Why the paper matters more than the pens
Why the paper matters more than the pens
People upgrade pencils and markers long before they upgrade paper, and it is almost always the wrong order. A mid-range pencil on good paper outperforms an expensive pencil on thin paper every time, because the paper decides how much the pencil can actually do.
There are only four properties worth understanding.
Weight
Paper weight is given in pounds or in grams per square metre, and it is a rough proxy for thickness and sturdiness. Light paper buckles when worked hard, shows through from the sheet behind, and tears under an eraser.
For dry media, heavier paper takes more layers and more erasing before it gives up. For wet media it is essential: anything with water in it will cockle thin paper permanently.
The two scales do not convert neatly between paper types, which is why a “70 lb” drawing paper and a “70 lb” cover stock are not the same thing. Where a listing gives gsm, that is the more comparable figure.
Tooth
Tooth is surface texture. A toothy sheet has microscopic peaks and valleys that scrape pigment off a pencil; a smooth sheet has very few.
More tooth means more layers before saturation, and more visible grain in the result. Less tooth means finer detail and smoother gradients, but the surface fills quickly.
For coloured-pencil layering, medium tooth is the general-purpose answer. For fine detail and for markers, smooth is better. For charcoal and soft graphite, more tooth.
Sizing
Sizing is a treatment that controls how much liquid the paper absorbs. It is why marker paper does not bleed and why watercolour paper holds a wash instead of drinking it instantly.
Unsized or lightly sized paper — most cheap drawing pads — soaks up alcohol ink and spreads it sideways along the fibres. That is feathering, and no marker technique fixes it.
Bleed and show-through
These are two different problems. Bleed is ink going through to the next sheet. Show-through is seeing the drawing from the other side without ink transferring.
Marker pads deal with bleed either by being heavily sized or by being deliberately thin with a bleed-proof barrier — in the latter case the reverse of each sheet is not usable, which is worth knowing before buying a pad for a sketchbook.
Matching paper to medium
Coloured pencils
Medium tooth, reasonably heavy. Enough grain to accept six or eight layers, enough weight to survive burnishing pressure.
Graphite and charcoal
More tooth. Smooth paper makes graphite look flat and gives charcoal nothing to hold onto.
Alcohol markers
Smooth and well sized, or a dedicated marker pad. This is the least negotiable pairing on the list.
Mixed use
A medium-tooth drawing paper of decent weight is the best single compromise, and it is what most multi-media pads in art sets actually are.
What sets include
Many of the boxed kits on this site bundle a sketch pad or a small sketchbook. The useful details — sheet count, sheet size and, where the maker states it, weight — are on the product listing. A kit with a genuinely usable pad is worth more than one with an extra dozen pencils.
Practical checks before buying
- Match tooth to medium before worrying about brand.
- Prefer gsm over pounds when comparing across paper types.
- For markers, confirm the paper is smooth and sized, or buy a marker pad.
- Check whether both sides of the sheet are usable if you want a sketchbook.
- Check sheet count and size in bundled pads rather than assuming.
Where this sits in the shop
Everything discussed above comes back to one part of the shop: Brush Markers and Pens, which currently holds 3 listings between $8.99 and $26.99. The whole of it is picked and packed at Rudy's Hobby & Art, 35-16 30th Ave, Long Island City, NY, during Wed–Sat 11am–6:30pm, closed Sun–Tue — so anything written here can be checked by phoning the counter on ((718) 545-8280.
From our shelves
- 36 Dual Brush Markers for Adult Coloring Books, Double Tip Pens Art Set — $8.99
- 120 Colors Dual Tip Brush Pens Art Markers for Adult Coloring Books, Artist Drawing Sketch Markers Set with Fine & Brush Tip — $26.99
- Alcohol Markers Set, 80 Color Dual Tip Art Drawing Markers, Artist Pens with Organizing Case for Adult Drawing Coloring Sketching — $16.99
What we get asked about this
How fast are refunds?
We issue the refund within 5–7 business days of the return arriving. Your bank then takes its own one to five days to show it.
Can I cancel an order?
Yes, before it is picked — usually within about 12 hours on a business day. After dispatch it becomes a return.
Read next
- Oil-based or wax-based coloured pencils: what actually changes
- Blending coloured pencils without a solvent
- Choosing your first set of brush markers
Ordering from Rudy's Hobby and Art
Orders of $49.00 or more ship free anywhere in the United States, and a flat $5.99 covers everything below that. Handling takes 1–2 business days and carrier transit is normally 3–7 business days. Unused items can go back within 30 days, and if the mistake was ours we pay the return postage.
Questions about anything above go to [email protected], answered within 1 business day, or call (718) 545-8280. Full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Refund and Returns pages.