Not sure what drawing paper to buy? Here are the best drawing papers for drawing with graphite or charcoal.
Paper is the most common surface for drawing, and it’s often overlooked in its importance. The surface on which you draw has as much, or even greater, impact on your success as an artist as your other materials do.
Experiment with different brands and styles of drawing paper to see what works best for your style and preferred medium. There are papers made for general drawing that can be used with various media, and others that are more specialized. Charcoal paper is designed to hold charcoal with its rough texture. Smooth paper might work well for graphite, but not charcoal. Some papers “release” material easily, allowing the graphite or charcoal to lift off the paper.
If you find that your graphite or charcoal is not erasing or having trouble sticking to the paper, try a different brand or type of paper. Paper can vary in its stiffness (weight), smoothness, and material. My favorite drawing surface is heavyweight cotton rag paper. While most papers are created using wood pulp, rag paper is created using cotton. The tooth (surface feel) of rag paper works best for me when working with charcoal, but it’s not right for all drawing applications. For example, I prefer a smoother drawing paper when creating detailed drawings with graphite, or when I want to work with white charcoal on toned paper.
Charcoal Papers
Hahnemuhle Nostalgie Sketch Book
Hahnemuhle makes excellent paper. This is one of the best sketchbook for drawing with charcoal, featuring premium paper that works well for a variety of media. It also makes for an excellent travel sketchbook!
$14.29 | Var. Sizes | 40-80 Sheets | Smooth
Strathmore Toned Sketch Paper
Strathmore toned paper is versatile, with a smooth surface for working in graphite while having enough tooth to work with charcoal and other drawing materials. Being acid-free, it’s suitable for finished works as well as rough sketches. This is the toned paper I used throughout my book.
$10.49 | 9″x12″ | 50 Sheets | Smooth
Legion Stonehenge Paper
Legion provides some of the best papers out there and Stonehenge is one of my favorites. Incredibly versatile, it works for drawing as well as printmaking and water media. This is my favorite surface for charcoal. It is smooth enough to manage details, while also having enough tooth to hold multiple layers of charcoal. Many projects in the book as well as my “Drawing Together” Livestream featured this paper.
$22.99 | 11″x14″ | 15 Sheets | Acid Free
Hahnemuhle Bamboo Mixed Media Pad
Bamboo is a relatively new material for drawing paper and it’s truly exciting. The individual sheets feel thinner than other papers, but it’s a strong, versatile paper. It holds charcoal well and holds up under heavy eraser work. Bamboo is also environmentally-friendly and acid free.
$25.39 | 9.5″x12.5″ | 25 Sheets | Acid Free
Strathmore Charcoal Spiral Paper Pad
It’s hard to beat this Strathmore Charcoal paper. Designed specifically for charcoal, it holds charcoal very well, while also erasing cleanly. The “Laid” surface allows for a regular, predictable texture.
$9.49 | 9″x12″ | 32 Sheets | Laid Finish
Graphite Papers
Strathmore Drawing Paper
A well-balanced paper, the medium surface of this paper works well for graphite and a variety of other drawing media. If you’re not sure what to get, this is a great place to start! Balancing price, quality and versatility, this is one of the best options for an all-around paper option.
$13.17 | 11″x14″ | 50 Sheets | Medium
Strathmore Series 400 Sketchpad
Strathmore makes a wonderful paper for this sketchpad. It works equally well for graphite as well as charcoal, is 100% acid-free, and is a suitable weight for most drawing applications.
$19.64 | 9″x12″ | 100 Sheets | Smooth
Strathmore Bristol Drawing Paper
The smooth surface of Bristol paper allows for a higher level of detail than other surfaces. Bristol paper would be challenging for use with charcoal. With other drawing media, like ink, marker, and colored pencil, it makes for an exceptional surface.
$11.27 | 9″x12″ | 20 Sheets | Smooth
