The 5 Best Paper for Oil Pastels in 2024

When it comes to using pastels, having the right type of pastel crafted paper plays a huge part in the outcome of your artwork. The same applies to oil pastels as their pigment contains a mixture of wax binder and non-drying oil. The ideal type of paper for oil pastels should typically be thick and sturdy enough to resist wear and tear, can be layered on and is acid-free for easy archiving. However, the bottom line of which paper is best for an artist depends on the techniques that the artist intends to employ in their artwork. Choosing a pastel paper is quite the balancing act as it is essential that the paper has sufficient tooth for the oil pastel pigment to latch on to. There are multiple papers available for oil pastels, and they vary in cost, pad number, type, and size. Below is our compiled list of some of the best papers for oil pastels that you can purchase;

 

1. Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad

Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad 1
Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad 2

Intro

If you are an oil pastel artist just starting to get the hang of things and are looking to upgrade their paper, then the Strathmore 400 series pastel pad is the ideal paper for you. Strathmore is a brand that can be trusted as it has been in the market for well over a hundred years which should give you a clear indication of how well suited, they are at their craft. The 400 series pad is available in three sizes and features four different tone options which make it easy to uses with most with a lot of color schemes.

Pros

  • It is an acid-free paper which means it is great for archival purposes
  • It can support several layers of oil pastels without any difficulty despite its tooth.

Cons

  • The tooth on the 400 series pad is hair shallow which even though it does not render it useless, it can pose a challenge for artists using the paper.
  • A lot of users complained about the glue binding on the pad and found it to be a bit of a nuisance.

 

2. Sennelier Oil Pastel Card Pads

Sennelier Oil Pastel Card Pads 1
Sennelier Oil Pastel Card Pads 2

Intro

Available in four different size options, it is hard not to love oil pastel papers from Sennelier. This is because apart from the extra scale option, the Sennelier oil pastel card pads feature glassine inserts that can be pressed on to the brilliant white paper to prevent transference of pigment of the paper surface.

Pros

  • The paper is unbelievably thick and sturdy making it resistant to crumble.
  • The spiral binding is ideal for the preservation of an artist’s artwork since it does not contain chemicals or acids that could interfere with the acid-free nature of the paper.
  • The glassine inserts facilitate portability making it ideal for traveling artists who are on the go.

Cons

  • It does not offer tone variety as it is only available in white.
  • It’s relatively costly in comparison to other oil pastel papers.

 

3. UArt Premium Sanded Pastel Paper

UArt Premium Sanded Pastel Paper 1
UArt Premium Sanded Pastel Paper 2

Intro

This is one of the most revered and highest rated sanded pastel paper available in the market. This is because it features a wide range of grit options ranging from 400 to 800 and has six scale options (one of the largest when compared to other paper options). It is also possible to find all the different grit options for the respective scale sizes.

Pros

  • It has impressive layering capabilities.
  • It is versatile and comes in many different grit and tone options.

Cons

  • It has limited tone options available for the paper. Currently, the only two available tone options are natural and dark.
  • It is not cheap. However, if performance is something more relevant to you the price tag will not be a deal breaker.

 

4. Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper

Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper 1
Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper 2

Intro

A relatively cheaper alternative for sand textured oil pastel papers, the Colourfix pastel paper is ideal for beginners and individuals whose skills can be classified as transitional. These papers are available in twenty sheet options each with its own unique color. The Colourfix is available in two different sizes and has only one grit option available. Even though its grit options are limited, the single medium coarse grit that is available has a significant tooth which makes the paper an excellent choice for artwork that requires layering and blending.

Pros

  • It is cheap when compared to other available brands
  • The binder and pigment quality is top tier making it excellent for archival purposes. According to Art Spectrum, the manufacturers of the Colourfix papers, these oil pastel papers can last for anything between fifty to a hundred years.

Cons

  • The tone and grit options are minimal which is both a blessing and a curse in disguise.

 

5. Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers

Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers 1
Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers 2

Intro

In saving the best for last, the Canson Mi-Teintes concludes our list of the best paper for oil pastels. This is paper has a deep-set tooth that grits even the most mediocre oil pastel and results in the most beautiful outcome you can think of.

Pros

  • It offers texture variety unlike other papers with its double-sided rough and fine textured papers.
  • It has an insanely large tone variety of up to fifty colors

Cons

  • It is expensive

Final thoughts

Purchasing paper for oil pastels is not easy. There are numerous things that an artist needs to consider that will help them identify the right kind of paper.

Tooth and texture; probably one of the most significant considerations to make, the paper’s tooth and texture determine whether your artworks will dislodge once it has been completed. If your paper lacks ample tooth and texture, the oil pastels will not grip onto them effortlessly, and it is almost impossible to add layers onto the paper.

Tones: oil pastel papers typically come in various tones, and the oil pastels adhere differently to the different paper options. When purchasing paper for oil pastels, it is essential that you know which tones work best with your selected color scheme before making the purchase.

Another consideration to make is if the paper you intend to purchase is sold as a single sheet, as a pad or as sanded paper. Sanded paper varies from the other two in that it is more textured and is available various grit options ranging between 240 and 800.

Paper weight and storage capabilities are other elements that one should consider. The ideal paper should weigh about 160 gsm or 98 lb. meaning it will not tear easily. It should also be acid-free and not susceptible to yellowing or breaking as a result of breaking.

Other additional things that an artist can consider depending on their purposes and intents include their budget, availability of glassine inserts and the paper versatility.