Clairefontaine Pastelmat is a revolutionary pastel painting surface, now available in 50cm x 70cm 360gsm (170lb) sheets in 10 colours. Pastelmat offers a smooth, velvety surface that delivers brilliant adherence when used with soft pastels.
This new concept for the pastel market reduces the need for applying fixative between each layer, so you can add successive layers while still retaining the same vibrant colour. It's soft surface also means it is gentle on your pastels, fingers and any other tools that you use to manipulate your colour. It's texture falls between the softness of velour and the coarseness of sandpaper. It is also exceptionally durable, will stand up to rubbing and is also water-resistant. While specifically designed for use for pastels, this surface can also be used with charcoal or pencil.
Minimum 5 Sheets per Order (can be any mix of colours)
I havea been using the same pastel board for 30 years, and decided to try the clairefontaine pastelmat when I saw it in the Ken Bromley catalogue.
I took rather a chance by buying several sheets of different colours, but am glad that I did. I needed to give it a proper try. I have given it 4 stars, as I am still fairly new to using it, but up to now it gives a smooth but highly toothed surface for pastel. It blends very well, and allows for several layers, without losing the detail. It is kinder to the fingers than sandpaper, but has a similar effect. I will continue to use it now, in favour of the board I had been using. Helena Anderson (Snettisham, United Kingdom) on 30 Oct 2019
Having a coloured edge is not a plus for me because I cut the sheets smaller , then have to trim edges off. I prefer clairefontaine pastelmat Pat Bolland (South Petherton, United Kingdom) on 28 Oct 2019
I love Pastelmat for me it is the absolute best surface for pastels, you can layer so many layers and put light on top of dark, I highly recommend it. Brian Bailey (Ompah, Canada) on 13 Mar 2020
