How to Use Sanded Paper for Pastel Painting

Sanded paper gives pastels something to grip.

Pastel paints need a surface to grip. Commercial paper designed for this medium is sanded. Making your own sanded paper is a cost-effective and easy project. By mixing gesso with marble or pumice powder and painting onto museum mat boards, you can create a supply of sanded paper that costs a fraction of what you might expect to pay in an art supply store.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4 cup gesso
• 1/4 cup marble or pumice powder
• Sheets of museum mat board, 19 by 25 inches
• Paintbrush
• Acrylic paint

Instructions

1. Mix 1/2 cup gesso with 1/4 cup water. Add the marble or pumice powder. The consistency should be smooth. Add more gesso if it appears watery.

2. Mix in a small amount of acrylic paint to tint the paper, if desired. Some artists like to use pastels on tinted paper to add background color and because some pastel colors present better on it.

3. Paint the mixture onto the mat boards with horizontal strokes. Let dry completely. Repeat with vertical strokes. Apply four total coats, allowing the paper to dry in between.

References

• The Outside Shore: What Is Pastel?
• Explore Drawing and Painting: Explore Pastel Papers for Your Art