12 of the most popular black papers for artists

A list of 12 Black artist papers - Archival and Acid Free options

Black paper is a great base colour, as it defies the natural process in developing art on a traditional light based paper. Instead of working from light to dark, as is the normal practice when working with coloured pencils, it is inverted. Since you already have a dark foundation, you select lighter versions of the tones you would usually choose for a light coloured paper. White positively 'pops' on a black surface, and it is this impact which draws artists to it. Black paper is extremely effective when used with metallic and interference colours, however, translucent pigments are less efficient than opaque pigments.

During our search for the 12 black surfaces we include in this article, we found there are far more options, with many companies producing their own ranges, in varying shades of black and different textures. The following article provides you with a selection of the most popular brands, including some lesser known,  which are suitable for different mediums and offer varying textures, allowing you to choose the one(s) most relevant.

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Somerset black
​Archival & Acid free

WHERE to purchase

suppliers outside the uk

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Somerset is a very popular grade of printmaking paper from the historic St. Cuthbert’s Mill in the UK, first introduced in the early 1970’s. In addition to its popularity in printmaking, Somerset found success as a wonderful drawing paper due to its soft handle and supple feel. Made with improved black pigments, Somerset Black has a deep, warm shade combined with a soft velvet surface. The internal structure of the sheet exhibits even darker fibres, which gives dramatic results, especially when laser etched. It is made to archival standards from 100% cotton and is fade resistant to the Blue Wool scale 6+. Mould made from 100% cotton to high archival standards.
Read our Somerset article. ​

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Company: St. Cuthbert's Mill
​Weight: 280gsm
Texture: Velvet (Like NOT surface)
Composition: 100% Cotton
​Suitable for: Pastel, pencil and charcoal. Block/relief printing, embossing, intaglio/etching, hand/stone lithography, laser printing, letterpress and silkscreen/serigraphy.
Sizes available: Sheets only (30" x 22" & 30" x 44")
Company base: UK
​Accessibility: Limited suppliers.
​Vegan: Yes

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UArt Black paper
​Archival

WHERE to purchase

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UART Premium Sanded Pastel Paper accepts a wide variety of wet media for underpainting without compromising or damaging the tooth. The company states that you can add layer upon layer, correcting and creating, without impairing the surface of your artwork. From the toothiest grade (240), is ideal for blending and layering, to the finer grades that are perfect for delicate and detailed work, you can add layer on top of layer without losing tooth. The abrasive surface eliminates the need for fixatives. The colour of the paper fluctuates depending on which grades you are using: while the 400 & 500 grades provide a rich black texture, the 600 & 800 grades lean towards a dark charcoal colour, as the higher the grade, the smaller the pigments. UART employs a state-of-the-art manufacturing process that ensures a consistent grain application on every inch of the paper.
Read our UArt dark paper article.

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Company: Uneeda
​Grades: 400/500/600/800 (Abrasiveness)
​Texture: Abrasive
Composition: Unsure - This is a sandpaper
​​Suitable for: Pastels, Pencils, Charcoal, Watercolour, and Conté. Accepts all wet media (alcohol, mineral spirits, turpentine, water) for underpainting.
Sizes available: Sheets, Mounted boards and rolls.
Company base: New York, USA
Accessibility: Accessible in various countries
​Vegan: Yes

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Stonehenge black
​Archival & Acid free

WHERE to purchase

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Stonehenge was created in 1972 specifically as a 100% cotton deckled paper for the printmaking community. Over the years, it has gained worldwide recognition as a paper that works well across a range of other fine art applications. The paper of choice of many members of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Stonehenge has the ability to take multiple layers of wax-based and oil-based coloured pencil without any buildup, allowing colours to penetrate and absorb into the surface of the sheet. Neutral pH and no optical brightening agents (OBA's), which may discolour the paper over time.
Read our Stonehenge article. 

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Company: Legion
​Weight: 250gsm
Texture: Vellum
Composition: 100% Cotton
​Suitable for: Coloured Pencil, Pen & Ink, Pastel, Charcoal, Watercolour, Hand Lithography, Intaglio, Letterpress, Offset, Relief Printing and Silkscreen
Sizes available: Sheets & rolls
Company base: USA
​Accessibility: Easier to access in the USA
​Vegan: Yes

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Velour pastel
​Archival & Acid-free

WHERE to purchase

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Velour paper is an artist quality pastel paper with a velvety texture that grips soft pastel and give them a delicate soft edge. Hahnemuhle Velour is an artist-quality 260gsm pastel paper which is both acid-free and archival. It is composed of an acid-free backing sheet which is coated with inert synthetic fibres. This gives the surface a velvety feel which has sufficient tooth to hold soft pastel, as well as oil pastel, charcoal or soft pencils. Velour can hold a lot of pastel, so it is perfect for painterly pastel artists who create works with soft edges and is particularly suited to pet portraiture.

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Company: Hahnemühle
Weight: 260gsm
​Texture: Texture
​Composition: Cellulose
Suitable for: Soft & Oil pastel, soft pencil, Charcoal and Conté crayons​.
Sizes available: Sheets and pads
Company base: Germany
Accessibility: Although not widely available, it is accessible online.
​Vegan: Yes

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Aqua Stonehenge
​Archival & Acid free

WHERE to purchase

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​Stonehenge Aqua Black Watercolour paper is a cotton paper with excellent wet-on-wet performance. Paint can be easily manipulated without drying up. Like any other top-quality watercolour paper, it withstands repeated wetting/drying with no damage to the paper. The paper allows for easy lifting and blending and ensures you have excellent control of your colours.Colours won't blur, bleed, or mix in undesirable ways like other black papers can. It holds multiple layers of colour and holds up to masking and scrubbing.

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​Company: Legion
Weight: 300gsm
​Texture: Hot pressed and NOT
Composition: 100% Cotton
​Suitable for: Coloured pencils, Pen & Ink, Pastel & Charcoal, Metallic/Interference/Iridescent paint, Gouache, Acrylics, Watercolour, Watercolour pencil, Pigment sticks, Markers, Calligraphy, Intaglio, Letterpress and Silkscreen.
Sizes available: Blocks, pads and sheets
Company base: USA
Accessibility:
​Vegan: Yes

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Colourfix™ black
Archival & Acid Free

WHERE to purchase

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Colourfix papers are sheets of high-quality, archival 300gsm hot pressed European watercolour paper, screen printed with Colourfix Primer. The natural, toothy surface will hold multiple layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved. Erasing is also easy with Colourfix™ – simply lift off excess pastel with clear adhesive tape, brush off with a dry brush, or use a pencil eraser. Alternatively, errors can be overpainted or areas touched up with the matching colour of Art Spectrum Colourfix™ Primer. The tough, toothy surface can be sanded, scrubbed, soaked and reworked over and over.
Read our Colourfix smooth article.

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Company: Art Spectrum
​Weight: 340gsm
Texture: Fine (Smooth), Medium (Original) & Rough (Supertooth) surfaces
​Composition: 100% Cotton and primer
​Suitable for: Pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
Sizes available: Sheets and pads
Company base: Australia
Accessibility: Available across many countries.
​Vegan: Yes

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Tiziano pastel paper
Archival & Acid free

WHERE to purchase

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​Tiziano is a high rag content, acid-free, pH neutral and with high archival permanence. The colours are highly lightfast. It is a cold press surface, containing cotton. Tiziano is Acid Free, produced with ECF pulp (Elemental Chlorine Free), FSC® certified from forests responsibly managed respectful of environmental, social and economic standards. Particularly suited to soft and oil pastels due to its good pigment uptake.

Company: Fabriano
Weight: 160gsm
​Texture: Tooth
​Composition: High rag content
Suitable for: Pastel, pencil, graphite, charcoal and airbrush. Can also be used with all printing techniques.
Sizes available: Sheets, pads and rolls
​Company base: Italy
Accessibility: Easily accessible 
​Vegan: Yes (Synthetic sizing)

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Mi-tientes 'Touch'
Acid free

WHERE to purchase

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Canson Mi-Teintes Touch Paper is particularly suited to soft and oil pastels as well as pencil, but is also suited to wet techniques and acrylics. The Touch Paper is micro-abrasive with a finely textured, sandblasted finish. It is lightfast and age-resistant. The innovative surface holds the pigments and creates the possibility of superimposition of colours and colour mixing. Colours are rendered remarkably, and fine details stand out.
​Read our Mi-tientes Touch article.

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​Company: Canson
Weight: 350gsm
​Texture: Abrasive surface (Medium)
Composition: watercolour paper and a primer
​Suitable for: Pastel, sanguine, charcoal, chalk and acrylic.
Sizes available: Sheets & Pads
Company base: France
Accessibility: Not as accessible as its paper 
​Vegan: No. (sized with gelatin)

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Mi-tientes pastel paper
​Acid free

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WHERE to purchase

This paper is a pulp-dyed colour paper that contains more than 50% cotton. It has the advantage of having a different texture on either side: a honeycombed side; and fine grain on the other. It has 50 light-resistant tones including the black. It complies with the ISO 9706 standards for limited aging of the paper and optimal longevity overtime.  It is acid-free and has no optical brightness additives.

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Compare 12 of th
e most popular
 black paper brands, including the archival and acid
 free surfaces. Suitable for
 numerous mediums and available in sheets, rolls, pads and blocks. 

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Derwent Black Mixed Media paper (New)
Acid free

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WHERE to purchase

The Derwent Professional black paper pad is ideal for creating dramatic art with a variety of media types. This fine grain, smooth paper offers artists a dramatic backdrop that maximises the performance of metallic mediums, including metallic and opaque pencils, paints and inks. The heavyweight 300gsm composition provides a sturdy and reliable foundation of the highest quality for both wet and dry media, differing from other Derwent black paper surfaces that suit dry media only. 

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Company: Derwent​
Weight: 300gsm
​Texture: Smooth
Composition: 100% Recycled
​​Suitable for: Pens, pencils, markers, inks. Wet and dry media.
Sizes available: A4 Pad only
Company base: UK
Accessibility: New product 2022 - Derwent sell their products worldwide.
​Vegan: Uncertain

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Frisk Black watercolour paper
Acid free

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Rough textured paper, keeps colours clean and bright. Wash and blend with all grades of watercolour. Extremely effective results with opaque, metallic and interference colours. Also available as a mixed media pad and a canvas pad.

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Company: Artcoe
​Weight: 320gsm
​Texture: Textured
Composition: Unsure
​​Suitable for: Watercolour, pens, pencils, markers and brushes
Sizes available: Gummed pads (A6, A5, A4, A3)
Company base: UK
Accessibility: Products sold internationally
​Vegan: Uncertain

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Sakura sketchbook
Acid free

WHERE to purchase

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​Sakura Sketchbooks and Notebooks are suitable for all ages, and for both experienced and aspiring artists. The hardcover book comes with a pen holder that perfectly fits pens such as the Pigma Micron and Sakura Gelly Roll. In the back of the Sketch notebook, an expandable envelope is included for storing sketches and notes. The elastic closure band ensures the book stays closed and compact when travelling. 

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Company: Royal Talens
Weight: 140gsm
​Texture: Smooth
​Composition: Acid free
Suitable for: Ink, pencil, oil pastel & charcoal
Sizes available: Notebook only (5 sizes)
Company base: Netherlands
Accessibility: Accessible online
​Vegan: Uncertain

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Which black paper surface do you prefer?

What is your favourite black paper not on this list and what medium do you use with it?

Any hints and tips for artists using black paper with a particular medium?

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below, so we can help inspire other artists.