The Bottom Line
Sennelier's Pastel Card isn't cheap. In fact, for me it's in the "gulp" price range. But having tried it, having felt how it grips layer upon layer of pastel, and seen the painterly result it gives, the results reward the price. You don't need to use as much fixative either (and possibly none at all, depending on how you work).
Pros
- The fine sandpaper-like surface grips pastel in a way no plain paper will, so you need less fixative
- Available as individual sheets or as a pad.
Cons
- Expensive compared to plain pastel paper, but do try it at least once if you're into pastels.
Description
- Sennelier Pastel Card is a thin cardboard with a fine surface texture that grips and holds pastel amazingly.
- Pads come with 12 sheets, two each of six colors. Two sizes: 9×12" and 12×16" (approx 23x30cm/30x40cm).
- Also available as larger, single sheets in 14 colors. Size 19×25" (48×63cm).
- Card Weight: 360gsm (170lb).
Guide Review - Sennelier Pastel Card
One of the concerns with pastels is how well it's "stuck" to the paper. You can obviously use fixative, but if you're heavy-handed with it, you'll dull the colors. Working on (stiff) card rather than (flexible) paper reduces the risk of pastel flicking off the surface. Now add a coat to the surface that's like fine sandpaper, and you've surface that seriously grips pastel. That's exactly what Sennelier Pastel Card is: thin, coated card, in a range of colors.
The coating is finely ground cork applied to a 360gsm (170lb) card, so it's softer than sandpaper. Both the coating and the card are pH neutral, thus "archival quality". If you run a finger along the surface of the card, you'll feel how fine the texture is.
If you use very soft pastel on it, you will "use up" a pastel stick faster than on normal pastel paper, simply because it adheres to the surface so well. But what's also different is how many layers of pastel the card will hold, and the creamy result I got working with Sennelier's soft pastels that begins to feel like it's paint not pastel.
This pastel card is not cheap, but I found working on it is immensely satisfying and not at all like working on 'ordinary' pastel paper. I also found it softer than a couple of paint-on pastel grounds I've tried. The hard part is stopping myself from thinking I need to save it for "a good pastel painting". If things do go wrong, the surface allows for reworking and reworking. It's forgiving and rewarding. I think anyone who enjoys using pastel ought to try at least one sheet.
