Types of Drawing Ink Paper

Now that you know about the different kinds of ink you can use for drawing, your next question might be: Which paper should I use?

I had these questions when I first started drawing with ink and experimented with many, many, many different kinds of paper. I hope the summary below will save you a lot of time and money. 

I took an illustration class many years ago and asked the instructor what paper I should use with India ink. She was kind of dumbfounded by my question and recommended bristol board or mixed media paper. 

While these are certainly options, below are my recommendations. No matter what paper you choose, if you like to layer and create ink washes, I would recommend a thicker paper (140 LB / 300 GSM) and a paper that is made of more cotton than other fibers.

Watercolor Paper: Watercolor paper is my absolute favorite paper to use for ink drawing.  Watercolor paper comes in two different types: hot press and cold press. Cold press is more readily available at art and craft stores and the paper is  “toothy” and rough. Hot press, on the other hand, is smooth. It is harder to find and I would recommend going to an art supply store to buy hot press watercolor paper. I prefer to work with hot press watercolor because the surface is smooth and I like to start with a sketch. 

Bristol Paper: Bristol paper, sometimes called bristol board, is smooth and is a good choice for ink line drawings or using ink markers. Bristol paper comes in two types- smooth and vellum. Bristol smooth- is well, smooth. Bristol vellum has more of a toothy surface. Again, the quality may be different depending on what the bristol paper is made out of and the weight of the paper. 

Mixed Media Paper: Mixed media paper has a more toothier/rough surface than bristol paper. This may be a good choice if you don’t mind working with a toothier surface and like to create ink washes. Mixed media paper can be very thick (up to 350 lbs/570 GMS) and will not buckle with multiple layers and water. 

Sumi-e Paper (a.k.a. Rice Paper): Sometimes called rice paper, Sumi-e paper is also an option for both Sumi-e painting and calligraphy. The paper has a smooth side and a rough side. Calligraphers may prefer the smooth side while artists may prefer the rough side. Despite its name, it is not made of rice. Sumi-e paper paper tends to be thinner and smoother than other types of paper (40 lbs/ 80 gms).