Pastel Paper

Tooth & Texture

Because pastels must grip to the surface of the paper the paper must have "tooth". The depth of the texture can be important and the right choice for you will depend on the nature of your work. Smoother pastel papers are ideal for precise details and hard lines which will not be broken up by the texture. On the other hand if you work in layers, a deeper texture is more suitable as your first layer could cover a shallow tooth and not leave enough tooth for subsequent layers to grip to. Rough textures inhibit blending but can add interest to your work.

Coloured Pastel Paper

Artists who work in pastels often prefer to use coloured papers. Pastels do not cover the whole surface in the way that other media can. Sections of the paper may be left uncovered and small gaps will be visible in areas where pastels have been applied. For this reason coloured papers can result in a more pleasing effect. You can choose pastel paper in colours that work in harmony with your colour palette or which contrast with it.

Fine Range from Quality Brands

We have chosen a fine range of papers for the Pegasus Art collection which are made specifically for pastel work or which possess the attributes required. Our pastel papers are from the Arches, Spectrum, Fabriano, Clairefontaine and Hahnemuhle ranges. We also offer the ever popular Canson Mi Teintes papers. Our range features papers with a high rag (cotton) content and 100% cotton styles, both of which are archival quality.

Hahnemuhle velour paper is produced using inert synthetic fibres on an acid free backing. It has a pleasing Fuzzy Felt type surface which holds pastels well and is popular with portrait and animal portrait artists. The Clairefontaine Pastelmat card is a brand new concept which offers many possibilities. It has a surface which is coarser that velour but softer than sandpaper and which possesses an excellent grip and so is perfect for working in layers.

Min Order 5 Sheets - Mix & Match

With such a great variety of papers in so many colours our collection offers you the options you need for working in pastels. Please note that our sheet papers are subject to minimum order quantities which are identified in the product listings. Many of the papers across our entire range can be mixed and matched to achieve the order quantities required.

You can learn more about the surfaces of paper, the weight, paper 'sizing' and more information in our handy guide to paper.