When choosing drawing paper, there are a couple of things to consider:
Weight
Check the front cover of the drawing pad for the paper’s weight (measured in pounds). This number refers to the weight of 500 sheets of the paper before it’s cut. Generally, the thicker the paper, the heavier the weight, and the better the quality. Thin paper can tear easily when erasing, and very inexpensive pads sometimes won’t even list the weight.
Size and Binding
Sketch pads come in many sizes and bindings. They may be bound in books, spiral-bound, or with removable pages. Your choice depends on how you plan to use it:
- Nature journals or long-term projects: A bound sketchbook can last for years and become a treasured record of your creative journey. Some artists keep the same sketchbook for years, filling it with ideas, experiments, and practice sketches.
- Practice and exploration: Spiral-bound pads lay flat and make it easy to keep all your practice drawings together. These are perfect for daily sketching or trying out new techniques.
Many artists use sketchbooks as idea books, jotting down quick concepts, doodles, or notes for future projects. You can treat your sketchbook as a safe space to experiment, make mistakes, and develop your skills over time. Keeping a sketchbook consistently can show your progress and give you a collection of references to inspire new drawings.
Drawing Paper For Special Projects
- Bristol: A heavier, thicker paper that works well for pencil is Bristol board. Artist Lee Hammond recommends it as drawing paper because it holds up to shading techniques that involve rubbing graphite. Bristol comes in smooth or vellum finishes. Both are great for pencil, though smooth is ideal for beginners. For students, I usually purchase 9″ x 12″ paper, though this can be tricky to frame, as it’s not a standard frame size. Sometimes I cut it down to 8″ x 10″ and save the extra pieces for other projects.
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Cold-Press Watercolor Paper: Watercolor paper can also be used as drawing paper. Cold-press paper is thicker and has a slightly textured surface, making it excellent for both pencil and paint. It can handle repeated erasing without tearing and is ideal if you plan to add watercolor to your sketches.
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Hot-Press Watercolor Paper: Hot-press paper is very smooth, perfect for detailed pencil work, fine lines, and careful shading. Like cold-press paper, it’s durable and allows you to erase and layer pencil marks without tearing. It’s especially useful for sketches that require clean, crisp lines or when combining detailed graphite work with watercolor washes.
Which Drawing Paper Should You Choose?
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For children or beginners who will go through a lot of drawing paper, inexpensive options like standard copy paper are fine.
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If you want something a little more sturdy but still affordable, cardstock works well.
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For a special drawing, choose the best quality paper you can afford. Using quality supplies makes a noticeable difference in your final drawings and can turn a sketchbook into a meaningful keepsake.