Best Pastel Paper of 2026

"What I appreciate most about this paper is its sturdy weight and texture, making it ideal for dry pastel and charcoal work. It’s a pleasure to use, and the paper holds up well even if I change my mind mid-sketch—no tearing at all!"

"As a colored pencil artist, I was really impressed by the variety of colors this set offers. The surface is just right for my oil pastel work, and I love how easy it is to blend and layer without damaging the paper."

"If you’re new to pastels and looking for an affordable yet reliable surface, this paper is a solid pick. While it’s not sanded and doesn’t handle thick layers like some other options, you can still achieve fine detail and color mixing with a bit of planning."

"I really appreciate the excellent weight and feel of this paper for my dry pastel sketches. The surface holds up well, and it's a lovely choice for charcoal and pastel work. While I wouldn't use it for wet underpaintings, it truly stands out for dry media."

"What I love most is the variety of colors and the perfect texture—it makes working on this paper enjoyable. Plus, the paper is sturdy enough to handle corrections without tearing. With some clear gesso, I've even managed to use watercolor on it successfully!"

"If you're seeking a budget-friendly pastel paper with lots of tooth, this is a great pick. It's not sanded, so you can't pile on thick pigment, but if you work in thin layers, you'll get beautiful detail and color mixing. I've been able to see the paper texture through my layers, which means it holds up for extended work."

"I've found this paper to be fantastic with oil pastels. Even with mid-range brands, blending and layering are much easier, and with softer pastels, the colors look especially vivid and bright. The texture allows for more layers than typical watercolor stock, so it’s definitely my go-to, even as someone who’s had to adapt my technique. Highly recommend it, especially for beginners."

"I absolutely love using this paper for my oil pastels! The colors really pop, and the surface just feels great to work on. It’s become a staple in my art supplies."

"This has been my preferred pastel paper since art school. The quality is reliable, and I appreciate having both a smooth and textured side to choose from. It works great for soft pastels and even colored pencils."

"I've used this paper for years and love how versatile it is with oil and soft pastels. The option of both a smooth and a textured side gives me creative flexibility, and the paper holds layers and colors beautifully."

"The colors really pop on the black background of this paper! It's a joy to work with, and I keep coming back for my pastel projects."

"While the paper quality meets my expectations for pastel work, I was disappointed that it arrived with a damaged corner due to poor packaging."

"I've tried a lot of surfaces, and this paper really stands out for oil pastels. Even with mid-range or student-grade pastels, it's easy to blend and layer, and with softer brands, the colors just pop. I found it much better than some pricier watercolor papers and would highly recommend it, even for those new to oil pastels."

"As someone who loves working on a black background, I was impressed by how the rich colors truly pop on this paper. It really makes my pastel artwork stand out more than other papers I've used."

"I've been using this pastel paper since my art school days. The quality is solid for soft pastels, and I appreciate having both a smooth and a textured side to work with. It’s versatile and reliable for my projects."

"I got this for my niece along with soft pastels, and they work together wonderfully. The paper’s tooth holds pigment beautifully and the quality and thickness feel premium. I love the fun selection of colors—it's a great choice for beginners or anyone expanding their art supplies."

"As someone who uses chalk pastels, I find this paper grips the medium perfectly and feels substantial. The quality stands out, and I appreciate that it’s trusted even by professionals. For the price, it's a solid investment in art materials."

"I primarily use this pastel paper for graphite and pen and ink. The moderate tooth and rich texture really make projects enjoyable, and I love having an assortment of colors when planning artwork. It handles layering nicely and always arrives well packaged and fast—great value!"

"I'm absolutely in love with this surface! The deep, cool blues are stunning, and I especially appreciate the creamy paper for underpainting. It also supports many layers and has quickly become one of my top choices for pastel work."

"After using this pastel paper several times, I find myself favoring it over PastelMat. The texture is excellent, and both layering and blending are a breeze. I’m especially impressed with how accurate my colors look on this paper. Plus, the generous size lets me get multiple drawings from one sheet. Highly recommended!"

"This paper is really comparable to Pastelmat but less grabby. It’s great that it handles numerous pastel layers and produces much less dust than some others I’ve tried."

"I've been using this paper for years, and the quality never disappoints. The surface has a nice tooth for color and layering, and it's sturdy enough for building up shadows. I use graphite, colored pencil, and pastels on it, though it's not ideal for pen and ink."

"What I appreciate most is the choice between the smooth and textured sides. The rougher side gives a unique effect and holds a lot of pastel, while the smoother one conserves material. Both sides are great for shading and blending colors. It's a fantastic value for frequent artists."

"I love the range of tones, paper size, and texture this pad offers. However, I once received a block where the sheets didn't fit perfectly under the cover, which made the presentation feel a bit unprofessional. For detailed work, having materials in perfect condition is important to me."

"I was really impressed by the quality and condition of the paper when it arrived—no bent corners or tears at all! The paper has a nice tooth, allowing for smooth layering and blending. I did find that it’s best to use harder pastels first, since it doesn’t take as many layers as sanded paper, but overall I’m really happy with how it handles. The texture is gentle on my fingers, too. My only gripe is the price, but I still love the paper itself."

"I got this for a colored pencil class and it’s been fantastic for beginners. The paper offers just enough tooth to grip the pigment without making the texture too prominent, so my work looks clean. The size is perfect for my projects and considering the quality and value, I’d definitely recommend it for anyone just starting out."

"Canson works beautifully for so many art forms—watercolor, pen and ink, pastels, embossing—you name it. The paper is thick enough to handle a bit of water and holds up nicely for both flats and cards. My only issue was the packaging: it came in a thin envelope, so it was bent in the mail. Thankfully, the company replaced it right away. If they improved the packaging, it would be perfect!"

"For my pastel work, I absolutely love this paper. The gritty surface grabs pastel color perfectly and it's ideal for building up rich, vibrant layers. It's become my go-to for most of my artwork."

"I decided to splurge and try this paper because it looked gorgeous, and honestly, it's far superior to other pastel papers like Canson. The texture and quality are unmatched, though I do wish it were more affordable."

"While the paper is solid and has a nice thickness, I was a bit let down because I expected more for the price. The surface doesn't have as much tooth as I hoped, making it difficult to layer pastels the way I like. It feels almost too smooth and sturdy for my usual technique, so I probably won't purchase it again."