Discover the perfect surface for your charcoal artwork and elevate your drawing techniques with our comprehensive guide to charcoal drawing papers.
Finding Your Ideal Drawing Surface
As artists, we understand the profound impact the right paper can have on charcoal drawing. The texture beneath your fingertips, the way the charcoal adheres to the surface, and how highlights can be lifted—these elements fundamentally shape your artistic expression.
After testing dozens of papers in my studio and consulting with professional artists, I’ve compiled this definitive guide to help you find the best paper for charcoal drawing. Whether you’re a beginner exploring the velvety blacks of charcoal for the first time or a seasoned artist seeking to refine your technique, selecting the appropriate paper is crucial for achieving your artistic vision.
Understanding Charcoal Drawing Paper: Key Characteristics
Texture (Tooth)
The “tooth” of paper refers to its surface texture, which significantly impacts how charcoal adheres.
Rough/Heavy Texture: Papers with pronounced tooth, like cold-pressed watercolor paper, grab more charcoal particles, creating rich, velvety blacks and expressive marks. Ideal for loose, atmospheric drawings.
Medium Texture: Offers versatility for both detailed work and broad tonal areas. Most dedicated charcoal papers fall into this category.
Smooth Texture: Enables precise detailing but may hold less charcoal overall. Perfect for photorealistic work and fine line drawings.
I still remember switching from smooth bristol to a medium-tooth paper for a portrait study—the difference was revelatory. The medium texture allowed for both precise facial features and the soft transitions in skin tones that had previously eluded me.
Weight and Durability
Paper weight, measured in grams per square meter (gsm) or pounds (lb), indicates thickness and durability:
Lightweight (70-90 gsm): Suitable for quick sketches and practice work
Medium-weight (90-160 gsm): Good balance for most charcoal applications
Heavyweight (160+ gsm): Excellent for extensive layering, erasing, and reworking
When applying multiple layers or using erasers aggressively, heavyweight papers prevent buckling and tearing, allowing for more experimental techniques.
Professional artists typically use medium-weight papers and above for detailed masterpieces that require precision and depth, while reserving lightweight papers for practice sessions and preliminary studies.
Color and Tone
The base color of your paper serves as the middle tone in your drawing:
White: Maximizes contrast and brightness, ideal for high-key drawings
Off-white/Cream: Reduces eye strain and softens contrasts
Mid-tones (tan, gray, blue): Provides natural middle values, excellent for both additive (dark charcoal) and subtractive (white highlights) techniques
Dark tones: Creates dramatic effects with white charcoal highlights
Top 7 Best Paper for Charcoal Drawing
1. Canson Mi-Teintes
Weight: 98 lb (160 gsm)
Texture: Dual-sided (one side with fine texture, other with honeycomb texture)
Colors Available: 50+ colors
Best For: Atmospheric drawings and color experimentation
The distinctive honeycomb texture on one side creates interesting effects with charcoal, while the lightweight side allows for smoother applications. I’ve found the deep black Canson Mi-Teintes particularly striking for white charcoal or conté highlights.
2. Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal Paper
Weight: 64 lb (95 gsm)
Texture: Pronounced, irregular
Colors Available: Assorted earth tones
Best For: Expressive, atmospheric landscapes and abstract work
The distinctively textured surface creates natural variations in charcoal application, perfect for creating atmospheric effects in landscapes or expressive portraiture
3. Fabriano Tiziano
Weight: 90 lb (160 gsm)
Texture: Soft, textured surface with a natural wove texture on one side and a smoother surface on the reverse
Sheets: 70×100 cm, 50×65 cm, 21×29,7 cm, 29,7×42 cm
Rolls: 150×1000 cm
Colors Available: Available in a range of 40 highly lightfast colors.
Best For: Traditional portrait and figure drawing
This traditional Italian paper features a subtly ribbed texture that adds a classical feel to charcoal drawings. The surface allows for exceptional blending while still maintaining crisp lines when needed.
4. Legion Stonehenge
Weight: 90 lb (250 gsm)
Texture: Velvety, medium
Colors Available: White, warm white, and several earth tones
Best For: Professional finished works and exhibitions
Though initially developed for printmaking, many artists (myself included) consider Stonehenge the gold standard for serious charcoal work. Its archival quality and perfect tooth provide exceptional charcoal adhesion while allowing for both detailed work and expressive mark-making.
5. Hahnemühle Ingres
Weight: 100 lb (100 gsm)
Texture: Ribbed surface
Colors Available: White and soft earth tones
Best For: Detailed work with soft transitions
The fine, regular ribbing of this paper creates subtle texture while allowing for incredibly smooth blending. Particularly effective for portraiture where soft transitions are essential.
6. Arches Watercolor Paper (Cold Press)
Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
Texture: Medium to rough
Colors Available: White, off-white
Best For: Mixed media applications and heavily worked pieces
While not specifically designed for charcoal, this heavyweight paper stands up to aggressive techniques, including wet applications with charcoal. The extreme durability makes it ideal for experimental approaches combining charcoal with other media.
7. Strathmore 300 Series Charcoal Paper
Weight: 64 lb (95 gsm)
Texture: Medium
Colors Available: White, cream, gray, and assorted colors
Best For: Beginners and versatile applications
This affordable yet quality paper offers excellent tooth for charcoal adhesion while being forgiving enough for beginners. The assorted colors pack provides an excellent introduction to working on different colored grounds.
Techniques for Different Paper Types
Working with Textured Papers
Utilize the grain: Draw across the texture for uniform tones or along it for directional emphasis
Layer lightly: Build up values gradually, allowing the texture to create natural variations
Side of the charcoal stick: Use broad strokes with the side of your charcoal to emphasize paper texture
Techniques for Smooth Papers
Precise control: Utilize sharp charcoal points for fine details
Gradual building: Create smooth gradations with light pressure and blending tools
Protective measures: Use a bridge or paper guard to prevent smudging
Toned Paper Approaches
Middle-out method: Work from mid-tones outward, adding both darks and highlights
Highlight conservation: Plan white areas carefully as they cannot be recovered once covered
Complementary colors: Consider how the paper tone affects the mood of your drawing
Artist Spotlight: Masters of Charcoal and Their Paper Choices
Robert Longo: Creates his dramatic, large-scale charcoal works on smooth, heavyweight paper to achieve his signature high-contrast imagery
Hollis Dunlap: Contemporary realist known for his masterful charcoal figure studies, often working on heavyweight Stonehenge paper to achieve his signature dimensional rendering and dramatic tonal contrasts
Lai Young-Lin : Contemporary Asian-American artist celebrated for ethereal charcoal landscapes on toned Canson papers, where negative space and paper color become integral elements of her minimalist compositions
Selecting Your Perfect Charcoal Paper
The ideal charcoal paper is ultimately a personal choice that evolves with your artistic journey. I recommend purchasing sample packs or individual sheets of different papers to discover which surfaces resonate with your techniques and vision.
Remember that limitations can spark creativity—some of my most interesting works emerged when experimenting with papers I initially found challenging. The interaction between charcoal and paper creates the fundamental character of your drawing, so choose thoughtfully, but don’t be afraid to experiment broadly.
What charcoal paper has worked best for your drawing style? Share your experiences in the comments below, or tag us in your charcoal creations on social media!
Last Updated: March 11, 2025
FAQ: Charcoal Drawing Paper
Q: Can I use regular printer paper for charcoal drawing?
A: While possible for practice, printer paper lacks sufficient tooth for multiple layers and may buckle when blended. Consider inexpensive sketching paper instead for practice work.
Q: How do I prevent my charcoal drawing paper from warping?
A: Use heavier weight papers (140lb+), tape your paper to a drawing board before beginning, and apply fixative in light, even coats.
Q: What paper is best for beginners learning charcoal drawing?
A: Strathmore 300 Series Charcoal Paper offers an excellent balance of quality and affordability with appropriate tooth for learning fundamental techniques.
Q: Can pastel paper be used for charcoal drawing?
A: Yes, most pastel papers work excellently for charcoal due to their similar texture requirements. Canson Mi-Teintes is marketed for both media.
Q: How does paper color affect my charcoal drawing?
A: Paper color becomes your middle tone, influencing the overall mood and approach. Darker papers create dramatic effects with white highlights, while lighter papers maximize contrast with dark charcoal.
