Painting is an art that requires you to have many tools. One of the tools you need is acrylic painting paper, especially if you deal with acrylic paints. Using acrylic paper offers several advantages. First, this paper is thicker than the standard drawing paper. Therefore, the paint will not soak through. Secondly, it has a rough surface that can hold your acrylic paint in place. Finally, this paper is resistant to yellowing.
Choosing the best paper for acrylic paint can be a daunting task due to the several options available in the market. Therefore, there are several factors that you need to consider to make your work easier, including size, weight, texture, viscosity, and fiber content.
Since we understand the problems you are likely to face when buying this product, we compiled a list of the nine best acrylic painting papers. We discussed their features, specs, pros, and cons to help you understand them better.
Our Favorite Best Paper for Acrylic Paint
Best Paper for Acrylic Paint Comparison Table
| Best Paper for Acrylic Paint | Specs |
| Arteza Acrylic Pad | Item weight: 13.3 ounces Product dimension: 6.06 x 6.02 x 0.59 inches Color: White Sheet size: 11 x 14 inches |
| Strathmore 400 Series Acrylic Pad | Item weight: 12 ounces Product dimension: 9 x 0.25 x 12 inches Color: White Sheet size: 9 x 12 inches |
| Bellofy Painting Paper | Paper finish: Watercolor Item weight: 1.61 pounds Product dimension: 12.05 x 9.09 x 0.79 inches Sheet size: 9 x 12 |
| US Art Paper | Sheet count: 12 Sheet size: 11 x 14 Item weight: 2.57 pounds Package dimension: 14.53 x 11.06 x 0.87 inches |
| Darice Tablet | Color: White Item dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.3 Product weight: 11.2 ounces Sheet count: 15 |
| Canson 100510843 Foundation Series Canva | Product dimension: 20 x 16.14 x 0.2 inches Item weight: 1.9 pounds Sheet count: 10 Sheet size: 16 x 20 inches |
| EBIVEN Palette Paper for Acrylic Painting | Product dimension: 12.01 x 9.02 x 0.39 inches Item weight: 1.29 pounds Number of pieces: 2 Sheet count: 80 |
| LYTek Acrylic and Watercolor Painting Pad | Paper size: 9 x 12 inches Bound type: Spiral Sheet count: 15 Paper finish: Watercolor |
| UPGREY Watercolor Paper | Paper finish: Watercolor Item weight: 5.24 pounds Item dimensions: 14.13 x 11.06 x 1.46 inches Sheet size: 11 x 14 inches |
Top 9 Best Paper for Acrylic Paint- Buying Guide
1. Arteza Acrylic Pad
Arteza is a two-pack painting acrylic set made up of 32 sheets is the best paper for acrylic paint. These sheets are made from strong paper with the perfect texture and absorbency for acrylic paints and other colors. Other materials you can use on this acrylic pad include oil paint, Gouache paint, and acrylic paint markers.
One thing worth noting about this painting pad is that it is glue-bound and easy to tear. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about tearing your artwork accidentally.
Nevertheless, this pad is heavyweight and cannot buckle or warp easily. As a result, this pad is unique since most companies make painting pads that are too absorbent and easily buckle.
Features
Heavyweight- This pad is made of heavyweight materials that won’t buckle easily when you paint. Therefore, your artwork will remain flat and straight for a long time.
Easy to tear– Tearing a sheet from this pad is quite easy since glue-bound.
Linen-textured– A linen textured pad doesn’t absorb too much paint. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about using a lot of paint or your artwork buckling up.
Versatile– This painting pad allows you to use various painting materials, including oil, acrylic, and Gouache paint.
Specs
- Item weight: 13.3 ounces
- Product dimension: 6.06 x 6.02 x 0.59 inches
- Color: White
- Sheet size: 11 x 14 inches
Pros
- It allows you to use various painting materials
- Thick
- Strong
- Quite affordable
Cons
- This pad easily warps when you use gesso paint
2. Strathmore 400 Series Acrylic Pad
The Strathmore 400 series acrylic paper is a durable painting pad. This means that your artwork will last for a long time in its original state. Therefore, if you are a professional artist, this pad is suitable for you; even if you don’t sell your art right away, you can always sell it later at a good price.
This pad is made from heavyweight materials, meaning it doesn’t absorb a lot of paint. Therefore, it won’t buckle after it has dried. This feature makes it perfect for acrylic painting.
Finally, the Strathmore 400 series painting pad has a textured linen surface. This kind of surface is perfect for paint adhesion and layering.
Features
Heavyweight- This pad is made from strong and heavy material, perfect for acrylic painting. Additionally, it won’t buckle easily after painting.
Linen finish– A painting pad made with a linen finish helps hold your paint in place.
Durable– A durable painting pad stays in its original form for a long time.
Heavy chipboard backing– This painting pad is made with a heavy clipboard backing, making it easy to display your artwork.
Specs
- Item weight: 12 ounces
- Product dimension: 9 x 0.25 x 12 inches
- Color: White
- Sheet size: 9 x 12 inches
Pros
- High-quality
- Thick
- Perfect texture
- Quite affordable
Cons
- You may find it difficult to remove the sheets from the block
3. Bellofy Painting Paper
Create attractive paintings using Bellofy painting paper. This pad is suitable for both beginner and experienced artists. Therefore, no matter your experience level, you can still create outstanding artwork.
This pad is made from heavyweight material, meaning it doesn’t absorb a lot of paint. Therefore, it won’t buckle after it has dried. Furthermore, a heavyweight painting pad supports any artistic painting style.
When it comes to Bellofy painting paper, you can use any painting material, including watercolors, acrylic, or oil paints.
Features
Acid-free– This painting pad is made from acid-free material. This means it won’t smudge or fade away easily. Therefore, it can serve you for a long time.
Versatile– with this painting pad, you can use various painting mediums, including watercolors, oil, and acrylic paints.
Heavyweight- This pad is made from heavyweight material that doesn’t soak up too much paint.
Easy page detachment– With this pad, you will get to enjoy smooth page-turning.
Specs
- Paper finish: Watercolor
- Item weight: 1.61 pounds
- Product dimension: 12.05 x 9.09 x 0.79 inches
- Sheet size: 9 x 12
Pros
- Versatile
- Thick
- Quite affordable
- It has a great texture on both the front and backside
Cons
- It doesn’t work well with watercolor
4. US Art Paper
The US art paper is an acid-free painting pad. This means that it won’t fade or smudge easily. Therefore, it can serve you for a long time.
One outstanding feature of this pad is that it is spiral bound. This makes it easier to remove the sheets you want to paint on. It is also made from heavyweight material, meaning it won’t soak up paint. As a result, this pad is suitable for acrylic painting.
Another important feature of this painting pad is its excellent texture. This texture makes it resistant to moisture and bleeds through.
Features
Acid-free– This painting pad is made from acid-free materials, which won’t fade easily. This makes it durable.
Spiral-bound– The sheets in this pad are bound by a spiral. This makes it easier for you to pluck the sheets.
Versatile- With this painting pad, you can use various painting materials, including acrylic and oil paints.
Heavyweight– This pad is made of heavyweight material, meaning it won’t soak up too much paint.
Specs
- Sheet count: 12
- Sheet size: 11 x 14
- Item weight: 2.57 pounds
- Package dimension: 14.53 x 11.06 x 0.87 inches
Pros
- High quality
- Quite affordable
- Thick
- Easy to tear
Cons
- You have to trim the punched part, which reduces the paper size
5. Darice Tablet
If you want a painting pad close to the canvas, you should consider Darice Tablet. This pad comprises 15 textured sheets measuring 9 x 12 inches.
This painting pad is ideal for practicing acrylic and oil painting. Therefore, this is an economical choice rather than using an expensive canvas for practicing. Also, if you want to try out new colors, painting techniques, or painting materials, consider buying this pad.
One advantage of this pad is that you can easily carry it around when you travel compared to canvass. Therefore, you can continue with your work when you travel.
Finally, this pad inspires creativity for all levels and types of painting, from jewelry making to fine arts, floral designs, and scrapbooking.
Features
Economical- This painting pad is similar to the canvas, which is more expensive. Therefore, consider buying it to save some money since you will get similar results with less cost.
Portable– You can carry this painting pad around, meaning your painting work won’t stop.
Canvas textured– This pad has a similar texture to canvas making it suitable for acrylic painting.
Inspirational- With this pad, you can practice new painting techniques to improve your craft.
Specs
- Color: White
- Item dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.3
- Product weight: 11.2 ounces
- Sheet count: 15
Pros
- Portable
- Economical
- Encourages one to try new painting techniques
- Quite affordable
Cons
- Quite thin
6. Canson 100510843 Foundation Series Canva
Canson Canva-Paper has a canvas-like texture which is similar to linen fabric. This pad is specially meant for oil and acrylic paints. It has a natural texture and is treated with a high-performance barrier that uniformly absorbs oil, chemicals, and water, giving the surface paint layer excellent resistance.
One outstanding feature of this painting pad is that it doesn’t buckle once the paint dries. Also, it doesn’t quickly soak up since it is made with strong material.
After painting on this pad, you may stick it on hardboard or foam to make it rigid and strong for display.
Features
Toothy texture– This pad has a texture that makes it feel a bit toothy.
Buckle resistant– Once you paint on this pad and the paint dries, it won’t buckle.
High-quality– You can expect good quality artwork from this pad since it comprises good quality materials.
Acid-free– This pad is made of acid-free materials that ensure your paint won’t fade away or smudge.
Specs
- Product dimension: 20 x 16.14 x 0.2 inches
- Item weight: 1.9 pounds
- Sheet count: 10
- Sheet size: 16 x 20 inches
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Easy to erase
- Easy to sketch on
- Thick
Cons
- You cannot use it for professional painting
7. EBIVEN Palette Paper for Acrylic Painting
This painting pad is made of high-quality materials suitable for various painting techniques. It has a smooth surface that is waterproof, meaning paint won’t soak through easily. Also, if your artwork gets rained on, it won’t get wet. Furthermore, this smooth surface prevents pigment from leaking, making it easy to paint on.
One outstanding feature of this painting pad is that it is environmentally friendly. This is because you can easily dispose of it immediately after use.
Features
Smooth surface– The painting surface of this pad is smooth, meaning paint won’t soak through easily.
Palette paper size– This painting palette has a dimension of 9 x 12 inches
Thickness– This painting paper is thick, meaning your paint won’t pass through.
Environmentally friendly– This painting pad is environmentally friendly since you can easily dispose of it after painting.
Specs
- Product dimension: 12.01 x 9.02 x 0.39 inches
- Item weight: 1.29 pounds
- Number of pieces: 2
- Sheet count: 80
Pros
- Easily disposable
- Smooth surface perfect for color mixing
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean up
Cons
- The pad is a bit thin
8. LYTek Acrylic and Watercolor Painting Pad
Whether you are a beginner or professional artist, the LYTek acrylic and watercolor painting pad are ideal for you.
This pad is made from high-quality materials, which are heavyweight, meaning your paint won’t bleed through. Also, once your pad dries, it won’t warp. As a result, this pad is ideal for acrylic and oil painting. Moreover, these sheets are bright white, allowing your artwork to stand out.
Another important feature of this pad is that each sheet is secured using non-toxic glue, making it easy to remove. Additionally, it is acid-free, making it resistant to air and light damage.
Features
Real size– This pad has a dimension of 9 x 12 inches, making it suitable for professional use. Storing it is also quite easy since it takes up less storage space.
Canvas-like texture– This pad has a canvas-like texture which makes it bleed-proof.
Heavyweight- This pad is heavyweight, meaning paint won’t soak through easily.
Acid-free– This pad is made of acid-free materials, making it resistant to light and air damage. Therefore, it won’t fade easily.
Specs
- Paper size: 9 x 12 inches
- Bound type: Spiral
- Sheet count: 15
- Paper finish: Watercolor
Pros
- Good quality
- Suitable for both amateur and experienced artists
- Wastes less paint
- It doesn’t buckle after drying
Cons
- You may easily make a mistake when tearing the paper off
9. UPGREY Watercolor Paper
If you want a painting pad that can serve you in your art projects, you should consider UPGREY watercolor paper. This pad is ideal for scrapping, sketching, painting, inks, and pastels. It is also acid-free, meaning it is resistant to air and light damage. Therefore, your artwork will stay vibrant for a long time. These sheets are thicker and heavier, meaning paint won’t pass through.
One thing worth noting about this painting pad is that it is dual-sided. This means you can use either the front or back side for painting. These surfaces are cold-pressed and have a small rough size making them ideal for large and even washes. Therefore, you can easily paint finer details on your art, allowing you to become more creative.
Another important feature of this pad is that the sheets are held together with a strong glue allowing you to remove one sheet without disturbing the others.
Features
Acid-free– The sheets are acid-free, making them resistant to air and light damage.
Cold-pressed surfaces– These surfaces allow you to paint finer details.
Glue-bound– Tearing off a sheet from this pad is quite easy since they are bound with glue which is easy to remove.
High-quality– This pad is made of high-quality materials enabling you to produce quality paintings.
Specs
- Paper finish: Watercolor
- Item weight: 5.24 pounds
- Item dimensions: 14.13 x 11.06 x 1.46 inches
- Sheet size: 11 x 14 inches
Pros
- Thick
- Textured surface
- Allows you to paint finer details
- Dual-sided
Cons
- The warranty period is too short
Best Paper for Acrylic Paint Buying Guide
Buying an acrylic painting paper can be an overwhelming task due to the many options in the market. Furthermore, you need to be extra careful to avoid regretting later. However, if you consider the following factors, your work will be easier.
Thickness
Paper thickness is an important consideration if you use acrylic paint. You will need to use thick paper that will not allow your paint to bleed through. If your paper is too thin, it will warp, buckle and bend once the paint has dried. When choosing the ideal paper for acrylic paint, you should go for something with a minimum of 260 GSM.
Number of Sheets
Another thing you should consider is how many sheets of paper you’ll need for each pad. If you choose a pad with thick sheets, you will get fewer sheets per pad. Therefore, you should first determine the number of sheets you need for your project.
Additionally, you should also consider why you need the pad, whether for practicing or as an alternative to expensive canvas.
Size
Another significant factor to consider is the size of the paper you’ve picked. Do you like an A4 size pad? Or will a smaller A5 be enough for your project? In most cases, the price of your pad is also determined by its size. The larger the paper pad, the higher the overall cost.
Type of Pad
The type of pad you want is also another important consideration. Most pads are either glue or spiral bound.
When using a glue-bound notebook, you won’t find it difficult to tear out the sheets. On the other hand, the spiral-bound pad is the preferable alternative if you want to keep all of your tasks in one place. Turning the pages will be much easier without destroying the book.
How to Paint on Acrylic Sheet
Painting is quite easy when you use acrylic paper for painting. However, you need to ensure you have all the required materials. As discussed below, you also need to follow proper steps if you want your result to be excellent.
- Use a glass cleaner to clean both sides of your acrylic painting sheet.
- Place your acrylic painting paper on your most preferred template. Your template could either be a magazine cutout or a photo.
- Clean the part of your sheet that faces up with rubbing alcohol to remove fingerprints. Ensure you don’t touch this surface again with bare hands.
- Using self-adhesive painting strips or glass paint pens, trace your design on the acrylic paper.
- Use glass or stained-glass paint to fill the gaps between the outlines for a translucent finish. However, if you want an opaque finish, use enamel paint.
- Put your painting in the open and allow it to dry. Most manufacturers recommend baking the paint to allow it to dry completely.
How to Prepare a Paper for Acrylic Paint
Before you use your acrylic paper for painting, you need to prepare it. Preparation is crucial since it ensures your results are perfect. Here are steps to follow when preparing your acrylic paper for painting.
- Put your drawing board on a flat surface and place your paper for acrylic paint at the center.
- Evenly tape the four edges of your canvas paper for acrylic painting on your board.
- Open your gesso and pour it into a container. Stir it for a few minutes using a paint stirrer, depending on the size. You can add a few drops of water into the mixture and stir to make it thin.
- Uniformly coat both sides of your painting paper with the gesso. Wash the brush with warm water and squeeze out the excess gesso once you are done.
- Allow the gesso to dry for about 20 minutes and brush down the excess dry gesso using sandpaper. Dip the brush in gesso again and paint a second coat on your paper. Repeat the process until the surface feels smooth.
- Allow all gesso coatings to dry completely and paint your pad using acrylic paint. While you’re doing so, keep the tape on and pull it up gently when you’re done.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acrylic Painting Paper
Can I Use Normal Paper for Acrylic Paint?
Yes, it’s possible to use normal paper for acrylic paint. However, you need to ensure this paper is of high quality. Additionally, the paper should be acid-free if you get excellent artwork.
Can I Use Watercolor Paper for Acrylic?
Watercolor and acrylic can be combined to produce three-dimensional artwork. Watercolor can be used to create a colorful and fluid background. On the other hand, opaque acrylic can be used to paint patterns that explode on top of the watercolor.
What Is the Difference Between Watercolor Paper and Acrylic Paper?
The major difference between watercolor and acrylic painting papers is that watercolor papers are much thicker compared to acrylic paper. Therefore, they are suitable for different painting techniques. Also, acrylic papers dry faster compared to watercolor papers.
Can You Oil Paint on Acrylic Paper?
Yes, you can oil paint on acrylic paper to sketch and finish your artwork since this paper can absorb water and other oil solvents. This makes it a perfect choice for all artists.
What Is Acrylic Paint Used for?
Acrylic paints can be used to create effects similar to watercolors paints when you apply them in thin layers or washes. You can also use acrylic paint to produce paintings with relief elements and build thick layers of paint.
Is Acrylic Painting Difficult?
Acrylic painting is not difficult. In fact, if you are a beginner, this is the best painting medium since it is friendly. These paints are easy to use, and you can easily clean them up if you make a mistake.
Conclusion
Whether you are a professional or a beginner artist, there are tools that you need to have if you want to take your painting game to the next level. One of the tools that you need to have is a painting pad. However, choosing a quality painting pad can be an uphill task due to the many options in the market, which may be confusing.
However, if you read the best paper for acrylic paint post carefully, we are certain that you will make the right decision in the end. Nevertheless, if you still find it difficult to choose a suitable pad, you can contact us, and we will direct you.