Starting your artwork using mid-range colored paper allows for unique sketching & drawing possibilities by providing the middle value that would otherwise need to be rendered by the artist. A wider range of values from light to dark can be used, and the middle tone makes it easier for the artist to deliberately place shadows and highlights.
Keeping the value of the paper as one of the values in the drawing not only saves time but allows the artist to use graphite or other dark media to push darker values and white pencils or other light media to add highlights, making sketches and drawings pop.
Our Toned papers are 100% recycled, contain 30% post-consumer fiber, and contain kraft and bark fiber inclusions which adds visual interest.
Strathmore offers three different tones: Toned Tan, Toned Gray & Steel Blue, and two different paper types: Sketch & Mixed Media.

Sketch: Lightweight paper with medium surface that is ideal for use with graphite, charcoal, marker, inks, colored pencil, even with light gel pens.
Mixed Media: Heavy weight paper designed to endure wet media like acrylics, watercolor, and gouache. At the same time, they come with a vellum surface which makes it good for dry media as well like graphite, pastel, and colored pencil. It is a perfect choice no matter what you choose to use.
Strathmore's toned paper is designated as Series 400 which means that it is among the best papers offered by the company. It is perfect for professional artists and for those who are using only the best materials available for their projects!

🔥 Brush up and learn new skills with professional artist tutorials from Strathmore. Each tutorial comes with printable instruction sheets and a full-length video.