Best Paper For Graphite Portraits

Most drawing paper has a coarse texture and that will work against you.

Best paper for graphite portraits.

In video 2 of sarah becktel s graphite series see her tips for selecting the right paper for graphite. Textured paper surface should be thought of as being a 3 dimensional surface with peaks and valleys not unlike a mountain chain. Strathmore 400 series drawing or strathmore s 400 series bristol vellum surface paper is perfect for charcoal. Bienfang raritan heavyweight drawing paper i cannot get this paper to accept dark blacks they just seem to fall off.

Either get two pads one in each size or just get the larger size and work on half the page for graphite drawings if you want to get conservative. I used strathmore 300 series bristol board pads 9 x 12 smooth for this ink drawing. Canson mi teintes canson ingres strathmore 500 series and fabriano tiziano are popular choices. Thinner paper will tear easier and ruin your work.

To achieve an even shade it is necessary to surround the peaks paper texture with graphite from all angles. It s called charcoal or pastel paper. Printer copying paper generally has a weight of 20lbs 75 gsm. For graphite drawings with a moderate degree of realism a drawing paper like strathmore series 400 is a good place to begin.

Again my recommendation is the same here. It does not hold graphite well at all. The best paper for graphite drawing should be over 80 lbs. It will have the texture you want.

Smooth paper is great for graphite but it doesn t hold charcoal or pastel as well as drawing paper with a rougher texture. This not only produces an even shade but it is easier to achieve and has greater depth of tone. A good overall choice in my opinion is strathmore bristol smooth 400. The pencil drawing paper recommended in this video can be purchased from a link on my website here.

Canson mi teintes drawing paper this paper has a very pronounced laid texture. The best paper for graphite drawings should have a weight of 80lbs or more significant. The heavier weight is better for drawing since it can take more erasure and can handle the constant pressure from the pencil better. Ink drawing day to day sketching.

It will give you good results without breaking the bank.