Best Pastel Paper of 2025

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Pastel paper is a type of paper that is specifically designed for use with pastels. It has a unique texture that allows the pastel pigment to adhere to it, making it an ideal surface for creating vibrant and detailed artwork. Pastel paper comes in a range of colours and textures, allowing artists to choose the perfect paper for their particular project. Whether you are a professional artist or a hobbyist, pastel paper is an excellent choice for creating stunning and unique pieces of art.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Pastel Paper
Talens Art Creation A4 White Pastel Paper
The Talens A4 Pastel Paper offers high-quality material that ensures a smooth drawing experience. The ring-bound design keeps your paper perfectly flat, making it easier for you to create without any hassle. Once you finish your artwork, the sheets can be easily removed, allowing for a tidy presentation of your work. This paper is ideal for various activities, including drawing, journaling, and urban sketching, catering to artists, students, and travellers alike.
Daler-Rowney Murano 160gsm Pastel Paper Pad
The Daler-Rowney Pastel Paper is a high-quality option for artists, featuring a 160gsm weight that ensures durability and a smooth surface. With its acid-free and light-resistant properties, your artwork remains vibrant over time. The honeycombed texture is perfect for both hard and soft pastels, allowing you to create depth and detail effortlessly. Additionally, the cotton content gives the paper a luxurious feel, making it a delight to work with for both professionals and hobbyists alike.
Winsor & Newton Earth Colours Pastel Paper
Winsor & Newton Pastel Paper is perfect for artists looking to create vibrant studies and drawings with pastels, graphite, and charcoal. The assortment of earth colours offers extremely lightfast shades, ensuring your artwork remains vivid over time. Made from FSC-certified cellulose, this paper promotes forest conservation and sustainability. Additionally, its production utilises hydropower, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is a great benefit for environmentally conscious users.
Clairefontaine Pastelmat Block with Dividers
The Clairefontaine Pastelmat Block is an ideal choice for artists using dry pastels. Its unique 360g card surface allows you to layer pigments without saturation, enhancing your creative possibilities. You can achieve both bold and delicate strokes effortlessly. The paper's ability to handle wet techniques without losing its texture ensures versatility in your artwork. Additionally, the crystal paper dividers protect your creations, making it easier for you to keep your work in pristine condition.
Daler-Rowney Murano Pastel Paper Pad, 30 Sheets
The Daler-Rowney Murano Pad features 30 sheets of high-quality pastel paper, perfect for both professional and amateur artists. With a weight of 160gsm, this acid-free and light-resistant paper ensures your artwork remains vibrant and protected over time. The honeycombed texture is designed for use with hard, soft, and oil pastels, allowing you to create stunning effects with ease. Its cotton content gives the paper a luxurious feel, enhancing your overall drawing experience.
Strathmore Assorted Colour Pastel Paper Pad
The Strathmore Pastel Paper is an excellent choice for your creative projects. Made from high-quality material, it ensures durability and a professional finish. With 24 sheets in an 11 x 14-inch size, it is perfect for scrapbooking, allowing you to bring your ideas to life. The design prioritises easy usage and storage, meaning you can effortlessly organise your supplies and focus on your creativity. Plus, it is proudly made in the USA, ensuring a reliable and trustworthy product.
Daler-Rowney Ingres Pastel Paper Pad, 24 Sheets
The Daler-Rowney Pastel Paper is perfect for your artistic needs. It is designed for use with pastels, charcoal, and other dry techniques, making it a versatile choice for various styles. The premium 160gsm paper in six assorted colours adds vibrancy to your artwork. Additionally, the included bank paper leaves help protect your creations, ensuring they stay pristine. This spiral pad is an excellent selection for both professional artists and students alike.
Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card Sheets - Pack of 5
The Clairefontaine Pastelmat Sheets are designed specifically for pastel techniques, featuring a unique soft surface that allows you to layer pigments without saturation or the need for fixatives. This 360gsm card stock accommodates both energetic strokes and delicate shadings, giving you versatility in your artwork. Moreover, its ability to retain properties even when wet means you can explore various techniques without compromising the paper's quality. The acid-free composition ensures that your drawings are preserved beautifully over time.
Daler-Rowney 12 x 9in Pastel Paper Pad
The Daler-Rowney Pastel Paper is designed for artists who appreciate quality. It is ideal for pastel, charcoal, and other dry techniques, ensuring that you can create beautiful artwork with ease. The premium 160gsm paper comes in three assorted shades of white, providing variety for your projects. Additionally, the included leaves of bank paper protect your artwork within the spiral pad, offering peace of mind as you work. This paper pad is an excellent choice for both professional artists and students alike.
Mungyo A4 Professional Pastel Paper Pad
The Mungyo Pastel Paper Pad is an excellent choice for artists working with oil pastels and dry pastels. With 30 sheets in a variety of dark colours, including six sheets of coffee, anthracite, and blue night, plus twelve sheets of black, you'll have plenty of options for your projects. The woven textured finish enhances the application of pastels, ensuring vibrant results. Being acid-free, this paper helps preserve your artwork over time. Additionally, the 25% cotton content adds durability, making it ideal for all your creative needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What paper is best for pastel pencils?
Generally speaking, any surface that will accept the mark is suitable for use with pastel pencils. Drawing paper, illustration board, and bristol paper will all accept the mark. That being said, a paper with a heavier tooth or texture will provide the best results. Canson Mi-Teintes paper is my paper of choice.
2. Is pastel used on special paper?
The Artists' Choice in Pastel Papers The most popular papers for general pastel and chalk drawing are colored, textured specialty pastel papers such as Strathmore Pure Tints and Canson Mi-Teintes. These textured surfaces typically have a fine, irregular texture pressed into the surface during manufacture.
During our pastel paper research, we found 87 pastel paper products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 11,762 customer reviews through our big data system to write the pastel paper list. We found that most customers choose pastel paper with an average price of £20.63.
The pastel paper are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of pastel paper, including Talens Art Creation, Daler Rowney, Winsor & Newton, Clairefontaine, Strathmore.

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