You’ve bought your acrylic paint set and you’re ready to get creative! Now it’s time to find the right surface for your art.
While many artists choose to work on canvases with acrylic paints, these can be pricey and take a lot of space. Thankfully, there are lots of cheaper and more compact options available.
Paper is a great alternative to canvases and can produce very similar results. In this guide, we’ll look at the different kinds of paper as well as recommendations for products to buy.
What paper is best for acrylic paint?
The best paper for acrylic paint is one specifically designed for that medium. Although you can use mixed media paper if that’s all you have to hand.
There are a few different kinds of paper that you can try when using acrylics, such as hot pressed, canvas-textured and linen-textured.
Hot pressed paper has a smooth surface, while canvas or linen-textured paper has a rougher surface that will hold the paint well. The paper type you prefer is all a matter of personal taste and it’s worth trying a few to see which is best for your painting style.
Best paper for acrylic paint
1. Arteza canvas pad
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Dive straight into painting with this fabulous pad of paper that’s designed especially for acrylic painting.
The surface of the paper is primed with acid-free acrylic gesso so you can start painting right away.
The paper has a good thickness (200 gsm) and it’s made of cotton, so it feels high quality. The surface is textured and will hold the paint well.
The sheets are attached to the pad using glue and you can easily tear out sheets of paper if you need to.
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2. Daler Rowney System 3 linen-textured paper
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If you haven’t tried linen-textured paper before, it’s an excellent choice for acrylic painters of all abilities. As the name suggests, the surface has a woven appearance similar to linen fabric.
This woven effect is perfect for painting. The rough surface is great if you use the impasto painting technique and want paper that can handle a lot of paint.
The paper is acid-free, so your artwork will stand the test of time. It’s a good choice for both beginners and more experienced painters.
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3. Faber Castell acrylic pad
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This paper pad by Faber Castell is high quality and suitable for mixed media artwork.
The surface is smoother and less textured than many of the other paper pads that we’ve included in this article, but many artists prefer it!
The paper has a good weight (240 gsm), so it should be able to handle some moisture without warping.However, if you like to apply paint thickly you should choose an acrylic paper with a more textured surface.
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4. Winsor & Newton acrylic paper
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This acrylic pad from Winsor & Newton has all of the benefits of a canvas in a compact form.
The canvas-textured surface of the paper is a brilliant alternative to using real canvases. The texture allows you to apply multiple layers of paint and the paper is robust enough to take the weight.
This set of paper is A3, so you’re unlikely to feel restricted by its size. It’s also available in A4 if you prefer to work at a smaller scale.
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5. Seawhite acrylic paper
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Seawhite is a UK-based manufacturer of paper for artists. Although the brand is not as well known as the likes of Daler Rowney or Faber Castell, it’s superb quality and well worth trying.
This paper is heavyweight (360 gsm) with a matt texture, which you may prefer to linen or canvas-textured pads.
The paper is primed and ready to use immediately. It’s also acid-free, so it’s suitable for professional artists to use.
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Everything you need to know about acrylic painting
Get the lowdown on acrylics with Gathered’s complete acrylic painting guide. It covers everything from techniques to materials to buy.
6. Pro Art Strathmore acrylic paper
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This Pro Art Strathmore acrylic paper is a real heavyweight: 400gsm to be precise. This paper has a linen texture, providing an excellent surface for acrylic paints.
This paper copes well with layers of paint, so you don’t need to worry about it warping under the weight.
The pad is suitable for artists of all levels, from beginners to professional painters. If you enjoy working with other mediums, you can also use this paper with oils.
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7. Daler Rowney Simply acrylic paper
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Daler Rowney’s Simply range is designed for beginners or artists on a budget. If you’re looking for more affordable paper, this acrylic paper pad is good value for money.
At 190gsm, it’s a thinner acrylic paper so try not to overload it with too much paint or water – it’s more likely to buckle. The surface is linen textured, so the paint has something to grip on to.
The paper is gummed on one side, making it easy to tear out individual sheets if you need to.
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8. Daler Rowney mixed media paper
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If you only use acrylic paints occasionally, you might be better off buying mixed media paper. This paper can be used for a variety of mediums, ranging from pen and ink to watercolours.
It can be used for acrylics too, but you won’t be able to use as much paint. It has a smooth surface and it’s a little heavier than the paper in Daler Rowney’s Simply acrylic pad (250gsm compared to 190 gsm).
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9. Frisk acrylic paper
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This textured paper is designed for beginners and amateur artists rather than professional artists.
It’s a good starter paper for anyone taking their first steps into acrylic painting. It’s lighter than some acrylic papers (190gsm), but it’s still acid-free so your paintings will last without fading.
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10. Clairefontaine Paint On acrylic paper
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This is a good quality paper designed to be used with a wide range of paint mediums. It’s 250gsm thick and acid-free.
As a bonus, this paper is more sustainable than some of its competitors. It’s made using wood from sustainably managed forests.
It comes in a range of sizes from A5 to A3 and each pad contains 40 sheets, so it’s fantastic value for money. You won’t run out of paper too quickly!
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Ditch your canvases and find the best paper for acrylic paint
You don’t always need a canvas! There are lots of good options out there if you’d prefer to use acrylic paints on paper.
Many types of acrylic paper mimic the texture of canvas, so you can get the best of both worlds.
Paper is a great alternative to canvas as it takes up less space and is often cheaper, making it ideal for artists on a budget.
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Brush up your painting skills by experimenting with new methods. Gathered’s acrylic painting techniques guide is packed with tips and ideas to try.
