Welcome to our one-stop info spot about the different types of art paper. Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting out, it’s always handy to know the best papers for your fave styles and techniques, straight from the horse’s mouth! You may just find the answer to a question you’ve been wondering about down below.

1. Best GSM for watercolour?

For watercolour enthusiasts, a GSM (grams per square meter) between 180-300 is ideal. This weight strikes a good balance for the medium, preventing excessive warping while absorbing watercolours effectively. Our Watercolour Papers come in a broad range of GSM options so you can find the best fit for your art style.

If you apply fluid mediums thickly, a heavier GSM will help them come to life vibrantly with minimal distortion. The heavyweight quality provides a sturdy surface for colour layering and intricate techniques, allowing you to explore your creativity.

2. What does cold pressed paper mean?

Cold-pressed paper has a slightly textured surface, with light tooth for added grip. We do this by pressing the paper through cold metal rollers while wet, resulting in a textured finish. Our Cotton Watercolour Paper Block Premium 300gsm is cold pressed, so our creators can add depth and character to their work with ease. The added texture enhances the grip between paints and the paper, so you can go from colour washes to fine details with confidence. 

3. What’s a good paper for mixed media projects?

Our Mixed Media Pad is your versatile sidekick for multimedia projects. With a sturdy weight, it’s great for pencils, oil pastels, markers, pens, watercolour, and acrylic paint. The even surface helps your artistic experiments flow smoothly, making it ideal for mixed media works. The pad’s heavyweight construction prevents buckling or curling, providing a stable backdrop to layering various mediums on.

4. Best gsm for sketching?

For the best sketching results, you need moderate-tooth paper with flexibility and a light GSM. Our drawing paper generally ranges from 95-170 GSM, providing a smooth surface for sketching with enough substance to handle various dry media techniques. The moderate GSM allows for easy erasing and experimentation, great for creators who love freehand, spontaneous drawing.

5. What paper can I use for oil pastels?

When it comes to oil pastels, we have a couple of different pads you can use! Our Oil Pastel Pad Premium is, unsurprisingly, our top recommendation for oil pastels. Its textured surface not only grips the pigment well but also helps your pastels blend smoothly. The heavyweight paper is durable, so you can layer thickly without worrying about the paper holding up.

We also have our Oil and Acrylic Pad and Mixed Media Pad which are suitable for oil pastels. These pads are versatile, and you can mix other mediums alongside your pastels for flexible creating! If you like to experiment and play when you make art, maybe grab a pad that lets you explore freely and find your style.

6. What are the benefits of drawing on coloured paper?

Drawing on coloured paper can add depth and dimension to your artwork. We have our Black Paper Sketch Pad as well as our Recycled Toned Drawing Paper that you can use to create contrast and visually striking artworks. Drawing on coloured paper means that you can use white pastels, pencils, and mediums for bright highlights – it doesn’t blend into the background like it does on white paper!

It's a creative choice that can elevate your sketches and bring new dimensions to the page. The coloured background also reduces eye strain, making it easier to focus on your drawings for extended periods.

7. Best paper for practicing calligraphy?

The easiest paper to practice your calligraphy skills on is a lined pad, like our Calligraphy Practice Pad. The natural white paper has a printed practice rule with slanted grid lines, ideal for hand lettering. Drill the calligraphy alphabet and get familiar with the style on a paper dedicated to the art.

Once you feel confident, you can move onto Watercolour Paper or Marker Pads to keep practising without ruled lines on the page.

8. What are Mont Marte’s different paper sizes?

We understand the importance of diverse paper sizes for all kinds of projects. Our pads come in a range of dimensions, from pocket-sized for spontaneous creating to larger options for bigger masterpieces. Most of our iconic pads come in A5, A4, and A3 sizes so you can choose the best fit for you.

9. What is canvas paper?

Canvas Paper is a versatile surface that has the texture of canvas but in paper form. Our Canvas Paper Pads give you the portability of a sketchpad with the flexibility of canvas so you can create with pretty much any medium.

The canvas texture also adds a tactile quality to your artwork, changing to the visual and sensory finish. Use acrylics, oils, and more without needing to carry a bulky canvas with you.

10. Can you paint on paper?

Absolutely! Our paper range has multiple pads for painting, such as our Canvas Pads, Mixed Media Pad, and Oil and Acrylic Pad. These are suitable for a range of mediums, including oils and acrylics.

Our Watercolour Paper options are also great for watercolours, gouache, and inks. It’s always a good idea to check the specifications of each paper on our website and the packaging to make sure it’s suitable for your chosen medium.

We hope you feel ready to pick your paper with confidence. If you’re inspired to create, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’re excited to see what you come up with!

For more ideas, explore our Projects and How-tos. If you’re looking for answers to more art questions, jump into our FAQs collection.   

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