Canson vs Arches vs Stonehenge vs Clairefontaine

Choosing between Canson, Arches, Stonehenge and Clairefontaine is really choosing between four different personalities. Canson is bold and grainy, Arches is smooth and refined, Stonehenge is soft and velvety, and Clairefontaine is dark and dramatic. Each is good; each is good at something different.

This comparison follows the qualities that decide a coloured pencil drawing: tooth, smoothness, weight, archival quality, lifting, layering and burnishing. It ends with a master table and a verdict by subject. For the shorter recommendation, see the best paper for coloured pencils, and for the wider context, the paper pillar guide. The comparison applies to coloured pencils (colored pencils in the US). To pair a paper with pencils, try the pencil set quiz and check paper sizes before you buy.

The verdict in brief

• Glossy, reflective still life: Canson Mixed Media grey.
• Portraits, skin and fine detail: Arches Hot Press.
• Soft realism, fur, feathers, botanical: Stonehenge White.
• Moody, atmospheric drawings: Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris.

A studio storeroom with shelves of paper rolls and sheets.

1. Characteristics: four personalities

Canson Mixed Media (grey) is textured, grainy and robust. It grips pigment firmly and leaves a slightly toothy finish that suits reflective surfaces, glossy cakes and metal objects. As a mid-tone paper, it means you build light and pull back rather than starting from zero.

Arches Hot Press is a premium watercolour paper, smooth and beautifully consistent. Coloured pencil artists favour it for portraits because it allows subtle transitions and delicate shading.

Stonehenge White is velvety, gentle and forgiving. Colours sink into the fibres in a way that creates a natural, painterly softness.

Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris is darker, atmospheric and slightly smoother than Canson, with a subtle drag that feels almost like paint.

2. Tooth

Tooth is the texture of the paper: the tiny hills and valleys that catch pigment.

Paper	Tooth	Effect
Canson	Heavy	Grabs pigment aggressively; you can draw over and over without losing grip
Arches Hot Press	Minimal	Almost creamy; needs more layers for deep colour
Stonehenge	Soft	Gentle grip; velvety layering
Clairefontaine	Fine	Enough grip to layer, smooth enough for painterly effects

Tooth helps beginners layer; for experienced artists it decides how much control they have over texture. Our guide to smooth versus textured paper explains the mechanics.

A fanned stack of heavyweight white paper showing the thick edges.

3. Smooth versus textured

Canson is the most textured, great for reflective surfaces, metal and icing that need dramatic contrast. Arches Hot Press is the smoothest, ideal for portraits, botanical art and fine detail. Stonehenge is softly textured with a velvety finish suited to realism. Clairefontaine is smooth with a slight drag, excellent for expressive, painterly work. Texture determines whether your pencils glide or grip, a distinction that also underpins hot press versus cold press paper.

4. Weight

Weight affects durability, layering and how much pressure you can apply. These are Michael’s stated figures:

Paper	Weight
Canson Mixed Media	Around 300 gsm
Arches Hot Press	300 gsm
Stonehenge	250 gsm
Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris	Midweight, around 250 gsm

Heavier papers tolerate mistakes better, which suits beginners; experienced artists often choose weight to match technique. Weights can change between product lines, so check the current spec on the label. For the underlying numbers, see paper weight in gsm explained.

5. Archival properties

Arches and Stonehenge are fully archival: acid-free, museum-grade and designed to last decades without yellowing. Canson Mixed Media is durable but not always fully archival, so it is great for practice, studies and still life. Clairefontaine is generally archival but varies by line. If you are selling work or exhibiting, choose archival paper, and read our guide to archival paper for selling your drawings.

6. Colour lifting

Lifting matters for highlights, corrections and reflective surfaces.

• Canson: excellent lifting because of the strong tooth. Perfect for highlights on metal, icing and glossy surfaces.
• Stonehenge: gentle lifting without damaging the fibres, ideal for subtle highlights in portraits and realism.
• Clairefontaine: lifts well but may stain slightly with heavy pigment.
• Arches Hot Press: hardest, because pigment sinks into the smooth surface. It requires careful planning.

Beginners benefit from papers that lift easily; experienced artists often choose by the finish they want. See our guide to lifting and erasing coloured pencil for methods.

7. Layering

Layering is the backbone of coloured pencil realism.

• Canson: allows many layers thanks to its grain; ideal for artists who build colour slowly.
• Stonehenge: deep, velvety layering, ideal for realism and soft transitions.
• Arches Hot Press: controlled layering. You can build many layers, but pressure must be gentle.
• Clairefontaine: painterly layering, where colours blend into the surface.

Experienced artists often choose paper by how many layers their style needs. Our how to layer coloured pencils guide covers the method.

8. Burnishing

Burnishing is the final polish: pressing hard to create a smooth, glossy finish. Stonehenge burnishes smoothly without streaking. Canson burnishes boldly but flattens tooth quickly. Arches Hot Press gives a soft burnish that is perfect for portraits. Clairefontaine burnishes with a paint-like finish. Burnishing changes the surface permanently, so choose paper by the sheen you want. The technique itself is in how to burnish coloured pencils.

9. Brand philosophy

Each brand has a distinct feel. Canson is versatile, textured and great for mixed media and bold realism. Arches is premium, archival and beloved by portrait artists. Stonehenge is soft, velvety and ideal for coloured pencil realism. Clairefontaine is expressive and atmospheric, perfect for dramatic compositions.

10. Individual reviews in short

• Canson Mixed Media grey: textured, durable, perfect for glossy still life. Highlights glow beautifully.
• Arches Hot Press: smooth, elegant, ideal for portraits and botanical art, with subtle transitions.
• Stonehenge White: soft and forgiving, perfect for realism, with layers that sink in gently.
• Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris: dramatic and rich, perfect for moody still life and expressive portraits.

11. What artists find in testing

Artists consistently report that Canson is best for reflective objects, Arches for skin, Stonehenge for depth and Clairefontaine for atmosphere. Testing papers is essential, because each one changes how your pencils behave.

12 and 13. Portrait and still-life picks

For portraits, the picks are Arches Hot Press, smooth and subtle and perfect for skin tones and delicate shading, and Stonehenge White, velvety and ideal for soft realism and gentle transitions. For still life, the picks are Canson Mixed Media grey, where highlights glow and colours pop on glossy surfaces, and Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris for dramatic lighting, expressive shadows and atmosphere.

Master comparison table

Quality	Canson Mixed Media grey	Arches Hot Press	Stonehenge White	Clairefontaine Paint’On Gris
Personality	Bold	Elegant	Soft	Dramatic
Colour	Grey	White	White	Dark grey
Tooth	Heavy	Minimal	Soft	Fine
Surface	Most textured	Smoothest	Softly textured	Smooth with drag
Weight (Michael)	About 300 gsm	300 gsm	250 gsm	About 250 gsm
Archival	Durable, not always fully archival	Fully archival	Fully archival	Generally, varies by line
Lifting	Excellent	Hardest	Gentle	Good, may stain
Layering	Many layers	Controlled, gentle	Deep, velvety	Painterly
Burnishing	Bold, flattens tooth	Soft	Smooth, no streaking	Paint-like
Best for	Glossy still life	Portraits, botanical	Soft realism	Atmosphere

Which should you buy?

If your subjects are shiny, start with Canson and read why use grey paper for coloured pencil. If you draw people, start with Arches Hot Press, and if you draw fur or feathers, start with Stonehenge. If you want mood, try Clairefontaine. For heavily layered realism generally, see best paper for realistic drawing. Whatever you choose, buy one sheet first, swatch, layer and lift, and only then commit.

The short version

Canson lifts and grips, Arches blends and refines, Stonehenge softens and deepens, and Clairefontaine sets the mood. Match the paper to the subject, check the current label for weight and archival status, and test before you commit.