Looking to try a new medium, but not sure where to start? Regardless of whether you’re learning how to draw, color, or paint, finding the right paper can feel overwhelming. Testing out all the different paper brands can get expensive. Then, where do you store all of that paper? And what do you do with the paper brands that you don’t like?
Over the years I’ve found that I don’t really like having 20 different pads of paper lying around my craft room, and I don’t have the space for them! I like to find the paper that will work for most of my projects in that medium and invest in it. So today, I’m sharing my top 6 favorite paper brands for artists. I hope that it helps you figure out which paper is right for you!
What I look for when choosing paper brands for artists:
I’ve settled in on most of the paper brands I like by now, but when I was still figuring things out and testing new brands, I started by looking at the following to help me make my decisions.
- Quality: Does the paper meet my needs as an artist (ie. will it buckle, rip, or absorb the medium)? Will it reduce the likelihood that the art will fade?
- Texture: Each medium works best with different textures and may require different weights of paper. So does the paper allow me to use the medium that I’m working in, without working against me?
- Price: Is it affordable? Or will buying it break the bank?
- Availability: Is the paper brand easily or moderately accessible for me to get my hands on?
For Drawing:
Strathmore 400 Series 60lb Recycled Sketch Pad [Blick] [Amazon]
When it comes to drawing, I really like the Strathmore 400 Series 60lb Recycled Sketch Pad. I tend to make rough sketches when drawing. Most of the time, I try to get ideas of things I would want to trace and turn into a painting or add color to later. I like the Strathmore 400 Series 60lb Recycled Sketch Pad because it has a fine-tooth surface, but not too smooth.
The paper is relatively thin and inexpensive. This allows me to mark it up, or pitch a drawing that didn’t work out without feeling guilty about the waste. I also really like how easily accessible this paper brand is in the United States. You can likely find it at your local craft store if you don’t want to buy it online. But, my favorite thing about this pad is that it is made from 30% post-consumer recycled paper. So I can help the environment while I’m drawing!!
Strathmore 400 Series 60lb Recycled Sketch Pad
Fireplace Drawing on Strathmore 400 Series 60lb Recycled Sketch Paper
For Watercolor Painting:
When looking at watercolor paper brands it is so important to make sure that the paper is 100% cotton. If it doesn’t say 100% cotton, I tend to avoid it.
100% cotton paper has a lot of benefits. The paint will soak into the page better, making layering easier. Water will also absorb into the paper easier, allowing the page to stay wet longer. I’ve also found that blending colors tend to be easier and brush strokes look a little less noticeable on 100% cotton. If you recently started painting using student-grade paper and techniques are not working how you expected, try switching to 100% cotton paper and see how it feels.
Wet on Dry Technique: Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. Cold Press Extra White Watercolor Block [Blick] [Amazon]
For the wet-on-dry technique (wet paint on dry paper) I use Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. Cold Press Extra White watercolor paper. You can buy this in large single sheets and then cut it down to size, or you can buy a 20-page block. The block is more convenient because all four sides of the paper pack are already glued in place so it doesn’t buckle while you work. You can literally open it and start painting. But honestly, both the single sheets and the block are great.
I use this for the wet on dry technique because the paper can withstand a good amount of paint and water, but too much and it will start to wrinkle a little. I also really like that this paper is offered in extra white. Traditional white has a hit of yellow, which I don’t care for. I’ve been able to find this paper online in several places in the US and in many of my local art stores too.
Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. Cold Press Extra White Watercolor Block
Watercolor Flowers on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. Cold Press Extra White Watercolor Paper
View this Pairing Stamping with Watercolors tutorial.
Wet on Wet Technique: Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Block [Blick] [Amazon]
Arches 140 lb. Cold Press watercolor paper is my go-to for wet on wet (wet paint on wet paper) artwork. It just holds more water than a lot of the other paper that I’ve tried in the past. When a piece of paper starts to become oversaturated, you may notice lint coming off the page as it starts to deteriorate. Arches can eventually do that, but it takes a lot of water, and a lot of brush strokes to get there. I have literally submerged my paper in water then pulled it out, laid it on a flat surface, and started painting without any problems.
Arches 140 lb. Cold Press watercolor paper can be purchased in large single sheets, a block (4 sides adhered to the base of the paper pack) or as a pad (1 side adhered). If you buy it as a single sheet, you can also buy it in a Bright White color. This paper is also easily accessible in many different countries. I paint with an amazing community of painters from all around the world, and most of them have access to Arches.
I’ll be honest that this is the most expensive paper that I own. But nothing is more frustrating than starting a project that requires a lot of water, then watching your paper buckle and disintegrate as you work. So for me, it’s worth the cost.
Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Block
Hilton Head Beach Painting on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Block
For Copic Markers:
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
Copic markers are really great and can be used on a lot of different types of cardstock, so I would encourage you to try what you have and see what works. I settled on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb cardstock for a few different reasons.
The 80lb weight of the paper is ideal for card-making projects. The paper is also thick enough that it absorbs the ink without it spreading (or bleeding) to create a cauliflower effect on the page. It has a very smooth texture, which allows the markers to glide across the page without creating lines or noticeable tooth marks on the page.
Lastly, if you run your markers across a piece of printer paper, construction paper, or a regular piece of cardstock, you will likely notice that your marker releases different amounts of ink on different types of paper. Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb cardstock tends to be less thirsty than other paper brands I’ve tried. Since Copic markers can be so pricey, I hate to waste ink that I don’t need to use simply because of the paper I chose.
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock
Lettuce Be Friends Tags made on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock
View this Lettuce Be Friends | Handmade Gift Tag Tutorial tutorial.
For Colored Pencils:
Strathmore 400 Series Colored Pencil Paper Pad [Blick] [Amazon]
I love colored pencil coloring. I use Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils which are oil-based pencils. Colored pencils can also be made using a wax-based formula (Prismacolor).
When using colored pencils I typically will apply three or four light layers of color onto the paper to get the desired blending effect. Having a paper brand that has a medium tooth, makes this process easier, and helps me to get an image that has a less streaky look. The Strathmore 400 Series Colored Pencil Paper Pad is my favorite paper for this type of work. I also like it because I can find it pretty easily online and in most local craft stores, and it’s pretty affordable!
Strathmore 400 Series Colored Pencil Paper Pad
Rose made on Strathmore 400 Series Colored Pencil Paper Pad
Learn more about how to make a DIY art portfolio.
This Rose is a tutorial from Kit & Clowder. Find more tutorials from Alyce here!
Colored Cardstock for Card Making:
Recollections Cardstock Paper, Essentials 20 Colors [Amazon]
When it comes to cardstock for card making, most of mine is Recollections 65lb cardstock. You can find it on Amazon and at Michael’s. I like it because it’s really easy to die cut, it’s easy to trim, and easy to feed through my Cricut machine. It doesn’t rip when I peel it off the Cricut mat like some other papers brands that I’ve tried previously.
In most cases, it’s also heavy enough to turn into a card base without needing to add an extra stamp for postage. When using it as a card base, I also adhere a white insert into the interior of the card so that I can write in the white space. This is some of the most affordable quality cardstock that I’ve found for most scenarios, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve also found that if you purchase it from Michael’s or Amazon and there’s a defect, it’s been really easy to return or replace it.
Recollections Cardstock Paper, Essentials 20 Colors
Greeting Card make on Recollections Cardstock
Also Great: Lawn Fawn 100lb Cardstock [Scrapbook.com]
When I’m looking for a thicker cardstock Lawn Fawn 100lb paper is my go-to. This thicker cardstock can be good when you’re inking or stamping directly on the card base so you need something a little more sturdy to help the card maintain its shape.
I hope you found this overview of my top 6 favorite paper brands for artists. If you enjoyed this article please follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest for more helpful artist resources! You can also shop all the handmade cards that I’ve designed here.