Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

Extremely nice paper that allows the artist to do fine detailed works of art. You can blend easily with this type of paper base.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

Just as advertised....will buy more. I do wish that the pads were available in all white.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

I use PastelMat with a watercolor underpainting. I have spent over an hour at times playing with the underpainting, using a lot of water and yet the paper returns to flat as it dries. I either tape the entire perimeter, or I have hinged each corner with tape. The color remains brilliant upon drying, yet even with a thick load of watercolor, I have not seen problems with shine from too much gum arabic, nor any sign that any tooth was lost from too much watercolor- and I have turned white paper very dark- almost black, with watercolor. When a single thin layer of pastel is applied, it resists all attempts at softening edges or blended passages. If the pastel is put on thickly, it will blend nicely. I have dragged my finished, (not fixed) unframed pastel covered with glassine around in a portfolio for a year without much damage to the pastel painting. I have a few cautions though- The surface is marred easily if something scratches the working side of the sheet. Although the scratch still accepts pastel, the scratch can be seen after the work is done if the scratch is in a smooth flat area of the painting. Unlike some of the sanded papers, this paper will not dry flat if the back side gets soaking wet, so it shouldn't get the "garden hose" or "bathtub scrub" that some other papers will survive. I love PastelMat's velvety texture (great with my Nocturne series) and that the paper will also hold a firm edge (No Elvis on Velvet). It has become one of my top two favorite pastel surfaces.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

After trying just about every surface out there for pastels, this is the one that I keep coming back to. I love this paper. It does exactly what I want it to. I work in fine detail with pastels and pastel pencils. This is the only surface that will allow me to work in this way.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

I really enjoy painting on Pastelmat. The colors go down beautifully and stay where they are put. The unique surface is similar to suede, and no fixative is needed on the finished work. Pastelmat doesn't 'eat' your expensive sticks like sanded papers do. One downside; the 9x12 package does not measure a true 9x12. This is a problem for me because I frame with spacers, not a mat, and I need a true fit. I solve the problem by buying full sheets and cutting them to size.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

Those new to using this brand should know that this surface will accept under-painting techniques. I use watercolor or gouache and try not to use so much pigment that a shiny surface could remain when dry. I have washed off mistakes successfully, but a fair amount of staining will remain behind which I did not find troublesome. I would caution the user not to get both sides soaking wet or the sheet will no longer lie entirely flat after it dries. The first layer or two of pastel will resist all efforts at blending and will stick so well that no fixative will need to be used, no matter how soft the color. Only when you apply very thick coats of pastel will the painting surface allow blending techniques. I am not fond of heavily blended pastel paintings, yet it is a bit disconcerting to find it so difficult to soften the occasional edge. The sizes the single sheets come in are a bit unusual and do not fit into standard frames. This makes the price per square inch a bit higher when it is cut and part of it can't be used. The thickness of the paper is nice and sturdy, but it is not thick enough to not require a drawing board while painting (unless you bought a tablet and use it while still in the tablet) and when framed will require a backing board. The jury is still out for me if this paper is my favorite yet, but it is in the top 3 or 4. I'd give it 4.5 stars.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

I work mostly with pastel pencils and I love this surface. It feels very smooth but it will hold many layers of color and is erasable. My only complaint is I wish you could get pads in single colors instead of assorted.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

AMAZING! This beats any pastel paper or cardstock I have previously used. Takes well to soft and hard pastels, holds many layers easily, and takes my abuse for numerous corrections. Surprisingly there is no tooth and yet pastels adhere to it better than the best "tooth" brand paper/cardstock. Fixitives, in the past, have at times caused some of my paintings to darken. There is absolutely no need for fixitives with Clairefontaine PastelMat. It holds the pastels securely and, as far as texture, I can create a porcelain smooth finish or the roughest of textures. I'll never go back to the old "tooth" pastel paper and cardstock.

Comments about Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card:

For far-far-far too many years I have been searching for something that I thought didn't EVEN EXIST--I FINALLY FOUND IT ! I have just about spent my life savings buying every type of paper,or board known to man for colored pencils and/or pastels . Upon arrival,I couldn't even make myself get excited about this new paper..........I've been let down so,so many times before, It was weeks before I even touched it ,and even then ,I refused to use my better colored pencils on it, so I used my kids Prismacolor Veritins --I HAVE NOT THE WORDS TO DESCRIPE IT...my first three pieces were of two of my children and everyone(AND I MEAN EVERYONE) ,including the framers thought that they were photographs . I'm not very good with words,but if you to are about to give up ,I suggest that you simply buy one sheet at first and give it a try---YOU WOULDN'T BE SORRY p.s. please let me know how you like it via these reviews...