Pastel work demands a particular kind of paper — one with enough surface texture to grip and hold pigment particles through multiple layers, enough body to withstand the physical pressure of working and blending, and ideally a coloured ground that contributes to the tonal and atmospheric quality of the finished piece. Fabriano Tiziano is one of the most respected pastel papers in the world, and this A3 pad, presented under the Seawhite label, brings it together in a practical mixed-colour format at an accessible price.
The paper itself is made by Fabriano, the legendary Italian paper mill with a history stretching back to the thirteenth century. Tiziano is produced from a blend of 40% cotton and pure ECF cellulose — the cotton content giving the paper its characteristic body, resilience, and receptive surface. It is acid-free, chlorine-free, pH neutral, and manufactured to ISO 9706 long-life standards, meaning it is fully archival and will not yellow or deteriorate over time. The surface is lightly textured with a subtle laid finish — fine enough for detailed pastel and charcoal work, but with sufficient tooth to hold multiple layers of pigment without becoming saturated and slippery. The colour of the paper is highly lightfast, so the toned grounds remain stable and true over time.
The pad contains 20 sheets in 10 mixed colours — a range of warm and cool mid-tones that provide a variety of toned grounds for different moods and subjects. Working on a toned ground rather than white paper is fundamental to traditional pastel technique, allowing the mid-tones of a composition to be established by the paper itself, with lights added in chalk or light pastel and darks worked in from there.
In addition to pastel, Tiziano works beautifully with graphite, pencil, charcoal, tempera, gouache, airbrush, and light watercolour — making it a genuinely versatile surface for drawing and mixed media as well as pastel work.
Paper weight: 160gsm Sheets: 20 sheets in 10 mixed colours Size: A3 (297 x 420mm) Paper: Fabriano Tiziano — 40% cotton, ECF cellulose, acid-free, pH neutral Standard: ISO 9706 long-life Made in: Italy (Fabriano paper), assembled in the UK
Why use coloured paper for pastel work? Working on a toned ground allows the mid-tones of a composition to be established by the paper itself, so the artist can focus on adding highlights in light pastels and deepening shadows without having to work up from white. It also gives the finished piece a sense of atmospheric unity that white paper cannot provide — the ground colour reads through the gaps between marks and contributes to the overall tone of the image.
What media work on Tiziano paper? Tiziano is primarily designed for pastel, pencil, graphite, and charcoal, and excels at all of these. It also works well with gouache, tempera, airbrush, and light watercolour, and can be used for all printing techniques. The lightly textured surface and good sizing make it receptive to a broad range of both wet and dry media.
How many colours are in the pad? The pad contains 20 sheets in 10 mixed colours — two sheets of each colour — providing a variety of warm and cool toned grounds to work on. The colours are highly lightfast and will not fade over time.
Is Tiziano paper archival? Yes — it is acid-free, chlorine-free, pH neutral, and manufactured to ISO 9706 long-life standards, making it fully archival and suitable for finished work intended to last.
Can it be used for charcoal drawing? Yes — the lightly textured surface grips charcoal well, and the toned grounds are particularly well suited to tonal charcoal work where the paper mid-tone is used as part of the composition.
