Velvety, Versatile Paper for Pastels, Colored Pencils, and Painterly Effects

Clairefontaine Pastelmat Paper Pads offer a uniquely textured surface that redefines how pastels interact with paper. Made with a soft, velvety coating of cellulose fibers, Pastelmat grabs and holds pigment deep into the surface, allowing artists to build multiple layers without fixative. The result is exceptionally vibrant color and a painterly finish that makes pastel work feel more like painting.

Less abrasive than sanded paper but more grippy than traditional Ingres papers, Pastelmat strikes the perfect balance—supporting detailed line work, rich layering, and smooth blending. It’s compatible with a wide range of media beyond soft pastels, including pastel pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, oil pastels, acrylics, watercolors, and gouache. Each pad is acid-free, pH neutral, and includes interleaved glassine sheets to protect finished work.

Key Features

• Unique velvety texture made from cellulose fibers
• Excellent pastel adhesion for rich, multi-layered application
• Works with soft and oil pastels, pastel pencils, charcoal, and more
• Suitable for both dry and wet media techniques
• Acid-free and pH neutral for archival quality
• Glassine interleaving between each page for protection

Perfect For

• Creating painterly effects with pastels and pastel pencils
• Mixed media pieces combining dry and wet techniques
• Artists who want to build up layers without fixative
• Colored pencil and charcoal drawing with enhanced control
• Protecting finished work with included glassine sheets