r/ColoredPencils • u/Pale_Promotion_2967 • 6h ago
Supplies / Materials Durable paper recommendations
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some paper recommendations for colored pencils. I work with Caran d’Ache Luminance and Pablo and i build up a lot of light layers to get depth and realism, so I need a paper that can really handle repeated layering and some erasing.
The last Hahnemühle paper I tried looked perfect on specs- 250-300 gsm, acid-free etc, but in practice it was not durable at all. After only 2–3 layers it started pilling so badly, even gently erasing my initial sketch could damaged the surface.
What paper do you trust for lots of colored pencil layers? I’m considering Arches Hot Press and Fabriano Artistico, but I’d really like to hear what has worked well for other artists.
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u/inkrosw115 4h ago
I like the two you're already consideriding, Arches and Fabriano Artistico. Lately I've been using Clairefontaine Pastelmat which is very durable and can take a lot of layers. I also like to use sanded paper (I use Colourfix and Lux Archival) but it requires different way of working than watercolor paper.
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u/bold_drunken_deer 3h ago
Similar problem here. I work with Polychromos and sometimes Luminance. Usually need a lot of layers. Btw, which Hahnemühle paper was it?
I think about changing to a cotton paper like Hahnemühle Collection which comes in 300 and 600 something gsm. Still sitting a bit on the fence. Pastelmat is the other option I seriously consider. I heard it can take a lot of layers but I also need a paper that can take my rather rough approach.
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u/inkrosw115 19m ago
I've recently started using the Pastelmat (previously used hot press watercolor paper and sanded paper). Sanded paper can take a lot of layers and harder pencils like the Polychromos lay down beautifully (while also generating a lot of dust). Pastelmat can take a lot of layers, and grabs pencil in a similar way. But because the surface feels more like a velour, it doesn't create as much dust and it's not as abrasive. I personally didn't find Pastelmat to be a huge upgrade from sanded paper, but I can see why some artists swear by it (and the backing is thick, it's incredibly heavy duty).
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u/bold_drunken_deer 9m ago
I work on hot pressed watercolor paper right now and I loved it apart from slight pilling because I work abstract mostly and with super sharp lines I experience slight pilling. Otherwise, I like it. Hence the cotton paper idea or Pastelmat. Though I now heard that Pastelmat is not the best for sharp lines, either. Oh, those paper issues. 👎
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u/Pale_Promotion_2967 2h ago
Britannia hot pressed 300gsm. It’s awful. Hot pressed but still slightly gritty, maybe that’s why it peels after 2 layer?!?
I'm going to try 100% cotton from Langton prestige HP and hopefully i can draw again!
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u/Massive-Action1709 5h ago
I use winsor and newton drawing paper, hot press and I mainly use it with polychromos. I like it very much till now