Best Paper For Realistic Charcoal Drawing

Selecting a paper for your charcoal drawing is often a matter of personal preference.

Best paper for realistic charcoal drawing.

To select the best paper for charcoal drawing you have to keep in mind the characteristics of the medium as well as what you desire out of the drawing as a whole. Smoother surfaces or less tooth work well for graphite and pen and ink. Again the strathmore brand is my go to source of paper even with charcoal drawing. The paper should be heavier because this prevents the smudging bleeding and leaks that might happen with many other types of papers out there.

Because charcoal is not a precision implement like let s say a sharpened graphite pencil or ink pen the best suited surface for it is one with a lot of texture akin to pastel boards that will pull a lot of charcoal to its. However the lessons are still poignant for modern artists breaking into charcoal for the first time. At 64 pounds i really wish this charcoal paper was thicker. Charcoal drawing by henry pitz is a much older book dating back decades.

I used strathmore 300 series bristol board pads 9 x 12 smooth for this ink drawing. Charcoal drawing by henry pitz. The paperweight is 100 pound and is an acid free paper made in the usa. In 160 pages you ll learn about the medium of charcoal and how it compares to drawing.

What is the difference between bristol vellum and bristol smooth. However knowing the different types of paper can be helpful in making the right choice. All papers will have a different texture also referred to as tooth the tooth allows the media to adhere to the surface. Walking through an art store can be daunting because of the vast selection so how do you know which paper is best for your project.

Best place to purchase strathmore paper. You can find strathmore paper in most local art and craft stores like but i like to purchase my drawing paper and supplies online at blick art materials. The charcoal particles will need that extra tooth to stick to. Charcoal and crayon will work better with more tooth.

For graphite drawings with a moderate degree of realism a drawing paper like strathmore series 400 is a good place to begin. It will give you good results without breaking the bank. Most drawing paper has a coarse texture and that will work against you. Nitram charcoal is available in soft.

Strathmore sells a 500 series pad made precisely for charcoal drawing. What to look for in the best paper for charcoal drawing.