What paper is best for drawing? How to choose paper for drawing with a pencil? What is the name of colored drawing paper?

You're already seriously thinking about your creative work, but it may turn out that you don't have the right paper to create a masterpiece. You spend a lot of time trying different types of paper and think that maybe you should buy quality paper.

Have you ever been in such a situation? If yes, then let's continue... we have a lot to discuss.

There are so many varieties and shapes of paper that it can be confusing and difficult to find the type you need. Especially if you buy paper online and do not have the opportunity to inspect and touch the product.

It’s also worth remembering: pencil paper is unlikely to be suitable for charcoal sketches. Therefore, you will probably need to buy several different types of paper if you use different techniques when creating your drawings.

When choosing paper, you must remember its 4 main characteristics:

• Size
• Density
• Texture
• Acidity

In this article we will look at my favorite and least favorite types of paper, and you can choose the right type for you.

However, to do this you need to have a general understanding of the paper as a whole. So let's look at a few important characteristics of paper.

Paper size

While you'll most often buy paper in blocks, you can also buy individual sheets. In any case, you need to take into account the size of your future drawing.

Buying paper that is slightly larger than the size of the design is a good idea. So, you can leave unpainted edges framing the drawing. This “frame” will allow you to take your creation with your hands and not be afraid of ruining it. It also ensures that the paper will not curl or wrinkle at the edges of the design, which is most likely to happen if you draw directly on the edge of the paper.

For example, if you are planning a drawing of 23 x 30 cm, purchase sheets of 28 x 35 cm and you can create a kind of “frame”!

Paper density

There is a misconception that paper weight is an indicator of thickness. The “tighter” the paper, the thicker it will be. American paper companies tried to gradually introduce a reasonable measure (grams per square meter), but this did not gain much popularity. These attempts were similar to the actions of the authorities who are trying to force Americans to use the metric system of measurement. The idea was very good and logical, but it never gained distribution outside the scientific community. However, in Russia we find this unit of measure.

Here are some examples to give you an idea of ​​the different types of paper:

• Paper for printer: 70-80 g/m2
• Drawing or drawing paper: 120–200 g/m2
• Watercolor paper: 170–850 g/m2

Of course, these numbers are not the only correct ones. Paper weights vary greatly, but it is usually worth choosing a thicker paper. Watercolor paper 850 g/m2 is the dream of any artist, however, such a dream is quite expensive! Go ahead!

Paper texture

Each type of drawing paper has a texture that foreign artists call “tooth” (which means “tooth”). Paper can range from ultra-smooth to completely rough. Which texture is best is determined not only by the way you paint, but also by your own style and preferences.

In general, finely sharpened pencils (graphite or colored), pens and markers are best for smooth paper, while charcoal will require rougher paper.

Acidity

Anything you draw that you plan to keep for years to come should be done on acid-free paper. Make sure the paper you buy has this mark. Best quality drawing paper guaranteed! Manufacturers proudly claim that their paper is “acid-free” or “pH-neutral.” This will ensure that your artwork will not discolor over time, yellow, or fall apart for years to come.

Best paper for pencils (graphite)

If you use pencil drawing techniques, you should choose a smoother paper. This paper will allow you to apply strokes very precisely and thereby highlight the details of your drawing. Smooth paper is especially convenient when the design is small. Rough paper can greatly limit the clarity of fine details.

My choice of paper for pencil drawing is Strathmore Paper. It has a dizzying array of paper types and sizes, which can sometimes be confusing.

Here are the reasons for my choice. The higher the series number, the higher the quality of the paper and the higher its density. Strathmore produces the 200, 300, 400 and 500 series of papers, each offering a variety of styles and sizes.

In each of these categories, you need to choose a drawing and sketching paper that is most applicable to pencil drawing techniques. Sketch paper is usually lighter weight but also has a smoother texture. It's a little disappointing, but the 400 series has a Smoot drawing block. This paper is a very good choice for the detailed pencil art that I enjoy doing.

If you are looking for the smoothest possible paper, opt for paper or cardboard made from high grade sheets. Once again, Strathmore can help with your search. You can buy a Bristol 300 series and it will suit you just fine. If you want to choose a higher quality Bristol from the 500 series, note that the main difference is between what is called “smoot” and “vellum”. If you are looking for a smooth paper, choose from a variety of “smoot” papers, which are the smoothest. Since Bristol is a multi-layered type of drawing paper, its thickness is quite large!

As an artist, sometimes you need to experiment, go beyond the boundaries, and this also applies to paper. Many creators choose watercolor paper for their masterpieces. Watercolor paper is usually very high quality and very thick, making it an excellent choice for paintings that you plan to sell or that you want to enjoy for many years to come. You can rely on Fabriano Hot Press Watercolor Paper for this task. The company produces “blocks” of such paper in the Artistico series. The density is 300 g/m2, which is very conducive to pencil drawings.

Best paper for charcoal

When drawing with charcoal, you need a rougher paper than that described above for a graphite pencil. The charcoal particles need “teeth” (a textured surface) in order to stay in the design. Again, let's turn to Strathmore.

They make a 500 series paper block that is great for charcoal drawing. However, the density may seem insufficient. In my opinion, the paper weight is too light for the price. If you're looking for a worthwhile block of charcoal drawing paper at a better price, you can't go wrong with Strathmore's 300 Series Charcoal Drawing Paper. This is good quality paper at a good price.

I really hate Canson charcoal paper... I can’t look at a single drawing made on this paper. Try to avoid it.

For more serious charcoal work, I suggest choosing watercolor paper. Its density is sometimes exactly what you need when drawing with charcoal!

My favorite paper for charcoal drawing is Arches 640gsm watercolor paper. It comes in 3 different textures:

• Hot pressed (smoothest)
• Cold pressed (medium smooth)
• Rough

This paper is not cheap at all, but it is a dream for artists. I know it's not the materials that make you an artist, but the fact that you use the best paper makes you take your work seriously.

Best paper for pen and ink

I don't see any reason to use rough paper for fountain pens and ink, but anything can come in handy. So, usually choose smooth paper for pen work.

Most smooth papers that work with graphite pencils can work well with fountain pen drawings. If you haven't read the information above in the pencil paper section, please take a look, there's a lot of useful information there.

Now let's get down to business. Most often you will need high quality Bristol paper to complete your pen drawings.

Best Paper for Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are very similar to graphite pencils in composition and function. For this reason, all of my recommendations above are exactly what I recommend as paper for colored pencils.

Of course, this is a matter of taste, but you will most likely want to create on relatively smooth and thick paper. Remember, the higher the density, the stronger the paper!

Your collection of different types of paper

There's no doubt that you'll benefit from a paper collection in the long run if you're serious about getting creative. I've used countless brands and types of paper for the past couple of decades. I liked some types, others not so much. There were many pleasant surprises, such as painting on watercolor paper!

Because when creating small drawings with pencil and larger ones with charcoal, you are faced with the difficulty of selecting paper according to texture. You'll probably have to try a lot of different types of paper over the next couple of years, so let me save you time and money with a couple of recommendations. Here are some great starting points to help with paper selection.

These three blocks of paper are worth keeping on hand at all times. Here are three types of good paper at a great price...

• Good quality medium weight paper. Great for pencils and even fountain pens.
• When you need ultra-smooth paper for pen drawing or want to get all the details in with a pencil, bristol is a great option.
• And for the charcoal drawing technique you will need coarser paper. This paper will be very useful... In addition, it is large in size (46 x 61 cm).

Which drawing paper to choose - review, comparison, recommendations - video

They say that a real artist can draw beautifully on a napkin. Well, I don’t argue, because I saw very beautiful things actually drawn on a napkin. But still, let's speak frankly: people who draw seriously prefer to draw on paper or canvas, and the more experienced we become, the (in my experience) our requirements for the material increase. And, like any person, they have their own preferences due to their image and work style. Here is a short comparative description of the paper that I tested for drawing with pencils, because... It seems to me that many, if not all, started with this and, one way or another, used (or are drawing now, or are planning) pencil drawing.

The paper will be tested: 1 - folder with sheets Prof.art, 2 - notebook for sketches with tear-off sheets Art hobby, 3 Fabriano Disegno, 4 - notepad with loose leaves Fabriano Sketch, 5 - sketch notebook with the inscription " Posters", 6 - notebook Moleskine, 7 - notebook-book from Derwent.

For objectivity, the test sheets will be crosshatched with different pencils, namely: simple pencils 5H, HB, 5B, pastel pencil, watercolor pencil and colored pencils from the Nature series and from Faber-Castell.

The comparison photo shows the shades of the paper itself.

1. Prof.art
Folder with 20 sheets of format A4, density 100gsm.

The paper is pleasant for drawing with all pencils. Smooth, non-grainy, slightly rough. Has a slightly noticeable yellowish tint. At the same time, it is thin, so even with a slight blur (for example, a watercolor pencil) it is deformed - it bubbles, it can go in waves, it can cough.

In fact, although this paper is a budget paper, i.e. sold at a fairly low price, I liked it more than all the others. It so happened that on this paper I began training drawings with diluted ink, i.e. I dilute the mascara with water and paint with a brush. It’s nice to draw, both with a pencil and a brush, and drawing details with a pen on top of everything is also okay. Therefore, if you draw for pleasure, this is what you need; the only downside to the output will be an uneven sheet.

2. Art hobby
Notepad for sketches with loose-leaf format A4.

Nice paper too. Similar to the previous one, but rougher and rougher, so when drawing with a very soft pencil it can “shine through”, i.e. You cannot get 100% black or dark color, paper particles will be visible.

The paper is brownish-yellow in color. Therefore, it is not suitable for all types of work and for those who paint exclusively on white. But it fits perfectly (for me) with pastel pencils, because... I really like the combination of their pastel shades with the color of the paper.

3. Fabriano Disegno
Notepad with 30 loose sheets A5, density 200gsm.

Good medium weight paper. It is also a little rough, so when working with soft pencils the texture of the paper “shines through”. The watercolor pencil can be blurred without making the paper brittle. What I liked most was drawing not with soft pencils (pastel, watercolor), but with ordinary colored ones; they fit very well on paper and the colors come out very bright. The paper itself is very white, it even glows. That's why it didn't work out very well for me, because... I love the tinted one.

4. Fabriano Sketch
Notepad with 60 tear-off sheets A5, density 60gsm.

Thin paper has a slightly yellowish tint. Simple pencils adhere very well, and although there is some roughness, the 5B pencil gives the desired dark shade. Ideal for sketches.

Now notebooks that hold the sheets well do not come off, do not fall off, but stick like a book.

5. Posters
A spiral notebook in A5 format, I generally see them often, the distinctive feature is the tinted cover, there is also an A6 format.

The paper is almost white, smooth. Because of the latter, the pencil lead does not grind down well and even with strong pressure does not give a bright color. The same applies to simple pencils; even 5B does not leave a dark tint.

6.Moleskine
Black notebook with soft cover.

The pencils are easy to lay down and the color remains vibrant despite the paper being smooth. In my opinion, this notebook is suitable for all pencils. It’s not for nothing, apparently, that moleskine has become a household name. Please note that the paper is ivory-colored and thin, so it will not be possible to blur the watercolor pencil. It will be more accurate, but it will look bad.

7. Derwent
Black A5 notebook with hard cover and hard binding, density 100gsm.

The paper is very pleasant to the touch, white and slightly rough. Pencils go on softer than everything else, i.e. give a color of greater intensity. Also, the colors “shine through” the roughness of the paper, even ordinary colored pencils. The watercolor pencil can be blurred; the paper is thick enough. But I honestly couldn’t draw in it! First of all, due to the fact that the pencils crumble too much when applied, and smudges inevitably appear around the drawing, because... It’s very easy to shade even a line with your hand. Secondly, I can’t get a uniform color due to the roughness. Perhaps it's just the nature of my drawing style, but I was very disappointed in this notebook, although I really love Derwent and I like all their products.

Summarizing everything described above, for drawing with simple pencils most suitable Prof.art and Fabriano Sketch. For drawing colored - Fabriano Disegno, for drawing pastel - Prof.art And Art hobby for lovers of tinted paper. The most universal paper from Moleskine, you can draw with anything in it. For watercolor pencils, watercolor paper will most likely be the best option, but we’ll talk about it separately. For notepad Derwent Gouache or acrylic will most likely be suitable, but this is also worth trying in practice. Here's a notepad Posters ideal for notes, planning and quick training sketches.

The choice of paper for painting depends on the tools you are working with. Different types of art paper differ in density, composition, texture and, sometimes, color. Paper for pencil drawing: density – 110-160 g/m2, with minimal or no grain.

Paper for pastels (colored pastel paper): density about 160 g/m2, there are different types of grain (egg shell, honeycomb, etc.). Available tinted to contrast with the pastel color.

Watercolor paper (watercolor paper): also suitable for gouache. Density is at least 200 g/m2 and reaches 600 g/m2, available in three textured types: smooth (hot press), semi-smooth (cold press), rough textured (dried without spinning).

Paper for oil paints, acrylic and tempera: the density of such paper is from 180 g/m2, often higher, up to 400 g/m2 - heavy oil, acrylic and tempera apply perfectly without deforming the paper. Marker paper: density starts from 70 g/m2. Available in two types: with special impregnation that does not allow ink to pass through to the other side of the sheet, and with lamination of the reverse side of the sheet. Allows you to save marker ink.

The drawing was created by artist Gavrila Lubnin

Hello, dear readers! Today we will tell you about how to choose drawing paper.

Let's start with the fact that there are a great many types of paper itself. And many artists (even very skilled and advanced ones) use paper for their work that is not intended for pencil drawing. Most often, artists use office paper from paper that is not designed for drawing. You can also buy writing paper, newsprint, wrapping paper - all these options are not very good for, but some of these types can be used. Moreover, they have some advantages over traditional drawing paper. First, we will tell you about the basic properties of paper that distinguish one type from another, and after that we will definitely return to our “non-drawing” samples and find out why it is sometimes convenient to make different sketches on them.

• Density. It is characterized by the weight of one sheet of paper with an area of ​​one square meter. Each of you, dear readers, probably had moments when you worked on paper that tore from light erasing with an eraser. Or when you spilled watercolor on a regular sheet of paper, which subsequently simply flowed off, almost without changing the structure of the paper. In both cases, the explanation lies in the density - low-density paper is thin, friable, strongly deformed when exposed to an eraser, and gets wet very quickly from paint. But high-density paper does not wrinkle, does not deform when erased, and does not soften even from the most watery brush strokes. Let us explain with examples: the density of ordinary office paper is 80 g/m², and newspaper paper is from 40 to 60 g/m². Paper grades for watercolor painting reach record levels – 500 g/m². Professionals consider a density from 90 to 110 g/m² to be comfortable numbers for drawing with a simple pencil.
• Grain. It's the texture. Characterized by the smoothness of the paper, the severity or absence of texture of the paper sheet. A high degree of grain will give your work volume and vibrancy, but on smooth paper technical sketches are better and lines are generally conveyed more clearly and accurately.
• Working with the eraser. Here we mean not only the already mentioned density (the paper should not tear or wrinkle from light movements with an eraser). High-quality drawing paper does not create problems with erasing; lines outlined without strong pressure are removed with an eraser without leaving a trace. Some types of paper have an unpleasant feature - pencil lines are very difficult to remove with an eraser; it is better to avoid such paper, especially if it has a low density.
• White. This is an obvious, but in some cases very important criterion. In what cases - you ask? For example, if you need to scan your drawings. For our drawing tutorials site, all images are first drawn on plain paper and then scanned. The paper that our artists use is not of very high quality, but it is perfectly white, so the illustrations in the “drawing lessons” section look catchy and clear.

Now a couple of facts regarding the types of paper that we listed at the beginning of the article.

Office paper has one outstanding advantage - it is very white, that is, with the last of the factors we listed, it is in perfect order. The lines are visible very well, the texture is smooth, scans from sheets of such paper are very good. But with other criteria, everything is not very good - the density of such paper is low, when exposed to an eraser it wrinkles and breaks, and erasing the lines themselves is very labor-intensive.

Writing paper - as a rule, such paper has a medium density and a pronounced yellow-gray tint. This paper also creases too easily, scans from it turn out yellow-gray, so the lines, if you draw on such paper for scanning, should be very bold, clear and noticeable. But it has a significant advantage - eraser lines can be erased from it very easily. Another definite plus is the price; this paper is one of the cheapest.

And now we will present to you several brands that produce, in our opinion, the highest quality paper.

Fabriano Accademia

Very high quality Italian paper, sheet density is 200 g/m². The paper has a natural grain and is made from high-quality cellulose. Perfect for both sketches and sketches, as well as for completed serious works.

Good density and other technical characteristics of the paper guarantee convenience when working with the eraser - nothing will be wrinkled or torn, all lines are erased easily and comfortably.

Fabriano paper may not be represented in the assortment of stores in our country, but it is very popular in the world and you can always buy this paper in the online store.

Canson

A French manufacturer that takes the quality of its products very seriously. The range of types of paper is huge; for drawings with a simple pencil, we recommend the Dessin J.A. and “C” a Gran lines. These two types of paper are available in different weights - Dessin J.A. sheets. available in variations from 90 to 200 g/m², “C” a Gran - from 125 to 224 g/m².

If you work with watercolors, take the options with the highest density - you won't go wrong. In general, samples of all types are very high quality, it is convenient to work with an eraser, such paper also scans very well - the whiteness is at a high level. Among the features, we note the presence of light graininess.

Daler Rowney

This English paper is often praised on various art forums, which is not surprising - Daler Rowney albums are among the best in the world. The texture is somewhere between smooth and fine-grained. Many artists believe that this particular texture is best suited for drawing with a simple pencil. Note that sketch pads from this company are not as high quality as albums - many complain about the density not being high enough and, accordingly, problems with erasing.

This was a review on how to choose drawing paper. It was prepared for you by the artists and authors of the Drawingforall website.

Stay tuned, we have many more interesting step-by-step drawing lessons ahead, as well as reviews of various artist tools!

Paper for drawing and graphics

All you need to start drawing is essentially a pencil and a piece of paper! Sounds simple enough, but when you stand between the shelves in a store, the question becomes not so simple. There are so many varieties of paper before you, and each of them can give a completely different look to your drawing. Read our tips and then try different types of art or graphics paper again and again. This is the best way to find what's right for you. Experimenting is fun!

Here are some parameters to consider:

• what is it made of

Drawing paper is usually made from wood pulp or cotton. Probably the most important difference between the two is that wood pulp contains a polymer called lignin. It reacts to light, causing the paper to oxidize and the design to fade over time. Therefore, choose acid-free drawing paper.

The weight (and thickness) of the paper depends on its purpose and must match the material you are going to use to draw. For example, sketch paper is the thinnest, lightest paper and cannot be used for final drawings, but is economical and ideal for quick sketches and developing ideas. If you're drawing with charcoal, choose a heavier, more durable paper.

• surface quality

Hot-pressed paper has a smoother surface, while cold-pressed paper has a rougher, textured surface (grain). Why is this important to consider? Every line you draw is just graphite "dust" left behind by your pencil. It settles into grooves formed by the surface texture. This means that texture directly affects how your drawing will look.

• what material are you going to use

The paper for a graphite pencil is not the same as for a colored pencil. And the one you use for colored pencil is not a good choice for pens and ink. Experimenting is certainly fun, but you can save yourself from unnecessary mistakes by learning what certain types of paper are for. Here are some examples:

For pencil drawing you can purchase so-called “Bristol paper”. It is produced by various manufacturers, for example, Canson, Sketchbook XL BRISTOL, Winsor&Newton, Sketchbook BRISTOL, Sketchbook BRISTOL from Strathmore. This is a very smooth snow-white paper that is ideal for drawing details and can withstand repeated erasing.

For drawings with colored pencils Any paper that has a slightly grainy texture will work for you. The surface roughness ensures uniform adhesion between pencil and paper. This could be the SMOOTH SURFACE sketchbook from Winsor&Newton, the SKETCH sketchbooks from Clairefontaine, the SCHIZZI sketchbooks from Fabriano, the universal FOX&OWL sketchbooks from Maxgoodz.

Want to learn even more about drawing and graphics papers? Look at our extensive catalog and buy right now on the website or come to Peredvizhniki stores! Our consultants will help you.

Choose albums, sketchbooks and notepads from the best manufacturers of paper products: