How to Choose the Right Paper for Oil Pastels: Artist-Recommended Surfaces for Every Style
Choosing the best paper depends on what type of drawing you’re going for. If you’re wanting to do something very realistic, you might want to look for paper with a smoother surface, so that you can fine tune all the details. But if you’re doing something more abstract or pointillist for example, you might choose a textured surface.
At the end of the day, the best paper for oil pastels is mostly a matter of personal preference. It can be tricky deciding what kind of paper to use for oil pastels, but understanding a few key characteristics can help.
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The first question many artists ask is: Do you need special paper for oil pastels?
While you don’t need a paper marketed exclusively for them, there are really only a few artist papers that are produced specifically with the oil pastels medium in mind. This can make the search for the best paper for oil pastels tricky.
Keeping these things in mind, there are a few characteristics to look for when choosing paper for oil pastels.
Weight of the paper
The weight of the paper is an important consideration for oil pastels.
I don’t recommend anything under 80lb for oil pastels, such as sketch paper or drawing paper. The reason is that the lighter papers don’t hold up well with oil pastels. Oil pastels is a thicker, heavier medium compared to drawing with pens or pencils. So you want a paper that is more sturdy and thick, such as some type of Mix Media paper.
Texture
Texture can be important in deciding what paper to use. Oil pastels are often helped when paper has a little bit of tooth to it. Smooth paper can be used of course, depending on the type or art you are working on.
With most artwork involving oil pastels, I recommend something with a little bit of texture or tooth to it.
Acid-Free Archival Paper
Acid-free, archival paper is made from materials that have a neutral or slightly alkaline pH level. This helps to ensure that the oil pastels paper does not yellow, become brittle, or deteriorate over time.
Choosing a high-quality, oil pastels paper archival product ensures your artwork retains its original colors and appearance for a longer period.
Also, artwork created on acid-free paper retains its original colors and appearance for a longer period, as the paper doesn’t get discolored or cause any fading.
Top Paper Recommendations for Use with Oil Pastels
I want to offer my own recommendations on paper that can be used with oil pastels.
But first let me start by making clear that there is no right or wrong in choice of paper. Making quality art doesn’t mean fitting yourself in a box and sometimes stepping out of the box is a great way to go. For example I have seen oil pastels art drawn on newspaper print and on cereal boxes. It’s really up to the artist’s intent. That being said, here are my own suggestions for top oil pastels paper type and surface recommendations.
Mix Media Paper: Is Mixed Media Paper Good for Oil Pastels? (Best for Beginners)
A great paper to consider starting out with is mixed media paper. I’m a big fan of Canson Mixed Media at 96lbs. It’s got a decent weight to it as well as a little bit of texture too. I think they’re very good for oil pastels and I use this paper often.
Canson makes a variety of sizes in their mix media paper pads, from 5.5 x 8.5 inch up to 18 x 24 inch.
The XL Mix Media pads are acid-free, there are perforations along the edge for easy removal from the pads, and they are also priced well.
At 114lbs in weight, I feel these are the perfect place to start out with. There is a little bit of tooth to the paper, as they are not completely smooth, which works out well for oil pastels.
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor paper can be a perfect choice due to its texture and weight. One recommended type I have is Arches Watercolor Paper. It is made from 100% cotton, providing strength and durability. It also comes in different textures: Hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough. There are also a variety of weights at 140 lb, 300 lb, and 356 lb. So Arches provides many choices in watercolor paper to suit your own artistic preferences and needs.
Mixed Media Journals
Mixed Media Journals are typically excellent quality paper, and the watercolor series typically range between 90-140lbs. I recommend experimenting with this range to discover your own sweet spot as far as oil pastels paper weight. Not too thin and flimsy, but not overly thick either is what usually works best for me.
Strathmore’s Visual Journal series of pads could be considered a little more artist-quality than Canson XL. They are a little more expensive but overall still economical.
This Visual Journal at 90lb Watercolor weight is an excellent choice. Pictured here is the 5.5 x 8 size. Strathmore also offers a larger 9×12 Mixed Media Visual Journal too.
If you choose the watercolor weight, or the mixed media journal, I find they are great for the oil pastels medium (especially combined with my favorite Sennelier Oil Pastels). At 90lb weight and with the texture and tooth, this is in my opinion a great paper for working with oil pastels.
If you’re looking for best sketchbook for oil pastels, this one is it, in my mind.
There are several other brands and types of paper that vary in weight. Again, I recommend not going under 80lbs, but this is going to be your personal preference. I have done some oil pastels using Canson colored paper for pastels, and it has worked out fine for me. The point is, it’s something you want to experiment with, there are really no rules for what type of paper works best, just guidelines and recommendations.
Sennelier Oil Pastel Pad
The Best Paper for Use with Oil Pastels
If I’m forced to choose just one type of paper as being the “best” for oil pastels, I’m going to go with Sennelier Oil Pastel Pads.
This is just my own personal choice, everyone artist is free to make their own of course.
One reason I like these is that this is one of a very few handful of art papers created specifically for oil pastels. These pads by Sennelier were designed for use with oil pastels.
They combine well with Sennelier’s own oil pastels product, which are also top quality. You can of course use any type of oil pastels with this paper, not just the Sennelier brand.
A few characteristics that make this Sennelier oil pastel pads great for oil pastels are:
- Weight: It is a good heavy weight at 160lb
- Textured: Providing just the right tooth for use with oil pastels.
- Acid-free: Helps art to last long, and is archival.
- Brand: Made by Sennelier, the same brand that makes high quality oil pastels
- Protection: Glassine sheets between each page helps protect your paintings.
Any oil pastels artist is going to want to use these for their more serious pieces of artwork. While being more expensive than other papers, they provide the artist-level of quality.
And that’s my recommendation for the best oil pastels paper: Sennelier Oil Pastel Pads. They come in various sizes, from 9.5 x 12.5 inch pastel pad, up to a larger 15.75 x 23.5 inch pad.
Bonus Recommendation
But wait! I actually have one more recommendation that is a personal favorite.
Even though this is actually not paper, it happens to be by far my favorite surface to use with oil pastels. (Notice, my top choice for paper is the Sennelier Pads, but atop that even is my favorite surface which is Pastelbord)
Pastelbord by Ampersand: The Best Surface for Oil Pastels
Pastelbord needs to be mentioned while discussing oil pastels surfaces, of which paper has been the focus for this article. In my opinion, Pastelbord is actually the best surface for oil pastels. Since it’s a hard surface, there is no concern about the weight of the paper, making it similar to painting oil pastels on wood board.
What is Pastelbord?
Pastelbord is an artist-quality surface, made by Ampersand, who also makes Hardbord, Gessobord, Scratchbord, and a variety of sturdy surfaces for painting and drawing.
To me, Pastelbord is perfect for oil pastels. There is no concern for the weight of the paper, because it isn’t paper, instead it’s a hard surface to work from. Pastelbord also has a perfectly textured surface which picks up the oil pastels medium very well.
I use Ampersand Pastelbord for all my serious artwork in oil pastels, and the only drawback with it is that they are more difficult to get framed. It is possible to frame them, it’s just not as easy. But because they are so much more stronger and durable, in my opinion it makes the value of the artwork increase. Partly due to the effort and expense of getting them framed.
For information about getting pastelbord framed, I recommend visiting a local art store or framing shop.
Pastelbord comes in a variety of sizes, and if you’re interested, also try out some of Ampersand’s other surfaces to experiment with. For me there is no comparison, Pastelbord wins my favorite surface overall, for oil pastels artwork.
For further reading, please visit my articles:
Beginner’s Guide to Oil Pastels
Happy oil pasteling! – Eric
Visit my Facebook page Oil Pastels Artist
Thanks for your recommendations Eric, I appreciate it.