Apologies upfront that, as a newbie blogger/poster/social media user, I failed to take pictures to support this review! I promise part II will have more visual interest. As I have shared in my 2025 monthly newsletters, part of my experimentation during my first artist in residence program was trying and comparing new pastel surfaces. Here are my reviews of the surfaces I have tried so far:
- Black hardware store sandpaper
Since my go-to surface is 400 grit UART paper, my first test was using 400 grit black sandpaper purchased from Home Depot. Black because it happened to be on sale! I also decided to use an alcohol wash for the background to see why the technique was so popular. Trying and comparing different wash techniques may be a future post. Even though the grit was the same as the UART paper, I found the tooth of the hardware sandpaper more abrasive and the “teeth” or grain less uniform. There was a difference in quality. Overall, I think using the hardware sandpaper for experiments, students/teaching demonstration, and small pieces (the size of In Flight below is 6×9) as an excellent inexpensive alternative to the UART paper.
Cost difference: 9×12 UART sheet $4.28; 6×9 sheet sandpaper $.44
- Art Spectrum Coloufix Optimum Board
This board is only offered in 16×20, and because there is a layer of aluminum inside the foam board, it would be difficult to cut. The surface is described as offering a “robust, toothy surface that will hold multiple layers of media.” I so wish I had taken a detailed picture of the tooth! It looked, felt, and behaved like rough concrete cinderblock coated in a thin layer of paint. And no, it could not hold multiple layers of pastels without looking thick and gummy, and sometimes flaking. My framer said he had to take the framing apart several times to clean specks of pastel dust from the matting and glass. This piece was also my first time using pan pastels in combination with pastel sticks and pencils. The application of the pan pastels was much smoother than the sticks and pencils, so maybe if I solely used pan pastels, it would be okay, but I will not use this surface again.
Cost difference: 18×24 sheet UART $12.41; 16×20 Art Spectrum Board $24.67
- Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth Pastel Paper
I ordered a 20×28 sheet but when measured, it was only 19.5×27.5, and that was just the white outside border. The actual working surface was 18.5×26.5. That size difference is a big factor when planning the size of my subject(s), plus this product is only offered in 20×28 and 9×12. For this piece, I ended up cutting the paper to 13×18 and losing some of the border. I was impressed with the layering ability of such a find tooth, but did notice just as much pastel dust as UART. I also wish I had mounted the paper because it began to bubble and curl—just like UART—as I was working. If I tried it again, I would invest in the 20 pack of 9×12 assorted colors, so I could at least play with the background color.
Cost difference: 21×27 sheet UART $14.72; 20×28 sheet Art Spectrum Smooth Paper $10.82
- Clairefontaine Pastelmat Sheet
I ordered a 19.5×27.5 sheet and felt confident I did not have to mount it for stability, and it did not bubble or warp as I worked. The manufacturer boasts a fixed surface eliminating the need for fixative (if used). I did find that I barely produced any pastel dust while working, and accidental smudging was less severe; however, I did not find the surface forgiving enough to correct/change the background of this piece by either brushing away layers or adding new layers without creating “mud.” Although sizing is limited, they offer a wider selection of colors than UART. I will definitely try this surface again for the stability and color selection, but keep in mind I’m limited in corrections or adjustments once I’ve started painting!
Cost Difference: 21×27 sheet UART $14.72; 19.5×27.5 pastelmat $14.62
Well, that’s the first four sanded pastel surfaces I’ve compared to UART 400 grit sanded paper. As I said, part II will have more reference photos. Please share your experience with any of these surfaces.
