The other day I talked a little about pastel pencils. Now I’m going to take the time and talk a little about the pastel paper that I use.
Wallis Sanded Pastel paper is the first brand that I used professionally for my pastel portraits. It was great. I could achieve the smooth quality that I like in the painting. Of course I reordered it. After several frustrating pieces it came to my attention that the paper wasn’t responding the same. It was taking me longer to get the smooth finish that was crucial, and the pastel would not adhere well to the surface.
I was referred to Uart paper by a fellow artist. The papers have different grain volumes that make a rough or smooth surface. 400, 500, 600, 800 — my favorite being the 600. It’s easier to blend with a good amount of grip on the pastel particles.
Check them out and give the paper a try.
Let’s here it! What are your favorite papers and why? 
