Clairefontaine - Ref 96017C - Pastelmat Pastel Card Pad No.1 (12 Sheets) - 360gsm Card - 24 x 30cm - Assorted Colours - Specially Formulated For Use With Pastels

Pastelmat is really in a category of it's own as a "paper". Nothing comes close in terms of providing the amount of "tooth" to catch pigment without feel abrasive on your hand as you work on it. Although people can assume it is purely for pastels given the name, and it is phenomenal for those (both chalk and oil pastels), it is also amazing with coloured pencils and will increase the vibrancy of your colours due to the amount of pigment it takes. It is sufficiently thick (360gsm) it can be regarded as card and detaches readily from the pad to which it is lightly glued on one edge. It is available in several sizes depending on your needs and can just be detached and used for a great result. The quality is phenomenal but is not cheap so is something you would generally reserve for final works. Do note that the surface is so different to drawing and multimedia papers it is vital to re-swatch your pastels/coloured pencils on this if you haven't used it before. I would also comment that the black pastelmat is actually more of a very dark grey than a true black.

As an amateur coloured pencil artist I'd seen pastelmat used alot, especially with pastel pencils so when I managed to purchase some pastel pencils this paper seemed a logical partner. I haven't used it in a full piece yet but have had a quick play and I think it'll take some practice to get used to but it certainly seems good quality. The sheets are relatively thick and the glassine paper between each sheet is great to help prevent smudges.

Top quality and good value. This is my second pad.

Nothing to say about the quality of the paper. Pastelmat are the best for pastel drawing. The pads arrived curved and bent . Some of the pads are creased. The seller need to improve the way delicate material like this gets shipped.

This was my first ever purchase of pastelmat; I was a little overwhelmed with the feel of the surface! The texture is grainy which allows for many, many all important layers.… the results have been great! I use coloured pencil, I find it quite forgiving and the fact that you can get light over dark is amazing. I highly recommend this surface to any coloured pencil artist. I think that it is great value for money and love the excellent colour selection. The item came perfectly packaged. The pic I’ve added is a snow leopard (reference photo credit pixabay) Bonny Snowdon tutorial.

Excellent quality pastel paper/card. Pad has film between each card to protect from smudging when using soft pastels

The very best for painting with pastels. Sturdy surface brilliant colour ranges. Holds the pastels can layer brilliantly, yet does not "eat" your pastels. Can do paint washes for background and still pastels will hold on the surface. Takes both pastel sticks and pastel crayons for detailed work. Brilliant with pencil crayons too. Highly recommend this surface. Never been disappointed!

The best quality pastel paper you can buy. Once you use pastel mat you won’t use any other.