What’s the Best Paper for Charcoal Drawing? – Top 10 Picks

There is a lot of stuff in the art world, and an artist puts his imaginations, wonders, thoughts, and memories in his paper digitally or in paper form. Where an artist, painter, or creative person needs paints, colors, crayons, shading pencils, and other stuff, we surely can not deny the importance of charcoal use in portraits and drawings.

Charcoal is a sort of dry art medium made up of finely ground organic material held together by wax or gum. It helps investigate high lights, low lights and differentiation. Picking up the right paper for charcoal drawing lays on what you want out of the illustrations you intend to make.

Sometimes, the piece can make it difficult to show what you want to show, its texture and composition are still another point, so selecting a good drawing paper is necessary. Only an artist knows better which medium should be used for a specific painting.

Here we are showing you the top 10 best papers that can handle your charcoal drawing in a better way.

Contents

Best Paper for Charcoal Drawing

IMAGE PRODUCT RATING

 Strathmore 300 Series Charcoal Pad
  • Brand: Strathmore
  • Dimension: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
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Canson XL Series Textured Paper Pad
  • Brand: Canson
  • Colour: white
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Strathmore Series Sketch Pad
  • Dimension: 5 inches x 7 inches
  • Type: Ready Cut Watercolor Paper
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S. Art Supply Premium Paper
  • Dimension: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
  • Size: 5.5″ x 8.5″
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Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad
  • Dimension: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
  • Colour: black
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Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper
  • Brand: Sax
  • Weight: 8.81 pounds
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Strathmore Tan Drawing Toned Sketch Pad
  • Size: 5.5″x8.5″
  • Weight: 9.6 ounces
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Bee Paper Company Big White Bee Drawing Pad
  • Dimension: 6.38 x 0.63 x 9 inches
  • Weight: 8.8 ounces
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Canson Universal Sketch Pad
  • Brand: Canson
  • Colour: white
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 Bee Paper Charcoal Paper Pad
  • Dimension: 11 x 0.13 x 14 inches
  • Weight: 11.2 ounces
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1: Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal Paper

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Strathmore
  • Dimension: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
  • Weight: 10.4 ounces
  • Size: 9″ x 12″
  • No of sheets: 32
  • Colour: white

Acid-free paper:

The stack of sheets is acid-free, which means the pH of the paper is neutral. The article will not change its colour from white to yellow or cream when applying any medium.

Excellent for charcoal drawings:

If you want to highlights, lowlights the details of your drawing, painting, or portrait, then this stack of sheets is best for you.

Firm surface and thick paper:

Its rigid and robust surface is suitable for oil pastel, crayon, or any medium you want because its thickness ensures that you can also draw something backside of it!

Our opinion:

We guess this product will be the best option if you want to make a drawing with charcoal as it can handle it in a better way.

2: Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad for Charcoal

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Canson
  • Colour: white
  • The medium can use: marker, pastel, coloured pencil, pencil, acrylic, watercolour, charcoal, and pen & ink.
  • Dimension: 9 inches x 12 inches
  • Style Name: 11″ x 15″ Fold Over
  • No. of sheets: 30

Ideal for mix medium techniques:

You can apply watercolour, pencils, pastel, or charcoal to it. No matter what technique you use, it will not distort your drawing pattern and shape.

Fine-textured paper:

Its smooth yet rigid surface ensures you no slipping of your medium, and it has a beautiful and fine texture.

Blends easily:

It blends your paint or charcoal very quickly, so it does not disturb other mediums of your drawing. It also absorbs any other at medium very easily that you want to apply in your drawing.

Our opinion:

This extra-large paper sheet is best for any medium, especially for charcoal. We recommend it to you! You can experience it yourself.

3: Strathmore Series Sketch Pad with 100 Sheets

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Strathmore
  • Colour: white
  • No. of sheets: 100
  • Dimension: 5 inches x 7 inches
  • Product Type: Ready Cut Watercolor Paper
  • Features: 100% cotton; Acid free; Archival
  • Additional feature: acid-free paper and fine texture

Micro-perforated paper:

These paper sheets have tiny holes punched into the paper that allows you to tear or fold up your sheet with great precision every time. This feature would not disturb your drawing anyway.

Heavyweight sketch paper:

Paper thickness ensures you no smudging and leaking, no matter what medium of art you are using. You can also draw on the backside of it.

Acid-free paper:

This paper is without acid, which means this will not change the document’s color and no chemical reaction by any art medium.

Our opinion:

With its durable, double spring biding, this product is suitable for you for any drawing, especially when it comes to charcoal. We recommend it to you!

4: S. Art Supply Premium Heavy-Weight Paper Spiral Bound Sketch Pad

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: U.S art supply
  • No. of sheets: 30
  • Colour: white
  • Form: sketchpad
  • Dimension: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
  • Size: 5.5″ x 8.5″
  • Weight: 7.2 ounces

Neutral pH:

These sheet papers are acid-free and maintain the normal pH of the composition. It will not start any chemical reaction if you use any art medium of it. It does not disturb the quality and form of your painting even after years.

Suggested to some art stuff:

You can use pencils, charcoal, crayons, pastel, or watercolors on it. It is friendly to all sorts of art media, especially charcoal.

Textured paper:

This paper’s silky-smooth surface ensures you maintain the original quality of all sorts of art mediums.

Our opinion:

We think this product is useful if you are looking for some benefited sheet papers to make your charcoal drawing! We will wait for positive feedback from your side.

5: Art-n-Fly Black Sketch Pad for Charcoal

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: art-n-fly
  • No. of sheets: 50
  • Colour: black
  • Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Availability of colors: YES
  • The thickness of single sheet: 140 gsm / 88 lbs
  • Dimension: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches

Best black sketch pad:

This black sketchpad is a whole new trend-setting book to make unique portraits, paintings, and drawings with opaque gel pens, colored pencils, white charcoal, pastels, and more!

Saturated Black dye:

This acid-free paper doesn’t disturb your drawings, and you can visit them for years from now. It doesn’t allow them to fade.

Best gift for an art lover!

Probably this is the best gift for all art lovers. You can surprise anyone on his birthday with this sleek and shiny black sketchpad. And you can also draw amazing sketches with black background on your own.

Our opinion:

You can take your drawings to the next level by using white charcoal on this black sheet paper. We guess this product is right for you!

6: Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper in Extra-White color

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Sax
  • Colour: extra white
  • Weight: 8.81 pounds
  • Dimension: 12 x 9 x 4 inches
  • Material: 100% sulfite paper
  • They are suggested for: all types of art & craft, college projects, note-taking, and more!

Ideal for beginners and advanced:

You can play with your fav art medium on it by all styles without the fear of smudging or leaking of paint. Artists on beginner level can use it all well as the advanced and professional ones.

Durable construction:

It has a robust, smooth, and durable surface that ensures college students, office workers, or artists do their work satisfactorily.

Dry media and wet media:

This sulfite paper has a standard weight and can accept all sorts of dry and wet mediums of art.

Our opinion:

If you want to make art that uses charcoal, we recommend using this and experiencing its benefits by yourself.

7: Strathmore Tan Drawing Toned Sketch Pad with 50 Sheets

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Strathmore
  • Colour: Tan
  • Size: 5.5″x8.5″
  • No. of sheets: 50
  • Dimension: 8.5 x 0.75 x 6.63 inches
  • Weight: 9.6 ounces

Acid-free paper:

These sheets are acid-free, meaning you can visit your drawings after years from now and see that they are in their original form. Your art medium doesn’t react with the material of the paper no matter which medium you use.

Side double spring:

The double string on the left side ensures you the proper turning of the page rather than folding irregularly, and you can also tear it in a precise way.

Mid-toned background:

This type of background is scarce, and it helps artists create a more comprehensive range of low lights and high lights in their drawings.

Our opinion:

We guess this product will be suitable for you if you want to paint with charcoal, watercolors, pastel, acrylic, etc.

8: Bee Paper Company Big White Bee Drawing Pad for Charcoal

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Big White Bee Black Charcoal Sketchbook
  • Material: 25% cotton
  • Size: 6-inch x 9-inch
  • No. of sheets: 50
  • Weight: 8.8 ounces
  • Dimension: 6.38 x 0.63 x 9 inches

Double spiral-bound pad:

Having a spring-ring on top of the sketch pad or left side is necessary to keep the papers intact. This feature is very helpful in folding and tearing of sheet paper.

Fine texture:

The cover’s texture is so soft yet smooth, and the inner pages have enough thickness that can endure the weight of your art medium.

Our opinion:

There is a variety of colours in this sketchpad; choose your fav and the needed one. It is best for charcoal drawings.

9: Canson Universal Sketch Pad with Side Wire Bound in White color

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Canson
  • Colour: white
  • Weight: 1.85 pounds
  • Scent: Standart
  • No. of sheets: 100
  • Dimension: 12 x 0.6 x 9 inches

Versatile sheet surface:

This sheet paper’s durability and versatility ensure that it can handle all dry and wet medium arts on it.

Acid-free paper:

The paper’s pH is neutral, and your art medium won’t affect its texture or color even if you visit your drawing after ten years from now.

Heavy weighted paper:

These sheets’ high weight allows you to draw on their backside without the fear of smudging or leaking.

Our opinion:

We think this sketchpad is best for beginners and for advanced too.

10: Bee Paper Charcoal Paper Pad in 11 x 14 size

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QUICK INFORMATION:

  • Brand: Bee Paper
  • Colour: white
  • Dimension: 11 x 0.13 x 14 inches
  • Texture surface: laid
  • Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • No. of sheets: 20

Laid surface:

Its laid surface is suitable for handling charcoal. You can use white and black charcoal to express the details of your drawings.

Best for arts medium:

You can use pastel, watercolors, acrylic, and charcoal on it to express your thoughts and imagination on your paper.

Tape bound pad:

It has a sticky side on its back to being stick on the surface so that it does not disturb you while you sketch.

Our opinion:

We think this product is suitable for you as it is charcoal friendly! You can experience its amazing features on your own.

FAQs:

Which color is more charcoal handling? Cream, white or black?

It does not depend upon colors but on the composition and material of the sheet. If the sheet has a laid surface, heavyweight and acid-free, then it is useful in handling charcoal (white and black or both)

Why you need special paper for charcoal drawing?

Charcoal is a dry and dusty material that needs paper with tooth, texture and can easily handle the medium. It is a unique art medium, so you need a particular piece for it.

What is a mixed media paper? And can it handle charcoal?

Mixed media includes graphite, colored pencil, markers, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pen & ink, charcoal, drawing chalks, monochromes, pastels, gel pens, fine liners, calligraphy inks, and the list goes on. And yes, it can handle charcoal too.

Can charcoal be dangerous?

Hyper activated charcoal is considered secured in many cases, and adverse reactions are infrequent and rarely severe. That said, it may cause some unpleasant side effects, the most common of which are nausea and vomiting.

The CPSC considers that 20 people die annually from accidentally ingesting CO from charcoal grills. These grills can also be a potential fire hazard.

For what purpose is charcoal used in drawing?

A white charcoal pencil is utilized to draw exact features. Degrees in worth can make like the white charcoal blends in with the dark charcoal on a superficial level. Features proceed all through the drawing. The surface can be made by changing the stroke caused by a pencil.

If you have made a mistake while applying charcoal in your drawing, can you erase it?

It is said that once you have applied charcoal, you can easily erase it or remove it from the portions where you don’t need it.

What are the measures that you should take to protect your charcoal drawings?

The drawing should set on a surface, for example, aboard, and followed with a clasp or craftsman tape to keep it from moving. If it’s your first time utilizing a fixative, it’s ideal for applying some charcoal to paper using various qualities to test the outcomes.

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