5 Types of High-Quality Drawing Papers Every Artist Should Try

Whether you’re an amateur or pro artist, the paper you put your drawings, sketches, and paints on can make all the difference to the finished piece. It can also make a difference in how long your artwork lasts.

From textures and weights to hues and acid-free options, the hunt for high-quality paper can prove a minefield. With so many options available, you must do your research. Knowing what mediums you intend to use will help you to pick the correct paper for your needs. 

To help you demystify this minefield, we’ve created this handy guide, pinpointing the different types of arts and crafts paper on the market. Read on to discover more.

1. Recycled Cartridge Paper

100% recycled cartridge drawing paper is perfect for an array of media, comprising sketching pencils, charcoal, markers, paints, and drawing inks due to its smooth surface finish. Its versatility makes it a popular all-rounder. The best part? It can be purchased in several sizes, spanning from A1 to A5.

It’s also available in various weights, with 220 gsm being one of the higher-quality options. Why? It’s hard to dent or crease. Its creamy white finish boasts a slight texture, which adds interest to your artwork. The best part? Buying recycled options means you’re doing your part for the environment!

2. Acid-Free Paper

The aim is to ensure your artistic creations stand the test of time, which is why investing in acid-free paper is crucial. Non-acid-free papers can cause your artwork to deteriorate, or turn a shade of unsightly yellow. Acid-free paper on the other hand is packed with calcium carbonate, which has the effect of neutralizing acid, which occurs through aging or is absorbed from the air.

Certain types of acid-free paper can last for more than 1000 years. If you wish to preserve the look and feel of your art, textiles, or documents and want to prevent them from breaking down or becoming yellow, acid-free paper is crucial.

3. Sketching Paper and Drawing Paper

Sketching paper is slightly lighter than Drawing paper.  It’s often used in the experimentation phase, when using dry media when practicing drawing techniques, or quick studies. You can use this type of paper in reference sketchbooks to note down potential future compositions.  It works well with charcoal, colored pencils, graphite, monochrome chalks, charcoal drawing chalks, and oil pencils. Van Gogh, one of the most renowned Dutch post-impressionists, often used a reed pen and graphite ink to create his drawings on sketch and drawing paper. 

Drawing paper on the other hand is heavier in weight, and slightly better-quality in comparison. You can use this for both sketching and finished work with mediums including charcoal, graphite, oil and soft pastels, pen, and ink. Rembrandt, another renowned artist, executed numerous drawings, almost 300 in his career, many with brown pen and ink using drawing paper.

4. Mixed Media

This paper is new to the art world.  It has been created to withstand various media techniques. It boasts a similar quality to watercolor paper, yet features a vellum drawing surface.

Perfect mediums to use alongside this paper comprise colored pencils, graphite, watercolor, markers, acrylic, gouache, pen & ink, drawing chalks, charcoal, and monochromes. In addition, it can be used with fine liners, pastels, gel pens, and calligraphy inks. The list is endless! If you only have the budget to buy one type of art paper, this is a great choice, due to its extreme versatility.

5. Pastel Paper

If you enjoy working with pastels, pastel paper is a must! One side boasts a unique pebbled surface, while the other is somewhat smoother.  As well as pastels, this artist’s paper can be used with monochromes, charcoal, colored pencils, and drawing chalks. In certain cases, it can be used to create light washes of watercolor for underpainting.

This style of art paper is similar to UART and is ideal for grabbing colors. It ensures fine, crisp, bright marks of pastel pencil, which makes it great for detailed work. In addition, it is alcohol and water-resistant, which means you can blend your pastels with liquids without the fear of them running or bleeding into one another.

The Bottom Line

Whether you love painting with acrylics or enjoy the tones created by charcoal and pastels, there is a paper suited to your desired medium. Choosing the wrong paper can have detrimental effects on your artwork and the staying power of your finished pieces. With this in mind, it’s important to establish which medium you wish for and what finish you desire.

If you are sketching mock-ups, sketching paper is a great option; if you wish to achieve a quality finish and create a masterpiece that will stand the test of time, a heavier-duty cartridge paper in weight of at least 220 gsm is a better choice.

Follow the tips and tricks mentioned above, and you’ll be a pro at picking paper in no time.