Best Paper For Pastel Art

There are many different pastel papers to choose from, but in our opinion the best paper for pastel art are the ones we use, read on below to find out more.

Pastels are known for their intensely vibrant colours and beautiful blending techniques and requires the right platform to bring out its best potential.

Choosing the best paper for pastel drawing, can greatly enhance the final outcome, whether you're a beginner or advanced, young or old, the choice of paper is crucial to fully unleashing the beauty of your pastels.


The Best Paper For Pastel Art

Cream & Grey Pastel PaperCream & Grey Pastel Paper

Pastel paper is not just any regular paper; it's specifically designed to hold the pigment of pastel pencils.

The unique characteristic of pastel paper is its texture that holds the pastel particles in place, allowing artists to create vivid and stunning pastel pencil drawings.

Here in the photograph is an A3 pastel paper pad with Cream and Grey Paper by Windsor & Newton.

A rougher texture allows more pigment to be held on the paper, resulting in rich, intense colours. On the other hand, smoother paper provides a more delicate and subtle effect.

Pastel Matt Drawing PadPastel Matt Drawing Pad

Digging deeper into the texture, pastel paper is available in multiple textures, known as 'tooth'.

This term refers to the peaks and valleys in the paper's surface. The 'toothier' a paper, the more pigment it can grab and hold. So whether you are working on vibrant landscapes or subtle portraits, choosing the paper with the right 'tooth' is crucial.

Clairefontaine Pastel Mat is another exceptional option.

Its velvety surface has a unique minuscule fiber-like texture that gives it a deep tooth. This surface allows pastels to adhere excellently while maintaining the softness and intensity of pastel colours.

We love to use Pastel Mat Paper, it has a strong tooth and grabs the pastel pencils nicely.

The smooth pastel paper has a fine tooth, allowing for detailed work loved by portrait artists.

When drawing a dog portrait, an artist often needs to work on finely detailed areas like the fur, the eyes, and the features, making a smoother texture the desired choice.


Pastel Paper Colours

Pastel PadPastel Pad

Pastel papers come not only in different textures but also different colours. The pad in the photo above has 6 assorted colour paper to use, so there is plenty of choice.

Drawing on coloured paper adds a new dimension to your artwork, the paper's colour becomes part of the drawing, subtly influencing the overall mood and tone of the piece.

The colour of the paper you choose changes the way colours appear on it, darker papers tend to dull the colours while lighter papers make the colours pop.



Black Pastel Paper

The key is to experiment with various coloured papers to understand their unique effect on your colour palette.

You can see here, what Black Pastel Paper is like to use along with White Pastel Pencils in our Easy Drawing of a Dog.

The choice of colour for your pastel paper, much like the paper itself, contributes greatly to the final presentation of your pastel artwork.

So, you want your pastel colours to pop, darker colour papers can create a dramatic contrast, leading to striking results.



What Are Pastel Papers Made From

Pastel paper is made from various materials, including cotton, cellulose, or a combination of both.

  • Cotton papers are more stable and less likely to yellow over time
  • Cellulose papers are more economical, but they can become yellowish over time.

So, if you are drawing for instance a 'Pet Portrait' for a paying customer, you really need to use a good quality paper that will last for many years and not go off colour.



Conclusion

In conclusion, pastel paper is more than just a drawing surface for pastel pencil drawings, it is an active participant in the creative process, determining the drawing texture, influencing the colour palette, and contributing to the final artwork's overall mood.

So, stepping into the world of pastel art isn't just about mastering techniques; it's also an exploration of the different pastel papers and their distinctive characteristics.

Remember, every great masterpiece begins with a single stroke on the right paper.

Ultimately, the best paper for pastel art is subjective and depends on your personal preference.

Experiment with different weights, textures, and colours until you find one that aligns well with your artistic vision.

From our experience, the papers we have listed here are some of our favourites.

Dust off your pastels, choose your paper, and start creating your masterpiece.

We hope this page has helped you in your decision on what pastel papers to use for your project.

If you have a personal favourite, let us know by using the form below, we would love to hear from you.



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