Why I love Pastelmat Paper by Clairefontaine
Why Pastelmat by Clairefontaine Works Well in Drawing Animal Portraits using Pastel Pencils
Have you ever tried drawing animals with pastel pencils… and something just didn’t feel quite right?
Sometimes it’s not the technique — it’s the paper.
The surface you draw on makes a big difference in how your pastel pencils behave, how many layers you can build, and how soft and natural your fur looks.
Pastelmat by Clairefontaine is a high-quality paper with a unique velvety surface, perfect for holding multiple layers of pastel and creating rich, vibrant colors in your artwork.
In my opinion, it is the best paper for pastel pencils.
It’s the one I always recommend — I highly recommend Pastelmat paper from Clairefontaine to all my students and artists working with pastels.
I will tell you why below:
1. THE HIGH QUALITY
Pastelmat paper is a high-quality paper with a unique velvety surface, perfect for holding multiple layers of pastel and creating rich, vibrant colors in your artwork
This quality makes a real difference when you want your drawings to feel rich and full of depth.
2. THE VELVETY SURFACE
Pastelmat’s velvety surface holds multiple layers of pastel, allowing artists to achieve rich, vibrant colors essential for realistic fur.
This surface helps you create those soft transitions that are so important for animal portraits.
3. DURABLE AND LONG LASTING
Made from cellulose and cotton, Pastelmat is highly resistant to tearing and is acid-free, ensuring your artwork stays vibrant for years.
This makes it a wonderful choice for pieces you want to keep or sell.
4. LAYERS ARE THE SECRET
Those layers are very important when drawing realistic fur.
Pastelmat allows you to build many layers without filling the surface too quickly.
This gives you the freedom to work slowly and build up your drawing step by step.
5. ACID FREE QUALITY
Pastelmat is acid-free, ensuring that your artwork will remain vibrant and beautiful for many years.
Perfect for artwork you want to keep, gift, or sell.
This gives peace of mind, especially for meaningful portraits.
6. DIFFERENT COLORS AVAILABLE
Pastelmat comes in various colors, allowing you to choose the perfect background for your artwork.
But the colors are not all the same.
Choosing the right base color can already support your final result.
7. MY FAVORITE COLORS
In my experience the best colors are:
Dark Grey + Brown
Followed by: Light Grey, Anthracite, Sand
These colors work beautifully for many animal portraits and make layering easier.
7. AVOID WHITE PAPER
White paper from Pastelmat pads is rougher compared to other colors. Avoid using white and opt for smoother surfaces like dark grey or brown.
This small choice can make your drawing process much more enjoyable.
Final thought:
When you’re drawing animals with pastel pencils, having the right paper really changes the experience.
Pastelmat’s velvety surface helps you build layers more easily, create richer colors, and achieve those soft fur textures we’re often looking for.
Once you find a surface that works so well with your pastel pencils, drawing animals becomes much more enjoyable and much more satisfying.
Do you want to learn how to draw realistic animal eyes? Check out my eye mini course here!
Want to start drawing realistic animals today? Click here!
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