an outstanding surface that allows for smooth and seamless strokes every time. The 50 sheets in the pad ensure that artists have enough space to bring their ideas to life without running out of pages too fast.
The pad's size is another great feature as it provides ample space for artists to create detailed sketches or designs, making it perfect for various artistic styles. Whether an individual wants to create a rough layout for a project or a more intricate sketch, this pad provides the necessary space and paper quality to do so.
6. Neutral Toned Oil Pastel Paper – 100 Sheets
The Practical Color Collocations package is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a convenient and practical way to combine different colors in their artwork. With 100 coloring papers included in the package, each color has 25 sheets, providing you with enough options to create unique and stunning artworks.
The oil pastel paper thickness is about 180G/98lb, with a size of 5 x 7 inches. You can also modify the size of the paper according to your needs, making it easier for you to create your artwork. The package is designed to be convenient and simple, ensuring that you have a stress-free experience while creating.
The paper materials used in this package are of high quality, ensuring that the papers are smooth and sturdy enough to withstand frequent use without easily breaking. You can be assured that these papers will serve you for a long time, providing you with a reliable and consistent experience.
The oil painting paper is versatile and can be used with different art materials such as graphite pencils, charcoal, and sketch sticks, providing you with a wide range of options to create your artwork. This feature makes it a great choice for artists who want to explore different art styles and techniques.
The Neutral Colors of the paper include four different colors, all with a non-acidic and neutral PH value. These colors provide enough variety to meet your needs and replacements, making it easier for you to switch between colors while working on your artwork.
7. Parchment Trace Pad For Precise Sketching
Introducing the Premium Quality Tracing Paper, a must-have tool for artists, architects, designers, and other professionals who require precision in their work. The tracing paper offers superior translucent parchment that works perfectly with pencils, pens, inks, markers, and pastels.
This tracing paper is incredibly versatile, allowing users to sketch, layer, overlay, and correct with ease. Its fine texture and translucency make it an excellent choice for numerous fine art and commercial uses.
The convenient adhesive glue binding keeps each sheet securely attached, making it much easier to tear out each page without damaging the paper. Each sheet is 11 x 14 inches in size, and the pack includes 50 sheets, providing ample supply for various projects.
One of the best features of this tracing paper is its ability to erase pencil drawings and writing without leaving any residue. It is also durable and resistant to ripping or tearing while drawing and erasing.
8. Sandy Pastel Paper For All Art Mediums
This drawing paper is an excellent medium for pastel artists, as it can hold up to 9 layers of pastels. With a 500 grit, the paper has enough and regular grit, providing the perfect amount of "tooth" that is great to work with. The high-precision sanding surface can hold a lot of pastel layers, making it a great choice for artists.
The paper uses a high-weight substrate board that prevents warping even in wet conditions, and it is resistant to acrylic, alcohol, and oil. This means that the paper is durable and can withstand different painting techniques, making it a versatile choice for artists.
Based on the great substrate, the paper works well on wet or dry underpainting. It is perfect for stick pastels, soft pastels, pastel pencils, acrylic, and more. Artists can experiment with different painting techniques to achieve their desired results.
The paper comes in warm brown, dark brown, gray, blue, or black colors. There are two sizes available: 15.4*10.7 inches and 21.49*15.4 inches, both with 10 sheets. This gives artists the flexibility to choose the size and color that best suits their needs.
In addition, this paper makes a special and meaningful gift for artist friends or as an artist teacher appreciation gift. It is a great way to show appreciation for their talent and passion for art.
9. Strathmore – 445-9 Paper 400 Series Artagain Pad, 9"x12", Assorted
If you are an artist who loves to work with soft muted colors, then this product is perfect for you. This particular type of paper is ideal for creating beautiful pastel, charcoal, oil pastel or colored pencil renderings. This paper comes in a variety of soft muted colors that will enhance your artwork.
It is worth mentioning that this paper is made from recycled materials, which makes it environmentally friendly. The paper is machine made and has a smooth surface, which is perfect for creating detailed artwork. Additionally, this paper contains 30% post-consumer fiber, which is a testament to the manufacturer's commitment to sustainability.
Not only is this paper eco-friendly, but it is also acid-free. This means that your artwork will not yellow or fade over time, ensuring that your artwork stays vibrant for years to come.
10. Faber-Castel Pitt Pastell Colouring Pencil Set Of 60, 60 Count (Pack Of 1), Assorted
Looking for an exceptional set of pencils that can help you achieve precise and stunning art pieces? Look no further than this metal tin set of 60 pencils! These pencils are designed to deliver a high level of pigment, which means that they can produce vibrant and vivid colors that are sure to impress.
One of the best things about these pencils is that they are wax and oil-free, which makes them perfectly suited for fine details in pastels. You can use these pencils to create intricate and delicate artworks that require precise lines and strokes.
Moreover, these pencils are incredibly versatile and can be easily smudged to create fine color transitions. This feature allows you to blend colors and create beautiful gradients that add depth and dimension to your artwork.
The metal tin set of 60 pencils is a comprehensive collection that includes a wide range of colors, hues, and shades. Whether you're a professional artist or a beginner, you'll find these pencils to be an invaluable addition to your art supplies.
Best Paper For Pastel Pencils FAQs
Can I use textured paper for pastel pencils?
Yes, you can definitely use textured paper for pastel pencils. In fact, textured paper is the most commonly used surface for pastel pencils as it allows the pigment to adhere better and creates a more interesting visual effect. The texture of the paper allows the pigment to catch on the surface, creating a grainy look that adds depth and dimension to your artwork.
When choosing textured paper for pastel pencils, it's important to consider the degree of texture you want to work with. The roughness of the paper can vary widely, from fine to coarse, and this will affect the look of your finished piece. You should also consider the weight of the paper, as heavier paper will hold up better to repeated layering and blending.
Overall, using textured paper for pastel pencils is a great choice for artists who want to create visually interesting and expressive pieces. It's important to experiment with different types of paper to find the one that works best for your style and technique.
Can I use watercolor paper for pastel pencils?
Watercolor paper is not the ideal choice for pastel pencils. This is because watercolor paper is designed to withstand water and other wet media, which means it has a rough surface texture that can quickly eat up pastel pigments. Pastel pencils require a smoother surface to achieve optimal results.
A better option for pastel pencils would be a paper specifically designed for pastel work. Pastel paper is made with a distinctive surface texture that allows the pastel pigments to adhere to the surface without slipping or sliding. It also allows for multiple layers of pastel pencil application without losing the vibrancy of the colors.
If you do not have access to pastel paper, you can use a smooth drawing paper or bristol board instead. Just make sure to apply a fixative between layers to prevent smudging and ensure the longevity of your artwork.
Do different papers affect the color of my pastel pencil artwork?
Yes, the type of paper you use can affect the color of your pastel pencil artwork. Pastel pencils are a dry medium and rely on the texture of the paper to hold the pigment. When using a rough or textured paper, the pastel pencil will pick up more of the paper's surface, creating a coarser and more vibrant look. On the other hand, when using a smooth paper, the pastel pencil will glide more smoothly, creating a softer and more muted look.
In addition to texture, the color of the paper can also affect the final appearance of your pastel pencil artwork. If you use a colored paper, it will have an impact on the color of the pastel pencil marks. For example, if you use a light blue paper, the pastel pencil marks will appear cooler and bluer.
It is essential to test out different types of papers with your pastel pencils to see which works best for the effect you want to achieve. Experimenting with different textures and colors can lead to exciting and unique results in your artwork.
How do I choose the right paper for my pastel pencil artwork?
Choosing the right paper for pastel pencil artwork is crucial to achieve the desired results. The paper must have a texture that can hold the pastel pigment, while also allowing for easy blending and layering. The first thing to consider is the weight of the paper. A heavier paper will have a better ability to hold the pastel pigment, while a lighter paper will be more susceptible to smudging.
The surface of the paper should also be considered. A rougher surface will hold more pigment, while a smoother surface will be better for detailed work. It is important to choose a paper that is specifically designed for pastel pencils, as it will have the necessary tooth and texture.
Another aspect to consider is the color of the paper. Choosing a colored paper can add depth and interest to the artwork, while a white paper will allow the colors to appear brighter and more vibrant. It is important to experiment with different papers to find the one that best suits your style and technique.
Lastly, it is important to invest in high-quality paper to ensure the longevity of the artwork. Cheaper papers may fade or yellow over time, while high-quality papers will preserve the artwork for years to come.
What are the best papers for pastel pencils?
When it comes to using pastel pencils, it is important to have the right paper to achieve the desired results. The best papers for pastel pencils are those that have a toothy or textured surface that can grip the pastel pigment. The texture allows the pastel to adhere and blend easily without smudging or smearing.
Some of the best papers for pastel pencils include pastel paper, sanded paper, and watercolor paper. Pastel paper has a grainy surface that is perfect for pastel pencils, while sanded paper has a more abrasive texture that can hold more pastel pigment. Watercolor paper can also be a good option as it has a rough texture that can hold pastel pigment well.
It is important to choose a paper that is sturdy enough to withstand the pressure of the pastel pencil without tearing or smudging. Additionally, it is important to experiment with different papers to find the one that works best with your style and technique. Ultimately, the best paper for pastel pencils is the one that allows you to achieve the desired results and create beautiful artwork.
What is the best brand of paper for pastel pencils?
There are several brands of paper that work well with pastel pencils, but the best brand of paper for pastel pencils ultimately depends on personal preference and the desired outcome. Some popular brands include Strathmore, Canson, and Fabriano.
Strathmore's Pastel Paper has a textured surface that holds multiple layers of pastel pigment and is available in a variety of colors. Canson's Mi-Teintes Paper has a velvety surface that allows for easy blending and layering of pastel pencils. Fabriano's Tiziano Paper is acid-free and has a high level of tooth, making it ideal for detailed work with pastel pencils.
It is important to choose a paper that is specifically designed for pastel pencils, as these papers have a higher level of tooth or texture than regular paper. The texture allows the pigment to adhere to the surface better, preventing smudging and creating a more vibrant color. Ultimately, the best brand of paper for pastel pencils is one that suits an artist's individual needs and preferences.
What is the best paper for achieving fine details with pastel pencils?
When it comes to achieving fine details with pastel pencils, the type of paper you use is crucial. The ideal paper for this purpose should have a fine tooth that can hold the pastel pigment without smudging or blending it too much. Additionally, it should be sturdy enough to withstand multiple layers of pastel without tearing or warping.
One of the best papers for achieving fine details with pastel pencils is sanded paper. This type of paper has a rough texture that grips the pastel pigments, allowing you to create precise lines and details. Sanded paper is also durable and can hold up well to erasing and blending.
Another good option is pastelmat paper, which has a velvety surface that provides excellent grip for pastel pencils. This paper is also very versatile, as it can be used for both detailed work and broader strokes.
Overall, the best paper for achieving fine details with pastel pencils will depend on your personal preferences and artistic style. It's recommended to experiment with different types of paper to find the one that works best for you.
What is the best texture for pastel pencil paper?
When it comes to pastel pencil paper, the texture you choose can greatly affect the outcome of your artwork. The best texture for pastel pencil paper is one that has a bit of tooth, or roughness, to it. This allows the pastel pigment to adhere to the paper better and create a more vibrant and detailed image.
One popular texture for pastel pencil paper is a medium or fine-grain surface. This provides enough texture to hold the pastel pigment without being too rough or coarse. However, some artists prefer a more pronounced tooth, so they may opt for a rougher texture such as a cold-pressed watercolor paper or a sanded pastel paper.
Ultimately, the texture of pastel pencil paper is a matter of personal preference and the type of artwork you are creating. It's important to experiment with different textures and find the one that works best for your style and techniques.
What is the best weight for pastel pencil paper?
When it comes to pastel pencil paper, the weight of the paper is an important factor to consider. The weight of paper refers to how much 500 sheets of that paper weighs in pounds. The best weight for pastel pencil paper is typically around 80-100 pounds. This weight provides a sturdy surface that can handle the application of pastel pencils without tearing or smudging. A heavier weight paper also allows for layering and blending of colors, which is important in pastel work. However, it's important to note that the weight of the paper is not the only factor that determines its quality. Other factors such as texture, composition, and color can also impact the overall performance of the paper. Ultimately, it's best to experiment with different types of pastel pencil paper to find the one that works best for your individual needs and preferences.
What is the difference between pastel paper and regular drawing paper for pastel pencils?
Pastel paper and regular drawing paper are different in terms of their texture, weight, and composition. Pastel paper is specially designed for pastel pencils, whereas regular drawing paper is suitable for a range of drawing mediums.
Pastel paper has a rough, toothy surface that is ideal for holding pastel pigment. It has a heavier weight and a higher quality texture than regular drawing paper, which makes it more durable and allows for a better grip of the pigments. Pastel paper has a range of textures, from smooth to rough, which can affect the final result of the artwork.
On the other hand, regular drawing paper has a smoother surface and is generally lighter in weight. It can be used for a variety of drawing mediums, such as graphite, charcoal, and ink. However, the smooth surface of regular drawing paper may not hold pastel pigments as well, resulting in smudging and blending issues.
In summary, pastel paper is specifically designed for pastel pencils and has a rough texture that holds the pigment well, while regular drawing paper is more versatile but may not be as effective for pastel pencil work.
