I know it can feel quite overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right surface for your coloured pencil piece.

You’ve got different papers, different opinions, and that little voice saying “If I pick the wrong one, I’ll ruin it.”  So let’s take a breath and simplify it.

This is how I choose my surface…

I Use Drafting Film When…

I reach for drafting film when the subject is all about texture and fine detail.

I reach for drafting film when the subject is all about texture and fine detail.

I use drafting film for:

• Very textured fur (spiky, wiry, fluffy, curly)
• Animals with lots of fine hairs around the ears and edges
• Subjects where I want to pull light back out
• Drawings where subtraction plays a big role
  

Why it works so well:

• I can get my values and colour down first
• Then use a Tombow or slice tool to pull texture back out
• It’s brilliant for crisp detail and controlled highlights
  

Typical subjects I choose drafting film for:

Wild, scruffy fur

Foxes

Bears

Highly textured dogs

I Use Pastelmat When…

Pastelmat is my go-to surface, especially when I want softness, depth, and flexibility.

I use Pastelmat for:

• Animal and people portraits
• Memorial pieces
• Softer fur and smooth coats
• Skin tones
• Drawings that include backgrounds
  

Why I love it:

• It blends beautifully with very gentle pressure
• I can tweak and improve a reference photo
• It allows me to build depth without fighting the surface
• It has a soft, painterly feel
  

Typical subjects I choose Pastelmat for:

• Dogs with soft coats
• Horses
• People portraits

Pieces with brick, wood, or stone backgrounds

I Use Hot Press Paper When…

I reach for hot press (smooth) paper when I want really clean lines and I’m planning to use indenting techniques.

Hot press paper is a great choice if:

• You enjoy using indenting to create fine hairs or whiskers
• You like planning highlights before adding colour
• You want crisp, controlled detail
  

Why indenting works so well on hot press:

• The smooth surface holds the indented lines clearly
• Your pencil glides over the top, leaving those lines light and clean
• It’s especially effective for whiskers, fine fur, and delicate details
  

Typical subjects hot press works well for:

• Animals with fine, delicate fur
• Whiskers and eyelashes
• Controlled, line-led drawings
• Smaller, detailed studies
  

If you don’t yet have a go-to surface, that’s completely normal. The best thing you can do is pick one surface, do a few full drawings on it and give your hands time to learn how it behaves.

You can’t really judge a surface from a few swatches – it only starts to make sense once you’ve spent time drawing on it. I didn’t love Pastelmat at first. Now it’s my favourite.

Where I Buy My Surfaces

I buy all of my surfaces from Jackson’s – they have a brilliant range and it means I can get everything I need in one place.If you’d like to explore the same surfaces I use, you can follow my affiliate links below to purchase your paper from Jackson’s: https://www.jacksonsart.com/