Which Paper Should You Choose For Colored Pencils?

This is by far one of my most asked questions - which paper works best for colored pencils. It's a tricky one to answer because there is no one right answer. Different papers will give different results which may (or may not) suit your technique and style!
Let's compare 4 different papers so you can see what I mean...
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Materials List
As an Amazon associate I make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support :)
Amazon US
Strathmore Colored Pencil Paper: amzn.to/44WaExY
Arteza Hot Press Watercolour Paper: amzn.to/3wL2ag2
Strathmore Bristol Board Paper: amzn.to/2Ldu2BQ
Faber-Castell Polychromos Color Pencils: amzn.to/2KVIoa4
Amazon UK
Strathmore Colored Pencil Paper: amzn.to/3yLc95O
Arteza Hot Press Watercolour Paper: amzn.to/4a0ULY8
Strathmore Bristol Board Paper: amzn.to/3wQ4JOc
Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencils: amzn.to/3obkINo
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[@Psyicman]

I’ve used cold press watercolor paper to do a colored pencil drawing of a couple of Macaws. It came out decent but I used a colorless blending pencil after I got all the colors down and it really helped bring out the vibrancy better. Also smoothed out all the bumps. Now the reason behind me using watercolor paper is I used water soluble wax pastel for the background. So it became mixed media. let’s face it backgrounds in colored pencil is not the easiest thing to do in terms of patients and time consumption. So there are reasons to use watercolor paper.

[@bethmegansmith4642]

I am a Colorist and brought the Bristle Valium 300 from Strathmore. To print out coloring pages . learning to draw from Lulu mayo books so to learn shapes easy . I needlefelt for 6 years on and off. I love your video xxx Happy Drawing xxxxxxx

[@keithpittman3301]

I have been using a paper from the bee paper company, called be inspired, they have all kinds of paper from sketch, drawing ,Water color, colored pencils, multi media, love to see you check this brand of paper, get your thoughts, happy drawing.

[@kathyhackney7950]

I actually just started using strathmores drawing paper which tbh looks and feels like cheap paper but I'm really enjoying it for colored pencils. I also appreciate that it takes watercolor pencils, water soluble markers and gouache well ❤ I'm def gonna try their colored pencil paper now too bc I love the texture

[@sysnielsen4522]

I have a glossed 90 gr. printer paper from Clairefontaine (made for digital art prints). I use it frequently with excellent results.

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

Great info thanks.

[@laureendavis2369]

I've been drawing on hot press watercolor recently and have had some good results. Dumb question.. is Bristol board the same thing as just Bristol? Or is it a thicker version of Bristol?

[@marvmzem2010]

I would be very interested in your opinion of Pastelmat. I have worked with both using colour pencils and each seems to have it's pros and cons. They are SO different. Thanks Gemma.

[@gillianfernie9376]

I wonder what the Bristol board equivalent would be here in North American. Strathmore makes Bristol smooth and Bristol Vellum…

[@fyreflyskye8831]

Bristol Smooth is usually the most recommended.

[@gillianfernie9376]

@@fyreflyskye8831 thanks!

[@zamutn1]

hi Gemma i would ask you the picture of color pencil behind you, it's a draw or a picture? i looking for reference but i didn't find it. if it is a draw it's possible to see how you create it thank you, you are bautiful and amazing, love you channel

[@markyteo]

I tried coloured pencils (FC Albrecht Durer) and the Derwent Chromaflow on a piece of cold press watercolour paper. I realized the texture was a real drag to fill in and after 2 to 3 layers I couldn't put anymore pigment onto the paper. The drawing had an unpleasant, furry finish. Never again! That said I wonder what would be the ideal surface for water soluble coloured pencils.

[@tabethafrick7102]

I am a sanded paper kind of gal.

[@roycrowell5910]

Just watched, I’m in the process of coloring a beagle for a friend of mine and I’m using mixed media paper do you think that’s a fair choice

[@lindaflory24]

I had issues with the colored pencil paper as well. Too grainy.

[@EmilysFineArt]

Wow I'm here early!

[@vupps]

Someone had recommended Neenah vellum paper- is that something you would recommend?

[@FernCurtis]

In my years of being in different coloring groups, I I have found that when it comes to the Neenah Exact Vellum, that you have “two completely different camps”, so to speak. Those that love it and those that don’t. I had a friend send me me some of both white and the gray. I found that I am in the second camp, especially when it comes to the white. For me personally, I found it difficult to fill the tooth when using Prismas, but then, I also don’t use solvents. Then with Polychromos, I was able to fill the tooth and got beautiful saturation of the colors, BUT I lost a lot of details that try as I did, I wasn’t able to get back. Operator error? I don’t know. I just know that for me, it wasn’t an enjoyable experience. I DID find that Neenah Exact Vellum in Gray was much better to work with. Still not my favorite, however if I only had Neenah paper to work with, I would probably go with the Exact Vellum in Gray…keep in mind this is just what I personally found…. And I LOVE the layering process, so not sure what it is about this paper, but all of us are different. Just my two cents worth.

[@mikelkirby2791]

I do appreciate your "experiment" with different papers. Yet I would also have enjoyed a "price point" explanation as well. Yes, better supplies usually give better results, but many beginning artists are limited financially and/or do not want to "waste money" on their beginning "drawing exercises". Also, not trying to be too critical, you do have a bias toward the Bristol Board.

[@MaiVox]

Anyone who’s used Bristol Board has a bias towards Bristol Board because Bristol Board earns that bias.

[@mikelkirby2791]

@@MaiVox Yes, I agree. I use Bristol Board for "final art projects" when the medium is receptive (meaning I use watercolor paper when using mainly watercolor paints, etc). Thank you for responding to my comment.

[@MaiVox]

@@mikelkirby2791 Something you might want to consider that I do, for the sake of saving money while also continuing to work/practice on Bristol (with pen & ink for the smooth; vellum for the colored pencil), I buy the giant pads when they go on sale and then cut them down. So, for example, last year at Christmas, Michael’s had a BOGO sale so I grabbed their Canson XL recycled Bristol in 14 X 17 which has 25 pages in the pad. That cost me $20 for 50 of those which can be cut to 4 of each page for 7 X 8.5” pieces. Granted, I prefer the 5.5x8.5 size sketch books. But $20 for 200 7x8.5 pieces of Bristol is absolutely affordable for this hobby. If you’re a 9x12 kind of artist when you’re practicing, the 18x24 size slices up 4 ways, too and those pads are around $40 for Canson’s recycled bristol when they go on sale-even ordering off Amazon for $35, you’d get 100 9x12 sheets after cutting them. For me, paper that isn’t Bristol tears up my pen nibs so I’m dropped more money replacing pens using other paper. Now combining ink and colored pencil, going big and cutting down is the only option for my budget. Thanks for replying to my reply :)

[@Emike2000]

Is mixed media paper okay please?

[@ianschaefer11]

I am very new to colored pencil drawing and I recently completed a project on mixed media paper with prismacolor pencils from wal mart. I wanted to achieve some of the techniques I see in Gemma’s videos but it seemed like the paper was too coarse. Maybe I’m looking for something to blame other than my inexperience! Anyway, I ordered some Bristol smooth paper and polychromos pencils and look forward to trying them. Then I can’t blame the materials since that is what I always see Gemma use ☺️

[@Emike2000]

@@ianschaefer11 thank you, I had issues with mixed media as well, the paper didn’t handle a lot of layers and it proved quite difficult

[@harpersmythe658]

Watercolour paper comes in three textures - Hot, Not (or Cold pressed) and Rough, not just two as you said 😊

[@catcat2670]

Mostly you see 2 textures. I’m sure she knows about Rough but it’s not as commonly used.