Reviews of the Best Drawing Papers With Examples
The surface of the paper determines the fineness of detail and the range of value an artist is able to create. Over the last 30 years I have used several different kinds of paper for my graphite drawings and found each one unique. Here are my reviews of several of them.
Name of the paper takes you to the review.
| Paper Reviews | Archival | Price | Rating | Best Sketching Choice | Best Fine Art Choice |
| Arches Watercolor | Yes | High | Superb | X | |
| Fabriano Aristico | Yes | High | Superb | X | |
| Stonehenge Drawing Paper | Yes | Low | Excellent | X | |
| Strathmore Pastel Paper | No | Low | Excellent | X | X |
| Strathmore 400 Drawing Paper | No | Low | Good |
X | X |
| Canson Drawing Medium Surface | No | Low | Good | X | |
| Strathmore 500 Bristol Board | Yes | High | Good | X (Limited) |
|
| Strathmore 400 Bristol Board | No | Low | Good | X | X (Limited) |
| Strathmore 300 Bristol Board | Poor | ||||
| Canson Drawing Smooth Surface | Poor | ||||
| Arches Cover | Poor | ||||
| Bienfang Raritan | Poor | ||||
| Canson Mi-Teintes | Poor | ||||
| Clayboard | Poor | ||||
| Lanaquarelle | Poor | ||||
| Rives BFK | Poor |
The Best Drawing Paper That I’ve Tested
Arches is a tough paper with a smooth surface that can stand multiple erasures. It holds blacks beautifully, and you can create smooth gradations on it. I work with my entire range of pencils on this paper – from 9H to 9B. It’s available in individual sheets and various sized watercolor blocks and pads.
The Enchanted Tree was drawn on this paper, and I was able to create fine detail.
Arches is made of 100% cotton and is archival quality paper.
Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Paper, Hotpress
Artistico has a smooth surface, but you can also create deep blacks on it. It has a slight diagonal texture that appears when it’s lightly hatched with soft leads. You can diagonally hatch into this texture with a hard lead to ‘fill-in’ and soften the look. I have not found this slight diagonal texture distracting or difficult to work with.
Graphite seems to erase well from the surface, and even very dark hatching lifts off the surface with a kneaded eraser.
Legion Stonehenge Drawing Paper
Stonehenge has a smooth and somewhat soft surface. I use soft leads when I draw on this one.
The surface is smoother than Arches hotpress, and it’s much more delicate and gouges easily. You have to work with soft leads and apply several layers of hatching to create very dark blacks on this paper, but it can be done. It’s available in individual sheets and various sized paper pads.
Walnuts and Amaretto was drawn on this paper, and you can see the level of detail I was able to create on it.
This paper is made of 100% cotton. It’s archival and is very inexpensive.
Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Paper – Assorted Colors
Since it’s meant for pastels, this paper has an obvious texture. However, by using the right technique, it is possible to produce dark blacks and smooth detail on it.
This paper works very well for portraits, landscapes, and other situations where the texture can add interest to the drawing. Additionally, it comes in several light pastel colors that work well with graphite.
The first piece I ever sold was a drawing of three irises on a pale yellow sheet of this paper. I suggest that you buy a small assorted pad to see what colors you prefer. It’s an inexpensive paper.
Even though this paper is good in many ways, please be aware that the texture will show in photographs and scans. That can be a problem if you’re doing an illustration to be used for publication. However, for work to be displayed in a frame, it works beautifully.
This is an acid free paper, and it’s not archival. I’ve had no trouble with it deteriorating over time, but you should keep it from touching other acidic paper or matte board, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Good Drawing Paper – The following paper brands work well for pencil drawing in some circumstances.
Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Paper
I like this paper very much. It’s off-white, and the texture is a little rough. It makes a good quick sketching paper because of that roughness. This paper erases well and that allows you to pull out highlights easily.
This 400 series drawing paper is acid-free but not archival, however many artists use for finished work, including myself.
The key to long life is to keep this paper from touching other acidic paper or cardboard, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Canson Classic Cream Drawing Paper
I sketched these three onions on Canson Classic Cream Drawing Paper. I think it’s a good paper for quick, rough sketching. For comparison, the texture is a little less rough than the Strathmore 400 Drawing Paper I reviewed above. However, this paper is somewhat soft, and you can dent it if you press too hard with a sharp pencil point.
I only used one pencil, a B, on this sketch. I’ve found that on somewhat rough papers like this one, you can create darker values with mid-range soft pencils because the grain captures the lead so well. 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.
Canson makes this paper in a smooth surface, which I don’t like and review below.
Canson drawing paper is acid-free but not archival.
Strathmore 500 Bristol Pad – Plate
This paper’s finish is almost too smooth for most graphite drawing. While you can create very delicate textures on it, like flower petals, creating dense black takes patience. It can be done, but it takes several layers of soft lead to accomplish.
The dragon and lamb were created on this paper. The illustration was made for a book and the image scanned and printed very well, but the image has few very dark values.
The 500 Series Bristol Board is archival quality.
Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Smooth Surface
Strathmore’s 400 Series Bristol Board has a somewhat uneven surface tooth that can look blotchy after blended. It is possible to work out the blotches and make a smooth tone, but it takes some practice and time to do it.
This is not a bad board. I used it for several drawings in my book. It’s inexpensive, and it’s consistent, but there is a little bit of a learning curve in knowing how to deal with its faults.
The Christmas Cactus flower was drawn on this board. The 400 Series Bristol Board is acid free but not archival.
The Worst Drawing Paper – I don’t suggest using any of these papers for graphite pencil drawing.
Strathmore 300 Series Smooth Bristol Board – This is a very smooth board and similar to the 400 series Bristol Board, but it doesn’t have enough tooth to hold rich blacks. I do not recommend it.
Canson Drawing Paper Smooth Surface – The tooth on this paper is inconsistent and shallow. It doesn’t accept dark values and I do not recommend it.
Arches Cover – This paper is meant for printing, but I’m mentioning it because most beginners don’t know the difference between drawing paper and paper meant for printing. Usually, printing paper is too soft for pencil drawing, and Arches Cover is no exception.
Bienfang Raritan Heavyweight Drawing Paper – I cannot get this paper to accept dark blacks … they just fall off.
Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Paper – This paper has a very pronounced laid texture. It does not hold graphite well at all. Producing a deep black is impossible.
Clayboard (Not a paper, but thought I’d mention it anyway.) – Much too smooth. It has almost no tooth at all, so don’t waste your money like I did. Ha!
Lanaquarelle Hot Press Watercolor Paper – A paper with fibers that become noticeable as it’s worked.
Rives BFK – Hundreds of fibers rise as this paper is worked. Then they break off, making a terrible mess.