![]() ![]() ![]() Paper Brand Weight in GSM Paper Texture Daler-Rowney Drawing Paper 120gsm, 160gsm, 200gsm Medium Daler-Rowney Smooth Cartridge 96gsm, 130gsm, 220gsm Smooth Daler Rowney Fine Grain Cartridge 120gsm, 160gsm, 200gsm, 220gsm Fine Daler Arteco Sketching Paper 95gsm Medium Strathmore 500 Series Drawing 125gsm Ultra Smooth / Medium Strathmore 400 Series Heavyweight 163gsm Medium Strathmore 400 Series Drawing 130gsm Smooth / Medium Strathmore 500 Series Bristol 250gsm, 375gsm, 500gsm Smooth / Semi-Smooth / Medium Strathmore 400 Series Bristol 270gsm, 405gsm, 540gsm Smooth / Medium Stonehenge Fine art paper 135gsm, 250gsm Smooth / Medium Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Paper 160gsm Medium Fabriano Artistico HP Watercolor Paper 200gsm, 300gsm, 640gsm Smooth (Hot-Pressed) Fabriano Artistico NOT Watercolor Paper 200gsm, 300gsm, 640gsm Medium (NOT) Quality manufacturers of drawing paper (acid-free) Stonehenge and Fabriano are premium papers. Strathmore is more widely available in the USA. I’ve included Daler-Rowney pads because they are widely available in the UK. The chart below compares some of the better papers at a glance. The best papers also avoid optical brighteners and this gives the paper a lovely off-white tint, fantastic for monochrome. Top brands use 100% cotton fiber which is made to last. The advantage of using watercolor paper is its quality. Good hot-pressed watercolor paper is expensive so few pencil artists will use it exclusively for drawing, but there’s no reason not to if the price is no barrier. It results in a smooth surface, ideal for watercolor washes, and pencil drawing. Hot-pressed paper is made by pressing the sheets together between two heated rollers. If you are, then be sure to check that your paper is acid-free and 100% cotton rag for longevity. ![]() I doubt many pastelists use it.īristol paper is often used by commercial illustrators for easy blending and quick results and they are not always concerned about the lifespan of their paper. It’s possible I suppose, but only if you apply very few layers. The thicker board will take watercolor and I see claims that it’s also suitable for pastel. Vellum Bristol Board has a slight texture and is more suitable for graphite, charcoal, and colored pencils. Without a toothy surface, the graphite is pale and insipid. It’s a great option for markers, pen and ink drawings, airbrushes, and even ballpoint pen, but not so great for a graphite pencil drawing. Smooth Bristol board is a brilliant white paper with a shiny toothless drawing surface. This post will interest you: Best Mechanical Drawing Pencils For Artists in 2023 Bristol Paperīristol paper (or board) is a light card made of glued multi-ply sheets of paper, compressed together, and is available with a smooth or vellum surface. Stephen uses mechanical pencils extensively. I make detailed drawings and it’s perfect for my style, as you see. I can predict how the paper will behave and responds to my techniques. I use Daler partly because I am so used to it. Are my drawings any better with the heavier paper? Probably not, but using thicker paper gives me more pleasure. It has the right amount of tooth and a robust and substantial feel. Confused? You’re meant to be.ĭaler-Rowney Heavyweight cartridge is one of my favorite papers. They don’t even explain what their descriptions mean, smoother than what for heaven’s sake?ĭifferent brands have their own grading systems, so a smooth paper in one brand will not be exactly the same as its competitors in another. You will see ‘fine-grain’, ‘smooth’, ‘heavyweight’, ‘medium surface’, ‘rough texture’, and goodness knows what else. The confusion arises when the marketeers bamboozle their customers with variations on the theme. Most sketch pads are white but some brands produce an off-white which is warmer. It has just enough tooth (grain), to produce a pleasing slightly textured pencil line. ‘Cartridge’ is the standard type of paper that artists use for graphite drawing. However, I only promote products I like and recommend) What are the Different Types of Pencil Drawing Paper? Cartridge Paper (I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Do not be tempted to ‘learn’ on cheap generic crap when high quality paper is not so expensive. In all honesty, in the beginning, any major brand will suffice. And make sure to buy a pad with a firm backing board as support. Get a gum-bound drawing pad because the spiral-bound paper is harder to remove without damage. Choose ‘Acid-free’ paper to ensure longevity. That’s why I decided to demystify the process so you can buy the best drawing paper.īuy a branded cartridge pad with a paperweight of 80lb (130gsm) or above. ![]() Have you ever arrived in an art store and been overwhelmed by the bewildering types of paper? How do you choose the best paper for pencil drawing? You can’t buy each one and test them out. ![]()
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