
And if you’re using markers, watercolor pencils, solvents, or other wet mediums, the thicker paper can handle the extra moisture much better. Heavier or thicker paper like Bristol is more durable and can handle more layers than lighter paper. This might not have the tooth, but it still handles colored pencil and markers so much better than standard printer paper because of our next point… paper weight. Some artists prefer to use smoother papers for detailed work or hyper-realistic art, like the Strathmore Bristol smooth – these don’t allow for much blending or layering, but they do reduce all grain and produce some beautiful results, especially if you’re intending to layer your pencils on top of markers. When it comes to pencils, a medium texture is a great starting point. Paper with a rough texture are perfect for pastels or charcoals, but will absorb too much of your marker ink and can use up your pencils more quickly and can leave a lot of white grain in your artwork if you don’t use enough layers. Paper with a smooth texture are generally better for markers or pen artwork but don’t have enough texture to absorb pastels or layers of pencils. Your choice of texture comes down to preference. There are plenty of paper options with more tooth – ranging from a medium texture known as a vellum finish (which is different to vellum paper), to the rough texture you’ll find in watercolor paper or mixed media papers. Standard printer paper usually has very little tooth, so even the best pencils are limited in how much they can do. (I’ll suggest some of my personal favorites below!)įirst, let’s look at a few different factors that will help you learn what to look for, including paper texture, weight and types of paper. Once you know what you’re looking for, I recommend trying a few different types of papers with the different mediums you own to get a feel for what you enjoy using the most. If you get stuck, find a small local art shop and ask them for recommendations. And finally, your location and budget – paper is expensive to ship internationally, so some brands might be harder to find in your location and might limit what you can get.And I found it to be the biggest hurdle in using many of the higher-quality papers in my coloring. What type of printer do you have? This is something that you won’t often see mentioned in paper reviews, because they are usually aimed at pencil artists, not at printing coloring pages.What mediums are you using? Pencils and markers are the most common mediums for adult coloring, and both react to paper very differently.That’s one of the reasons why there are so many choices available and why there’s no clear guide on the perfect paper to buy.


Your coloring technique, the brand of pencils or markers you use and even your style of art will change the type of paper you might like.
#Type of marker for vallum paper how to
How to Choose the Best Paper for Adult Coloring Pagesįirst, let’s go over a few things you need to know about yourself and your project:
