Best Paper For Pencil Sketching

Similar to the colored pencils we review there is no such thing as a best colored pencil paper.

Best paper for pencil sketching. Office printer paper is cheap and smooth and doesn t bleed if you like to sketch in pen. Most drawing paper has a coarse texture and that will work against. For detailed realist graphite pencil drawing you need a sturdy paper that can cope with repeated erasing and working. Canson biggie sketch or strathmore 200 series are good economical choices.

But that doesn t mean that there isn t a best paper for colored pencils given a specific application or to be used with a specific type of colored pencil. Canson makes this paper in a smooth surface which i don t like and review below. What to look for in drawing paper. It should also have a fine texture that allows you to create the illusion of smooth surfaces such as glass metal or skin.

For rough practice sketches pretty much any paper will do. So if you didn t want to bother with packing up a lot of supplies for a sketching expedition a pad of this paper a medium soft pencil an eraser and a sharpener would be all that you d need. But if you want to apply multiple layers of colors then a paper with 160 gsm or more is recommended. Technically 130 gsm paper will also be suitable for creating fine arts based on how much color layers you apply.

Depending on who you ask you may get a dozen different answers. Bulk newsprint pads are functional if not robust and useful for large preparatory sketches. Canson drawing paper is acid free but not archival.