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Which types of paper work best for pen drawings and pastel drawings?

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Watercolor painting by Berthe Morisot showing Edma seated on a sofa in a floral dress with her young daughter Jeanne beside her, both facing slightly right. — Drawing *The Artist's Sister, Edma, with Her Daughter, Jeanne*, watercolor over graphite on paper by Berthe Morisot, 1872; in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

For artists working in different mediums, selecting the appropriate paper surface is essential to achieving the desired technical results.

Paper for Pen Drawings

Pen drawings are best executed on a very smooth paper. A smooth, nonabsorbent surface allows the pen to glide easily, ensuring that the ink flows cleanly from the tip without catching or bleeding into the fibers of the paper. Historically, this consistency was achieved by dipping sheets in a glue or alum bath, which prepared the surface to accept liquid media effectively.1

Paper for Pastel Drawings

In contrast, pastel drawings require a firm, slightly rough surface. This texture is necessary to hold the powdered pigment of the pastel sticks, which otherwise brush off easily. Since the 18th century, special papers have been manufactured for this medium with a wide variety of textures, including:1
* Finely grained surfaces similar to sandpaper.2
* Flocked or suedelike finishes.2
* Prominently ribbed surfaces or those marked by the texture of drying felts.2

Because pastels remain on the surface of the paper, they are fragile and are best preserved under glass to protect the integrity of the colors.12